23-Jun-2014Source: National Park Service
National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis today signed a policy memorandum that directs superintendents nationwide to prohibit launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service. “We embrace many activities in national parks because they enhance visitor experiences with the iconic natural, historic and cultural landscapes in... Read more
20-Dec-2012Source: HAI
The recently passed FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 included a provision requiring air tour operators conducting tours over national parks and abutting tribal lands to submit reports to the FAA and the National Park Service (NPS). The “Notification and Guidance” will be posted on the FAA and NPS web sites very soon, and... Read more
20-Dec-2012Source: FAA
The US Dept of Transportation has published a list of parks exempt from the provisions of the Air Tour Management Act. The 2012 FAA reauthorization amended the National Parks Air Tour Management Act to exempt national park units with 50 or fewer annual flights from the provisions of the act, and to publish the list... Read more
19-Nov-2012Source: National Park Service
The National Park Service released a statement this morning regarding the Oct. 3 helicopter crash in North Cascades National Park:- On October 4th, rangers received a report that a leased Robinson 22 helicopter had crashed the day before in a remote area of the park about six miles south of the international border with Canada.... Read more
10-May-2012Source: HAI
The U.S. Congress has kicked off conference negotiations on the Highway Bill that contains the maligned Alexander Amendment. The amendment contains provisions that strip away control of national park airspace from the congressionally mandated FAA and gives the power to regulate airspace to the ill-equipped National Park Service. Conferees have precious little time – approx.... Read more
9-Mar-2012Source: HAI
As the U.S. Senate continues to debate the highway bill, HAI opposes amendment #1779 being offered by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). The amendment will be voted on late March 13 and contains provisions that would significantly affect air tour operators conducting tours over national parks, and would give the National Park Service sole authority to... Read more
11-Feb-2012Source: HTR News
The National Park Service will have the power to ban helicopter flights over Crater Lake without having to go through so much red tape. Oregon Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley inserted a provision giving that power to the park service into a FAA bill that Congress passed this week. The bill is... Read more
4-Oct-2011Source: Mercury News
The National Park Service and the FAA are starting work on a public plan that could result in new limits on helicopter and airplane tours over the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. (see full story)... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: Senator Ron Wyden
Friday, February 18, 2011 Washington, D.C. – With the Senate passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill late last night, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced several provisions that will benefit Oregon, including improved commercial air service between western states and Washington, D.C., protecting Crater Lake from air tour flyovers, increasing testing sites for... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: HAI
The FAA has announced that a meeting of the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group Aviation Rulemaking Committee (NPAOAG ARC) will take place on March 9-10, 2011 in Orlando, Fla. following HAI’s HELI-EXPO®. Held at the Rosen Centre Hotel from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., the meeting will be open to the public. To ensure adequate... Read more
4-Feb-2011Source: National Park Service
The National Park Service has developed a draft plan to address the impacts of aircraft noise on park resources and visitor experience. Released by the park on Tuesday, the plan is formally called a “Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Special Flight Rules Area in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park.†The document will be... Read more
28-Jun-2010Source: National Parks Traveler
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have one of the oldest helitak programs in the National Park Service, and the park’s helitack crew hosted an event earlier this month to commemorate the program’s 50th anniversary.... Read more
26-Mar-2010Source: Washington Examiner
The National Park Service would get special authority to decide if Leading Edge Aviation can fly tours over Crater Lake under legislation passed by the U.S. Senate on Monday.... Read more
11-Sep-2009Source: AIN
After debating Grand Canyon air-tour noise for eight years, the Grand Canyon Working Group (GCWG) has left the issue to the National Park Service (NPS), which often supports environmentalist positions.... Read more
