Agency Publishes Procedures for Arrivals & Departures & and ATC, Oh My!

It’s that time of year again—pilots, planes, and controlled chaos descending upon Lakeland, Florida, for SUN ‘n FUN 2025. This is the event where thousands of aviators prove they can follow arrival procedures—or, in some cases, that they really, really can’t.

Yes, it’s time to dust off those NOTAMs, practice your rock-your-wings technique, and remind yourself that “Monitor the frequency only” does not mean “give ATC your life story.” With an expected flood of arrivals, it’s more important than ever to do what the big bold letters say: FOLLOW PROCEDURES.

For those who don’t want their first experience with the Lake Parker arrival to be accompanied by sheer panic, there’s Sim ’n Fun—a virtual training event on March 8-9 where you can fly the arrival using your home flight simulator while talking to actual SUN ’n FUN air traffic controllers. It’s a fool-proof way to get comfortable with the unique procedures before adding real-life turbulence, impatient pilots, and the distinct possibility of a go-around into the mix.

The more pilots who practice beforehand, the smoother the real event will be. And let’s be honest—nobody wants to be “that guy” who botches the approach because they skimmed the NOTAM and assumed it worked like any other fly-in.

The official guidance is crystal clear: know the arrival procedures and follow them exactly. You will rock your wings. You will not stop on the runway. You will not attempt to land on the wrong runway because it “looked empty.”

Those arriving should expect temporary airport closures for airshows, an armada of aircraft squeezing into designated runways (or taxiways), and ATC controllers performing verbal gymnastics to keep everything organized. Most inbound aircraft will be expected to follow the Lake Parker arrival, which begins around 8 nm northwest of Fantasy of Flight (FA08) at Middle of Nowhere (VPMNO).

SUN ‘n FUN is an incredible celebration of aviation, and the safety of all involved depends on pilots knowing and respecting the rules. So, study the procedures, dust off your flight sim, and arrive prepared. Do that, and you’ll enjoy a fantastic aviation adventure. Ignore the guidance, and, well—good luck explaining that radio call to the hundreds of pilots listening. SEEYUH!

FMI: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/domesticnotices/dom25003_gen.html