News and Updates – FAA Opens One-of-a-Kind Fire Research Facility in Atlantic City

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Atlantic City, N.J.– The FAA completed construction and opened a new indoor fire research facility in December to conduct performance tests of potential replacement fire extinguishing agents.

The work conducted in this new $5 million, 2,500 square-foot facility will support research on fluorine-free firefighting foams.

The fully enclosed fire-test facility will eliminate weather related variables in testing and enhance data collection capabilities. It will also contain and collect the byproducts of fire testing chemicals and prevent any contamination of the surrounding area and ground water, allowing for more frequent and efficient testing.

Construction of the new facility started in November 2018 and FAA researchers began testing this month.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 directed the Agency to stop requiring the use of fluorinated chemicals in aircraft firefighting foams within three years. Fluorine-free foams on the market today do not match the performance of their fluorinated counterparts.

The current firefighting foam is a highly effective combatant to jet fuel fires, but it has also generated concerns over potential environmental and health impacts. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a potentially hazardous group of chemicals found in current firefighting foams used at airports.

News and Updates – South Florida is a “No Drone Zone” During Super Bowl LIV

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MiamiHard Rock Stadium near Miami is a No Drone Zone for Super Bowl LIV on Feb. 2, 2020. Drones also are prohibited around the Miami Beach Convention Center for the NFL Super Bowl Experience and Bayfront Park for Super Bowl Live during the days leading up to the event.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) on game day that will prohibit drones within a 30-nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude. The TFR will be in place from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. EST. Drones are also prohibited for one nautical mile around Hard Rock Stadium on February 2 from 9 a.m. until the TFR for the game takes effect. Further details are available in the drone TFRs.

The FAA will restrict drone flights for roughly one nautical mile around the Miami Convention Center and Bayfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet from January 25 to February 1 during daytime hours. Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR.

Detailed information for general aviation and drone pilots is available on the FAA’s Super Bowl LIV web page.

Drone pilots should check the FAAs B4UFly app to determine when and where they may fly. To highlight the No Drone Zone, watch the FAAs videos in English and Spanish encouraging fans to enjoy the game and leave their drones at home.

News and Updates – FAA Holding Information Meetings on LaGuardia AirTrain

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding Public Information Sessions on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed LaGuardia AirTrain tonight and tomorrow night in Queens, N.Y.

The FAA will be sharing the results of the draft alternatives analysis. The agency still is developing the Draft EIS (DEIS), which is planned for release in Summer 2020 after the impact analyses have been completed. At that time, the public will have the opportunity to learn about and comment on the DEIS at formal public hearings.

The sessions are designed to educate attendees about the agencys analysis of the alternatives that were developed during the scoping phase of the project. The open house format will display project information, and FAA representatives will be available to answer questions. The FAA will not accept comments at the sessions this week. There will be a formal comment period when the DEIS is published.

The sessions will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., January 14 and 15, at the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott, 102-05 Ditmars Boulevard, East Elmhurst, N.Y. 11369.

For more information, please visit the project website.

News and Updates – Super Bowl LIV Flight Requirements for GA Pilots

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General Aviation pilots who want to fly around Miami or Fort Lauderdale between Jan. 27 and Feb. 4, 2020, will need to check out the FAAs Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for air traffic procedures for the area. Super Bowl LIV is Sunday, Feb. 2, at Hard Rock Stadium. Game time will be at approximately 6 p.m. EST.

The FAA has published a web page with information for South Florida-area airspace and airports. The agency will update the webpage as additional information becomes available.

As a designated National Security Special Event, additional unmanned aircraft restrictions will be in place before, during and after the Super Bowl. Learn more here: Super Bowl LIV is a No Drone Zone.

A reservation program to facilitate ground services at the following South Florida airports will be in effect from January 27 through February 4. Pilots should contact the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at their airport to obtain reservations and additional information.

  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE)
  • Miami-Opa Locka Airport (OPF)
  • Miami Executive Airport (TMB)
  • Boca Raton Airport (BCT)

Special air traffic procedures to minimize air traffic delays and enhance safety will be in effect for the following airports:

  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE)
  • Miami-Opa Locka Airport (OPF)
  • Miami Executive Airport (TMB)
  • Boca Raton Airport (BCT)
  • Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
  • Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP)
  • North Perry Airport (HWO)

Arrival and Departure Route Requirements:
The NOTAM includes specific arrival and departure route requirements for jet and turboprop aircraft.

FAA ATC Air Traffic Management Initiatives
Air traffic management initiatives may include:

  • Ground Delay Programs (GDP)
  • Airspace Flow Programs (AFP)
  • Time Based Metering
  • Miles in Trail
  • Airborne Holding
  • Ground Stops
  • Reroutes
  • Altitude Restriction
  • Gate Hold Procedures

Special Event TFR for Super Bowl Sunday February 2, 2020
The FAA will publish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for Super Bowl LIV centered on Hard Rock Stadium. At this time, we expect the TFR will be active from 4 p.m. EST (2100z) until 11:59 p.m. EST (0459z) on Sunday, February 2. The TFR will have a 10-nautical- mile inner core and a 30-nautical-mile outer ring.

The TFR will not affect regularly scheduled commercial flights flying in and out of Miami International Airport (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Emergency medical, public safety and military aircraft may enter the TFR in coordination with air traffic control.

The FAA will post the full text and graphic depiction of the Super Bowl LIV TFR later in January.