Air Tours

The Overflights Program

The Overflights Program works cooperatively with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Park Service parks, to implement the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000.  The Act requires FAA, in cooperation with the National Park Service, to establish air tour management plans for parks or tribal lands for which applications are submitted by air tour operators. Air Tour Management Plans establish conditions for conducting air tours, including specific routes, altitudes, number of flights, type of aircraft, hours of operations, and reporting requirements. Air Tour Management Plans must protect park resources and visitor use without compromising aviation safety or the nation's air traffic control system. 

FAA Seal / NPS Arrowhead

National Parks Air Tour Management Program

The National Park Service (NPS) is working diligently in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement the National Park Air Tour Management Act of 2000, which was signed into law on April 5, 2000.

The Act requires operators wishing to conduct commercial air tours over national parks, or over tribal lands within or abutting national parks, to apply to the FAA for authority to conduct such tours. The Act further requires FAA, in cooperation with the NPS, to establish air tour management plans for parks or tribal lands for which applications are submitted.

The page contains annoucements of current projects, links to completed Air Tour Management Plans, and links to recorded public meetings.

Addtional background information, including frequently asked questions and annual reports, is also available.

Announcements

Canyon de Chelly National Monument Draft Air Tour Management Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment available for public to review and comment

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) announce the availability of the Draft Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) and Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Canyon de Chelly National Monument. A 30-day public review period on the documents begins on April 3, 2024. Please visit the park's project page link below to access documents and provide comments.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument Draft ATMP and Draft EA Project Page
Canyon de Chelly National Monument Draft ATMP and Draft EA Press Release

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Announces Public Comment Period for Proposed Air Tour Management Voluntary Agreement

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) announce the availability of a proposed commercial air tour management voluntary agreement for Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A 30-day public review period on the proposed agreement begins on March 20, 2024. Please visit the park's project page link below to access documents and provide comments.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Proposed Air Tour Voluntary Agreement - Park's project page, documents open for public comment
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Proposed Air Tour Voluntary Agreement - Press Release

Current Projects

Information on public comment periods and public meetings for draft Air Tour Management Plans will be posted here during the active public commenting period.

Glacier National Park

NPS Photo

San Franciso Bay Area

Dan Friedman

Stakeholder and Public Engagement

As part of the Air Tour Management Plan process, the NPS and FAA are conducting stakeholder and public meetings. Links to webinar recordings and/or meeting slide decks (where applicable) will be posted below.

Recorded Public Meetings for Completed Air Tour Management Plans

Arches National Park

Meeting Date: 9/20/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Arches National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Arches National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Badlands National Park

Meeting Date: 5/24/2023
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Badlands National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Badlands National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Bandelier National Monument

Meeting Date: 9/15/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Bandelier National Monument Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Bandelier National Monument Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Bay Area Parks

Meeting Date: 10/26/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Bay Area National Parks Combined Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Bay Area National Parks Combined Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Bryce Canyon National Park

Meeting Date: 9/27/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Bryce Canyon National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Bryce Canyon National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Canyonlands National Park

Meeting Date: 9/27/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Canyonlands National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Canyonlands National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Death Valley National Park

Meeting Date: 8/17/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Death Valley National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Death Valley National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Everglades National Park

Meeting Date: 8/19/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Everglades National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Everglades National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Glacier National Park

Meeting Date: 9/21/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Glacier National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Glacier National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Meeting Date: 9/16/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Haleakalā National Park

Meeting Date: 5/25/2023
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Haleakalā National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Haleakalā National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Meeting Date: 6/7/2023
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation
Project Website: Draft Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Press Release: Public input sought on draft air tour management plan for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Meeting Date: 8/16/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Mount Rainier National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Mount Rainier National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Meeting Date: 6/1/2023
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Mount Rushmore National Memorial Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Mount Rushmore National Memorial Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Natural Bridges National Monument

Meeting Date: 9/26/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Natural Bridges National Monument Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Natural Bridges National Monument Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

Olympic National Park

Meeting Date: 8/25/2021
Recorded Meeting: Public Meeting: Olympic National Park Air Tour Management Plan
Slide Deck: Olympic National Park Air Tour Management Plan Presentation

National Parks Overflights Advisory Group

The NPS and FAA jointly established the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group in 2001. This group provides continuing advice and counsel with respect to commercial air tour operations over and near national parks. They work with other stakeholders, such as air tour operators and tribes, to address a range of general aviation and environmental concerns.

Air Tours Management Program

Background Information & Resources