NBAA summarises access to Orlando during convention
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has reported that government officials have provided a number of options for accessing Orlando-area airports during President Obama’s upcoming visit to the city, including specific criteria that allow arrivals and departures at Orlando International Airport to proceed largely unabated.
“From the time NBAA learned that the president would be traveling to Orlando just ahead of our Convention, we have been working with government officials to underscore the size and importance of the event and the industry, and to mitigate, to the greatest extent possible, the impact of the president’s travel on general aviation traffic surrounding the show.”
Bolen noted that the following policies are in place for Orlando-area aviation traffic in the coming days.
At Orlando International Airport (MCO), no flights will be allowed into or out of the airport in the one-hour windows surrounding the president’s arrival and departure. At all other times, there will be no TFR restrictions in effect for any aviation traffic. That means operators should expect the airport to be closed to traffic only from 7:15 – 8:15 PM ET on Sunday, October 28, when the president arrives in Orlando, then again from 1:45 – 2:45 PM ET on Monday, October 29, when the president departs the city. If the president’s arrival and departure times change, the one-hour restriction would be move accordingly.
At Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), access will vary for the duration of the president’s visit, which is expected to take place from 7:15 PM ET on October 28 until 2:45 PM ET October 29.
There are absolutely no restrictions at ORL prior to 7:15 PM ET on October 28, or after 2:45 PM ET on October 29; in fact, the ground crews at Showalter Flying Service – the Convention’s host FBO – will be doubled to handle aviation traffic before and after the TFR window is in effect. NBAA is encouraging operators who can, to support the show’s host FBO by utilizing this option.
Additionally, when the TFR is in effect, Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) have been established as “gateway” airports, from which approved flights will be cleared to land at Orlando Executive. The Transportation Security Administration will process aircraft at these locations until 10:00 PM ET October 28, and resume screening operations at 7:00 AM ET on October 29.
At Kissimmee Airport (ISM) and Sanford Airport (SFB), operations are expected to remain fully open and operational, with no restrictions in place during the TFR.
The Association reminds operators that it is imperative that anyone planning to fly into Orlando airports via general aviation between 7:15 PM ET October 28 and 2:45 PM ET October 29 thoroughly review the current NOTAM available on the Association’s web site to obtain the latest information regarding air traffic in the area.