If you need to fly in the afternoon of April 8, you might want to grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses.

Airlines and government officials say it is safe to travel during the April 8 once-in-a-lifetime event. The Federal Aviation Administration is forecasting 47,137 flights to operate on April 8.

Health officials are warning eclipse viewers to wear protective eyewear, and that doesn't rule out travelers. The sun's intense brightness can damage eyes in seconds. It'll be damaged even quicker at more than 30,000 feet in the air, said Eric Christian, a senior research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and an eclipse expert.

"The sun will be a little bit brighter, but you shouldn't ever look at it except during totality without either approved eclipse glasses or in the correct pinhole camera," Christian said. "Even the smallest little piece of the sun sticking out can actually damage your retina. Be very careful."

Experts say travelers flying along the path of totality, from Mexico into the northeastern United States and Canada, may experience a longer eclipse from the clouds based on how much closer they are to the sun.