Sept. 12, 2002

WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government has banned aircraft from flying within three miles of any major professional or collegiate sporting event as long as the nationwide terror alert remains at its second-highest level.

The Federal Aviation Administration notified pilots yesterday of the new restrictions on aircraft, including blimps and banner-towing planes. The restrictions also apply to any large outdoor gathering.

The Bush administration on Tuesday raised the color-coded domestic alert to its second-highest level - orange - based on new intelligence warnings of possible strikes, mostly overseas.

The FAA, which imposed similar no-fly zone restrictions after last Sept. 11, eventually began lifting them on a case-by-case basis.