Narrative:

Normal vectors for arrival at cmh landing runway 10R. Just before handoff to tower for a visual. Final approach control said 'numerous aircraft in the area of the ohio state stadium.' as we rolled out on final we spotted a banner tow aircraft going under us, which was no conflict. Initial contact with tower he said '6 or 7 banner tow aircraft in area of osu stadium.' while configuring for landing -- inside arlig -- we noticed 2 other banner aircraft -- 1 going in front of us, and a yellow aircraft about 400 ft to our right and 400 ft low. I had already leveled off above the ILS GS until I had a better idea where these 6 or 7 aircraft were when we spotted these 2 aircraft had I been on the GS, we would have hit! TCASII never displayed anything. All aircraft seen were small, older or home built aircraft with fabric skin and probably no transponder. When my first officer told tower that 'things were a little close out there' the tower response was something like 'you know how football is.' later I talked to tower and found out they have no communication with them or control because the stadium is outside their airspace. It should be noted, the near miss came well inside arlig which probably placed those 2 aircraft in the tower airspace. Football should not take priority over safety! I recommend: 1) this activity not be allowed in this area: or 2) if allowed, radio contact be maintained with tower and anytime tower lands to the east, banner tow aircraft be restr from the stadium area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR NMAC WITH BANNER TOW OVER OSU STADIUM.

Narrative: NORMAL VECTORS FOR ARR AT CMH LNDG RWY 10R. JUST BEFORE HDOF TO TWR FOR A VISUAL. FINAL APCH CTL SAID 'NUMEROUS ACFT IN THE AREA OF THE OHIO STATE STADIUM.' AS WE ROLLED OUT ON FINAL WE SPOTTED A BANNER TOW ACFT GOING UNDER US, WHICH WAS NO CONFLICT. INITIAL CONTACT WITH TWR HE SAID '6 OR 7 BANNER TOW ACFT IN AREA OF OSU STADIUM.' WHILE CONFIGURING FOR LNDG -- INSIDE ARLIG -- WE NOTICED 2 OTHER BANNER ACFT -- 1 GOING IN FRONT OF US, AND A YELLOW ACFT ABOUT 400 FT TO OUR R AND 400 FT LOW. I HAD ALREADY LEVELED OFF ABOVE THE ILS GS UNTIL I HAD A BETTER IDEA WHERE THESE 6 OR 7 ACFT WERE WHEN WE SPOTTED THESE 2 ACFT HAD I BEEN ON THE GS, WE WOULD HAVE HIT! TCASII NEVER DISPLAYED ANYTHING. ALL ACFT SEEN WERE SMALL, OLDER OR HOME BUILT ACFT WITH FABRIC SKIN AND PROBABLY NO XPONDER. WHEN MY FO TOLD TWR THAT 'THINGS WERE A LITTLE CLOSE OUT THERE' THE TWR RESPONSE WAS SOMETHING LIKE 'YOU KNOW HOW FOOTBALL IS.' LATER I TALKED TO TWR AND FOUND OUT THEY HAVE NO COM WITH THEM OR CTL BECAUSE THE STADIUM IS OUTSIDE THEIR AIRSPACE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, THE NEAR MISS CAME WELL INSIDE ARLIG WHICH PROBABLY PLACED THOSE 2 ACFT IN THE TWR AIRSPACE. FOOTBALL SHOULD NOT TAKE PRIORITY OVER SAFETY! I RECOMMEND: 1) THIS ACTIVITY NOT BE ALLOWED IN THIS AREA: OR 2) IF ALLOWED, RADIO CONTACT BE MAINTAINED WITH TWR AND ANYTIME TWR LANDS TO THE E, BANNER TOW ACFT BE RESTR FROM THE STADIUM AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.