The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning about potential travel disruptions during the upcoming solar eclipse. The “Great North American Eclipse” will travel from southwest to northeast from Mexico, through the United States, and across parts of Canada on April 8, 2024.
More than a dozen states in the US will be affected by it, with some seeing a total eclipse as the moon travels between Earth and the sun.
Potential Delays
The FAA says the upcoming eclipse may cause departure delays for both commercial and private aircraft. The agency is preparing pilots for possible delays, increased traffic, and limited airplane parking, specifically at smaller airports. “There may be a higher traffic volume than normal anticipated at airports along the path of the eclipse,” the FAA states. “ Traffic should anticipate delays during peak traffic periods.”
The FAA is expecting higher than normal air traffic at specific airports in the path of the eclipse as revelers travel to these states in order to witness the total eclipse. The FAA is also expecting an increase of drones flying along the expected path. It’s also spring break for millions across the country, which is already putting a strain on some airports.
Planes already in the air during the eclipse may need to be rerouted or fly in a holding pattern until it’s safe to land. To try to ease some of the impacts, the FAA is asking all pilots to plan departure times around the eclipse timing. “Aircraft departing airports along the eclipse path are strongly encouraged to coordinate their departure times as early as possible,” urges the FAA, especially aircraft who want to be airborne during the eclipse.
Temporary flight restrictions may also be put into place during the eclipse, and airport officials may also limit pilot training exercises, including practice landings and touch-and-gos, in an effort to ease congestion in the air and on the ground.
States Affected
The total eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean in the morning of Monday, April 8. It will cross into North America on Mexico’s Pacific coast around 11:07 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). After traveling through Mexico, the eclipse will enter the United States at 2:30 Eastern Standard Time and last until 3:40 pm, according to NASA.
Parts of Texas will first see the total eclipse before it moves through several states before exiting into eastern Canada. The states affected by the total eclipse are: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, along with a portion of Tennessee and Michigan.
Populated airports within the ellipse’s path include Dallas/Ft. Worth International (DFW), Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Burlington International Airport (BTV), and Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF). Other states in the US may see a partial eclipse.
Solar Eclipse: The Basics
An eclipse happens when something travels between the Earth and the Sun blocking the Sun’s rays either partially or fully. There are two types of eclipses: a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks the sun causing everything to be dark, even in the middle of the day. A lunar eclipse happens when the earth blocks the sun’s rays bouncing off the moon, thus covering up the Moon at night.
According to NASA, there is a total solar eclipse somewhere in the world every year and half, whereas a partial solar eclipse happens at least twice a year. Since the Earth is rotating, not everyone can see each eclipse. The April 8th event will be a total solar eclipse, meaning the Moon will completely block out the sun. The last total eclipse in the United States was in 2017 and the next one is expected in August 2044.
