FAAʼs Safety Plan for Super Bowl LIX
Dates & Location
February 6-11, 2025
New Orleans, LA
General
Tower Design Initiative
Background on Airport Traffic Control Towers
The FAA currently maintains more than 200 regional and municipal ATCTs across the U.S., many of which are due for replacement.
Safety Considerations
Stakeholders expressed related concerns including the experience level and training of pilots, the ability to accurately assess weather, less than optimal Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Flight Procedures, and the need to improve and expand charting information. Some Stakeholders expressed concern with the intermittent and inconsistent availability of Pilot Reports (PIREPS) and their accuracy. They suggested the FAA make these valuable real-time weather observations more formal.
Infrastructure Considerations
Stakeholders underscored the importance of addressing outdated infrastructure, specifically communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS). One individual Stakeholder noted the difference in surveillance capabilities by Air Traffic compared to the Continental United States, “The best way to improve safety in Alaska is to improve infrastructure. Specifically, radar and preventing blackout areas.”
Fleet Considerations
The FAASI Interim Report described a number of factors considered by aircraft owners and operators when selecting aircraft for their fleet.
Environmental Considerations
Alaskan aviation stakeholders repeatedly conveyed that the mountainous terrain and high latitude weather in Alaska underscore the need for reliable weather reporting/forecasts and improved route structure.