The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting some 1,200 private jets to fly into the Bay Area next month during Super Bowl week.
The agency is now working on an air traffic plan to keep private and commercial flights moving. The FAA is requiring pilots to make a reservation for arrival and departure to try and keep things running smoothly on the ground and in the air.
All three major Bay Area airports and some of the smaller air fields will be in play during Super Bowl week, which is expected to bring a crush of football fans to the Bay Area.
“We are so close together our air space mixes,” said John Aitkan, Mineta San Jose International Airport’s assistant director of aviation. “The FAA came up with the right number of aircraft arrivals and departures for each airport, and then how many can we park on the ground.”
Special team charter flights will be thrown into the mix at San Jose Mineta International Airport.
Aitkan said the FAA is working to accommodate the rich and famous without affecting hundreds of commercial flights and passengers.
Crowded air space has frequent fliers worried about delays.
“Usually we get it from storms, not Super Bowls,” said Marc Suidan, a frequent flier from San Jose.
Super Bowl 50 will be played on Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.