Football fans in Beaver Stadium who were watching the sky instead of the field on Saturday might have been concerned as they saw a plane flying overhead.

Although the plane, as well as a few others at recent games, is carrying an advertisement, it is flying in Penn State's restricted airspace because it obtained waivers for the right to fly there.

Clifford Lutz, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency representative for Penn State Police Services, said planes were always allowed to fly over the stadium in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, but after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, the government restricted flight operations.

Since then, planes have been allowed to resume flight, but they had to reapply for a waiver to do so. When the alert level was raised to code orange earlier this year, waivers were temporarily prohibited. Now that waivers can be obtained again, there have been as many as six planes at a football game.

"Everyone was surprised to see planes back," Lutz said.

He explained that not only is it a safety issue because of people's concerns of terrorist attacks, but game attendees are upset by the distractions caused by the low-flying planes.

"The president's office and the athletic office were swamped with complaints," Lutz said.

The university has re-filed their complaints with the FAA. Lutz said he does not think any changes will be made in time for the Michigan State game in two weeks because governmental operations move slowly. Also, the controversy is strong on both sides.

"A ban is interfering with legitimate business rights to make a living," Lutz said.

He also said he understands the argument of the stadiums.

"But all the venues are saying it's a safety issue ... and they want it stopped," he said.

Penn State spokesman Steve MacCarthy said the administration has made its feelings clear to the FAA, and asked the FAA to stop granting planes exemptions from the ban, but the university has been ignored.

"We're very strongly opposed to [the planes'] presence," MacCarthy said.

The university is hopeful that changes will happen by the Michigan State game.

"Penn State, along with nearly every major league entity, ... we have all petitioned the FAA to ban planes from flying," MacCarthy said.

He said those who are concerned might want to complain to the companies that are advertising their products.

Ben Scott Wilson (freshman-mechanical engineering), who works at the University Park Airport, 2535 Fox Hill Road, said he thinks advertisements should not be flown over the stadium.

"The same restrictions that were applied should be held the whole way through," Wilson said.

He said he was concerned for his safety the first time he looked up from the stands and saw a plane.

"I was a little upset. I don't think we should take any unnecessary chances," Wilson said.

Doug Wayne, a member of the Beaver Stadium event staff, said the planes are too close and too low, but he feels safe because of the increased number of state police at the stadium. Wayne said he has noticed fans attending the games are unhappy with the planes flying overhead.

"People always ask, 'Can't you get them farther away?' " he said.

The planes are allowed to come as low as 1,500 feet, Wayne said, and this is a concern to some fans.

"I think everyone looks at the sky different now," he said.