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Brazil No-Fly Zones for World Cup: With a Catch

Brazil’s Air Force has established no-fly zones around the stadiums hosting the 64 soccer games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup taking place July 12-13. A four mile perimeter has been set around each...
Brazil No-Fly Zones for World Cup: With a Catch
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  • Brazil’s Air Force has established no-fly zones around the stadiums hosting the 64 soccer games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup taking place July 12-13. A four mile perimeter has been set around each stadium, and the suspensions will begin one hour before each game, and last 4-5 hours, though takeoffs are permitted. Planes cannot land at any of the eight airports that sit near any stadiums hosting games during the no-fly period.

    Though, there is a bit of a catch. The Brazilian Air Force isn’t legally allowed to shoot down any offending planes, and the anti-aircraft guns posted around the stadiums cannot legally be fired at intruders, according to Air Force Brigadier Antonio Carlos Egito. The games will take place in 12 cities, and though defenses are in place, as of now, they can’t be utilized if an incident were to occur. The Air Force is lobbying to change some laws before the games begin.

    The following clip describes the cities and stadiums where the 2014 World Cop games will be hosted:

    The no-fly zone measure won’t affect any of Brazil’s major airports, though the suspensions will hinder flights at Rio de Janeiro’s domestic airport Santos Dumont. Still, civilian aviation regulator ANAC president Marcelo Guaranys says that only ten percent of seats have been sold on Brazilian domestic flights for the games.

    An estimated 600,000 foreigners are expected to arrive for the World Cup, along with another 3 million Brazilians. In order to alleviate the impending crunch due to the influx of visitors, the Air Force is allowing certain flights to land at various bases. Portugal’s team will land in Campinas, followed by a press plane with 200 journalists and four private jets carrying superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his family.

    Civil Aviation Minister Wellington Moreira Franco confirmed that Italy will be able to use Santa Cruz Air Force base near Rio de Janeiro, in order to bypass the city’s crowded airports.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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