Tampa Fly-In procedures: Note nightly airport closure

All AOPA Fly-In host airports are closed at night during the 2017 fly-ins as a safety precaution to prevent pilots from taxiing in unlighted parking areas without marshallers. During the summer months, that has allowed plenty of time for evening arrivals and departures, with the extra hours of daylight. However, now that fall is in swing and the days are getting shorter, darkness closes the airports earlier.

“Safety is our top priority,” said AOPA Air Safety Institute Executive Director Richard McSpadden. “We’ve created a special video tutorial of the fly-in procedures that will help you arrive and depart safely, but we also encourage pilots to download the Pilot Information Packet and study it thoroughly before flying in.”

AOPA studied the fly-in procedures and safety practices of other major aviation events, including EAA AirVenture and the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo to add an extra layer of safety for the 2017 fly-ins by closing the airfields to all traffic at dark.

Pilots are encouraged to plan their arrivals and departures accordingly.

Listen to the podcast below for arrival and departure tips for AOPA's Tampa Fly-In.