A total solar eclipse is seen on Monday, August 21, 2017, from onboard a NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s Gulfstream III 25,000 feet above the Oregon coast. [Courtesy: NASA/Carla Thomas]
Key Takeaways:
The FAA advises pilots operating during the April 8 total solar eclipse to plan ahead, file IFR routes, and check NOTAMs/TFRs due to anticipated increased workload, operational limitations, and potential airport closures or parking restrictions in the path of totality.
The total solar eclipse on April 8 will traverse the U.S. from Texas to Maine, drawing significant aerial and ground observation.
Viewers are strongly cautioned to use special eclipse glasses to prevent permanent eye damage when looking at the sun, and are encouraged to prioritize the experience over photography.
On April 8, millions in the U.S. will be watching the total solar eclipse—and many may be doing it from an aircraft cockpit.
If you are one of those, the FAA is asking pilots to plan ahead and file a preferred IFR route as the safety agency expects there will be increased workload in the path of the eclipse.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
