What You Need to Know Before Flying Into Sun 'n Fun

Pilots should study the FAA's Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prior to departure.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, April 08, 2024 at 02:18 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

The FAA predicts nearly 2,000 pilots are headed to Sun 'n Fun this year. [Credit: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots flying to Sun 'n Fun must thoroughly review the FAA's NOTAM for new and specific VFR arrival/departure procedures, which vary by aircraft type and include crucial changes.
Strict operational guidelines require adherence to specific airspeeds (e.g., 100 knots at 1,200 feet MSL for most), altitudes, maintaining aircraft separation, and following all ATC instructions, including non-verbal acknowledgments.
Pilots should plan for potential delays by carrying extra fuel, display appropriate parking/departure signs, secure aircraft (tie down/chock) in designated areas, and exercise extreme caution around pedestrians on the ground.

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If you are planning to fly yourself to Lakeland, Florida, for the annual Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, make sure you study the notice to air missions (NOTAM) prior to departure. There have been several changes from previous years, and you don’t want to be the pilot who does something silly, unexpected, and potentially dangerous.

The FAA, which predicts nearly 2,000 pilots are headed to Sun ‘n Fun (SNF), has published a NOTAM for the event, effective Monday, April 8, to Sunday, April 14, for the duration of the event.