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 the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo must thoroughly review the FAA's NOTAM prior to departure, as there are several important changes and specific VFR/NORDO arrival procedures for Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL).
Strict arrival procedures dictate specific enroute speeds (e.g., 100 knots at 1,200 feet msl), maintaining a half-mile in-trail separation, rocking wings for ATC acknowledgments, and landing on designated spots per ATC instructions.
Key operational guidelines include acquiring ATIS 60 miles out, using landing lights within 40 nm, making minimal radio transmissions, conducting high-speed taxis after landing, and carrying extra fuel for potential delays or diversions.
Pilots are advised to display clear parking/departure signs, exercise extreme caution around high traffic and pedestrians, and avoid landing/departing during or immediately after airshows when the airport may be closed or heavily congested.

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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.