Aviation Program Facts

Aviation assets are used in the national parks for a variety of missions.

Leadership

Kristin Swoboda, Branch Chief (Acting)
Nic Strohmeyer, Helicopter Specialist
Colin Milone, Fixed Wing Specialist (Acting)
Ody Anderson, UAS Specialist
Brian Sutton, National Aviation Safety Manager
Chris Wilcox, Chief - Division of Fire and Aviation

Mission

The National Park Service (NPS) Aviation Management Program provides leadership at the national, regional and park levels to ensure safe and efficient use of aviation resources.

Administration

The national program is located at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho with other programs under the Division of Fire and Aviation. Regional aviation managers (RAMs) are assigned to offices around the country.

NPS aviation operations make up the most diverse range of aviation missions of any bureau within the Department of the Interior (DOI).
With approximately 12,000 to 13,000 hours of flight time annually, the bureau uses fixed wing, helicopter, and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) in support of a multitude of NPS programs and missions, which include, but are not limited to:

• Search and rescue
• Law enforcement
• Visitor protection
• Natural resource management
• Wildlife management
• All-hazard operations
• Personnel transportation
• Wildfire and prescribed fire

Human Resources and Equipment

The national Aviation Management Program facilitates national-level policy, direction, and aviation technical support to enhance the safe and efficient use of aviation resources while conducting NPS missions.
The NPS aviation team is committed to building a safer, stronger, highly trained, and better equipped aviation program for the future. The program continues to develop strategies to protect natural resources and address all hazard situations that require well-trained personnel.

Aviation activities are coordinated with NPS RAMs, NPS park aviation managers (PAMs), the NPS National Aviation Advisory Group (NAAG), DOI Office of Aviation Services (OAS), and interagency aviation partners.

For More Information

To learn more about aviation in the national parks, visit our websites: Aviation Program and the Aviation subject site.

Map of the United States noting locations of National Park Service aviation resources - both government-owned and contracted.

NPS/S. EDEL

Downloadable version of Aviation Fact Sheet