With the long-awaited Super Bowl 50 fast approaching, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reminding Bay Area residents not to try to get a drone's-eye view of the big game.
The airspace above Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara has been declared a "No Drone Zone" for Sunday's Super Bowl. Drone operators are prohibited from flying their drone within 32 miles of the stadium between 2 p.m. and midnight on game day, FAA officials said.
The 32-mile restriction also applies to any non-commercial flight unless the pilot has filed a flight plan, is using a transponder to identify the aircraft, and is in two-way communication with air traffic controllers.
Use of the airspace within 10 nautical miles of the stadium is much more tightly regulated.
"With so many drones being sold for recreational use, we want to do everything we can to get the word out that the game is a No Drone Zone," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement.
To that end, the FAA is posting on social media, including a public service announcement on YouTube, to make sure drone owners get the message.
Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers starts at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
For more information on restricted activities within the 32-mile and the 10-mile zones, including restrictions on Sunday morning and the closure of Palo Alto Municipal Airport, visit tfr.faa.gov.
Related content:
• Palo Alto police to assist with Super Bowl security
• Palo Alto prepares for Super Bowl 50
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 3, 2016 at 5:41 pm
on Feb 3, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Wonder what the Feds are going to do to enforce this “no fly†zone? What agencies will be monitoring this airspace? What agencies will be on-call to take down drones that are flying in this airspace? Will there be any 800-numbers for people to use to report illegal drone use during the period this airspace is restricted?
Hard to believe that there will be much in the way of enforcement of this edict.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 3, 2016 at 7:50 pm
on Feb 3, 2016 at 7:50 pm
@Wondering - Keep a lookout for eagles trained to take down drones.
Web Link
Los Altos Hills
on Feb 3, 2016 at 8:19 pm
on Feb 3, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Don't worry about the Feds, worry about the NFL. They got technology the Feds only dream of and tons of incentive to use it. Those drones will be nothing but smoke.
another community
on Feb 3, 2016 at 9:50 pm
on Feb 3, 2016 at 9:50 pm
At least the drones at PAO will not be allowed at the Superbowl..
Community Center
on Feb 4, 2016 at 8:06 am
on Feb 4, 2016 at 8:06 am
There is a TFR for this event. TFRs of this type are typically enforced via Air Force F16s for full sized planes. It would not surprise me at all if drones were downed via shotgun.
Palo Verde
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:09 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:09 pm
And more Temporary Flight Restrictions next week when Obama is around.
Midtown
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:42 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Great, so as long as they are prohibiting drones, does that mean that Large Jets on the arrivals superhighway over Palo Alto will be diverted so we can have some peace from 2 - 12 on SuperBowl Sunday. You never know if a crazy person would commandeer a plane to wreak some havoc.............
Midtown
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:50 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Amazing that they are prohibiting drones with no punishment/take down capabilities. What about all the drones flying daily over our skies daily that could crash or malfunction with the out of control flight traffic? Michael Huerta is responsible for the messy, no environmental impacts, unhealthy noise levels of NextGen. Can he really be able to manage the SuperBowl skies?
Maybe Michael Huerta can beam down from Washington D.C. to see the mess he has created for us here in Palo Alto and environs of Santa Cruz, Los Gatos, and now Los Altos. I think not!
Registered user
Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Registered user
on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Drones are already illegal to fly over the stadium and within 3 miles of San Jose airport. This is just expanding the area. I wouldn't be surprised if the stadium was a total no-fly zone during the game, planes included.
Palo Verde
on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:46 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 1:46 pm
The stadium is 2.5 miles off the departure end of San Jose's runway. Airliners on Sunday will fly as regularly scheduled. They generally pass over the stadium at 2000-2500 feet. I doubt any spectators will notice.
Evergreen Park
on Feb 4, 2016 at 3:31 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 3:31 pm
"does that mean that Large Jets on the arrivals superhighway over Palo Alto will be diverted so we can have some peace from 2 - 12 on SuperBowl Sunday."
You can be sure those planes and their racket will be routed well away from the stadium. The NFL has much more clout than the FAA.
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 4, 2016 at 4:48 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 4:48 pm
Neither the article nor the FAA say this is being done for reasons of security. Levi stadium is off limits for drones, for the same reasons Disneyland is a drone no-fly zone.
This is all part of the PR hype for this event, and a nice gift from the FAA to a powerful lobby (the NFL) that is hyper-sensative about its coveted brand and broadcast rights.
How much you want to bet FAA brass have access to a nice luxury box at the game?
Palo Verde
on Feb 4, 2016 at 11:12 pm
on Feb 4, 2016 at 11:12 pm
Disneyland is an all-aircraft no-fly zone, not just drones.
Like it or not, security is the reason, just like over Washington DC.
Registered user
Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:54 am
Registered user
on Feb 5, 2016 at 9:54 am
Again guys - this is NOT new, drones are already prohibited over the stadium.