Aviation officials in Phoenix are using a new online reservation system to manage this week’s heavy air traffic. Local airports are expecting to see more than 1,200 private and commercial flights in the coming days as fans travel to the city for events like the Super Bowl and the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The system has been in the works for more than a year.
While the use of flight management tools are common among local airports, this is the first time they’ve worked collaboratively with the FAA to establish a central database.
"While everybody had their own system in place, this is the first time that we’ve done something like this on a collaborative and central type of activity," said Joe Husband, the airport manager at the Phoenix Goodyear airport.
He said so far the reservation system has been working well.
"You know, it allows us to actually see where the arrivals are coming in and, more important, where the departures are being requested so that we can manage those expectations manage that activity," Husband said.
Officials with the FAA said the goal is to spread out departures and arrivals so that the air traffic-control system doesn’t become over taxed, especially on Monday when most sports fans will be leaving the area.
