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FAA Takes Issue with Stadium Flyovers

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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA is investigating pilots of Experimental-category aircraft for unauthorized overflights of major sporting events, asserting these popular flights violate current regulations and operating limitations.
  • The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) acknowledges the FAA's concerns and is actively engaging with the agency to establish a legal pathway, potentially through exemptions, for properly trained teams to continue these public-favored flyovers.
  • EAA advises pilots of Experimental aircraft to exercise extreme prudence and contact their local FSDO for guidance before participating in any stadium overflights to avoid regulatory violations.
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Remember that record flyover of 49 Van’s RVs at last season’s Chiefs-Raiders game in Kansas City? The FAA remembers too. In the wake of that sanctioned overflight, some pilots of Experimental-category airplanes are now receiving letters of investigation from the agency for other flights that may have run afoul of regulations.

Formation flights over NFL games, NASCAR races and other major sporting events by Experimental aircraft have become more popular following the government sequestration, which grounded military flight demonstration teams. But without proper approval, such flights can put a pilot’s license at risk.

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