Flights banned near sports stadiums, open-air events

WASHINGTON -- The government has banned all aircraft from flying within 3 miles of major professional and college sporting events and any other large open air gathering.

The Federal Aviation Administration's notice to pilots became effective at noon Thursday, said spokeswoman Laura Brown. The "no-fly zone" extends up to an altitude of 3,000 feet.

The notice applies to all types of aircraft including small planes, blimps, balloons and gliders, she said.

"We issued this to cover everything," Brown said. "It's a blanket order so that it would include a state fair, a high school football game."

The alternative was issuing an array of specific restrictions, she said.

The first major outdoor sporting event in New York since the attacks will be Friday night when the Atlanta Braves play the Mets at Shea Stadium, which is across Flushing Bay from LaGuardia Airport. The stadium is directly in the approach path for one of LaGuardia's runways.