Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue
CARBONDALE, ILL. – On Monday, August 21, 2017, portions of the United States will experience a total Solar Eclipse, and Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, Illinois, is closest to the point of longest duration of darkness. As a result, the airport is expecting many visiting aircraft.
Fly-in aircraft are urged to register their arrival and other requests on the airport website: www.siairport.com. Once on the website, go to the Solar Eclipse Questionnaire to complete a very short survey. Each survey will be acknowledged.
The airport will have plenty of viewing space on the field during the Eclipse and Solar glasses will be available. Food and merchandise sales will take place. Grass parking and camping locations for pilots and their passengers will also be accommodated. The airport has significant tie-down capacity, but registering in advance will aid in planning. Aviation fuel will be sold at a discount.
The City of Carbondale and Southern Illinois University will host music and festival activities throughout the weekend. Numerous media outlets and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will be broadcasting live from the city that day.
