Which Ohio airports are affected by Federal Aviation Administration solar eclipse warning?

Grace Tucker, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read

In a matter of weeks, a sizeable area of Ohio will be cast into darkness during a total solar eclipse that has people across the state making arrangements for where exactly they'll view the once-in-a-lifetime weather event.

Airlines like Delta and Southwest are even giving residents the option to view the eclipse from the clouds. However, Ohioans planning on being aboard a plane in the eclipse path need to be extra cautious, according to a news release from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Here's everything to know.

Federal Aviation Administration issues warning for solar eclipse

The total solar eclipse will cast a path of totality across North America, including a span from Southwest to Northeast Ohio around 3:15 p.m. on April 8, but air traffic could be impacted between April 7 to 10.

Ohioans with flights booked to view the total solar eclipse should be weary of air traffic delays, the FAA stated in their release.

"There may be a higher traffic volume than normal anticipated at airports along the path of the eclipse. Traffic should anticipate delays during peak traffic periods. Parking may be limited – particularly at the smaller, uncontrolled airports," the FAA stated.

Travelers should be prepared for "potential airborne holding, reroutes, and/or Expect Departure Clearance Times (or, take-off times)" that may be issued for domestic arrivals and departures during the April 7-10 period. The administration advised that departure times for planes leaving anywhere along the eclipse's path of totality should be coordinated as early as possible.

The statement added that special security provisions like Temporary Flight Restrictions may be in effect during the eclipse. TFRs involve designating an area restricted to air travel due to a special event or hazardous situation.

Akron-Canton Airport.
Akron-Canton Airport.

Which Ohio airports are affected

The FAA designated all the airports that lie within the eclipse's path of totality and, thus, are impacted by the air traffic warning.

Here's which major Ohio airports are affected:

  • Akron-Canton Airport

  • Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport

  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

  • Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport

  • Erie-Ottawa International Airport

  • James M. Cox Dayton International Airport

For a full list of affected airports nationally, visit this link.

Where in Ohio is the total eclipse viewable?

Cities such as Toledo, Bowling Green, Lima, Mansfield, Akron, Cleveland, Springfield and Dayton fall inside the eclipse's path of totality, meaning a total eclipse will be viewable.

Both Columbus and Cincinnati lie just outside the path of totality but will experience a partial eclipse this year, or 99.8% and 99.7% obscuration, respectively, according to National Eclipse.

What time is the solar eclipse 2024 in Ohio?

The total eclipse will last for approximately three minutes and 40 seconds in the Buckeye State. Southwest Ohio may begin to see it at 3:05 p.m., in Lima at 3:10 p.m. and over Akron and Cleveland at 3:15 p.m., according to NASA projections.

Some of the Ohio cities that will experience the total solar eclipse in 2024.
Some of the Ohio cities that will experience the total solar eclipse in 2024.

Will I need glasses to view the eclipse?

All Ohioans, regardless of whether they land in the path of complete or partial totality, should beware of viewing the eclipse with the naked eye, according to NASA. Looking directly at the sun could "instantly cause severe eye injury," the space agency has stated.

NASA doesn't approve any specific spectacles for eclipse viewing. The agency does, however, recommend eclipse watchers make sure their glasses meet the International Organization for Standardization 12312-2 standard for looking directly at the sun.

Where to buy solar eclipse glasses

Buying the proper solar eclipse glasses can be tricky because counterfeit glasses flooded marketplaces in the weeks before previous solar eclipses, according to the American Astronomical Society.

Luckily, the American Astronomical Society has a list of approved vendors for eclipse glasses and telescopes. Many local retail stores, including Kroger, Meijer, Walmart and more, are expected to sell the glasses as the eclipse approaches.

National Eclipse has curated its own offering of glasses (approved by the American Astronomical Society), which are available for purchase online. Packs of 25 glasses cost $58.75, or $2.35 each.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Solar eclipse air traffic warning: Which Ohio airports are affected?