Air Tour Management Plan

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The FAA is working diligently in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) to implement the National Park Air Tour Management Act of 2000, which was signed into law on April 5, 2000. The regulations codifying the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 can be found in Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 136 (PDF) (hereafter Part 136).

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What's New With Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) Updated on May 1, 2013

In a Federal Register notice (PDF) Federal Register notice (PDF) published on April 30, 2013, the FAA and NPS announced the selection of 2 members for 3-year terms (starting May 20, 2013) to the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). Selected as a new member to represent commercial air tour concerns was Mark Francis, and selected as a new member to represent environmental concerns was Michael Sutton. In a Federal Register notice (PDF) published April 29, 2013, the FAA and NPS announced the termination of the preparation of an ATMP and environmental assessment for Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. The FAA and NPS have stopped this work based upon a provision included in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 that exempted parks with 50 or fewer annual commercial air tour operations from the provisions of NPATMA.

In a Federal Register notice (PDF) published January 24, 2013, the FAA and NPS announced two openings on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG). The agencies are asking for individuals interested in serving on the NPOAG to express their interest by February 22, 2013. One opening on the NPOAG represents commercial air tour operator concerns and the other opening represents environmental concerns. See the link above to the Federal Register notice for particulars on how to apply.

In a Federal Register notice (PDF) published on December 12, 2012, the FAA and NPS jointly published a list of units of the National Park System that are exempt from the provisions of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act (NPATMA). A new amendment provision in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 exempted national park units with 50 or fewer annual flights from the provisions of NPATMA. This initial list was based on interim operating authority data available to FAA and NPS. FAA and NPS are required to publish a list each year of national parks covered by the exemption.