HVNP December Flight Plans

The following is a schedule of flight plans over Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for the month of December 2017:

A Paradise Helicopters’ photo charter out of Kona with pilot Joel at the controls, navigates a fresh breakout on the March 5th flow field. ExtremeExposure photo.

• Tuesday, Dec. 12, between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., to fly supplies and crews for petrel monitoring from the Kīlauea helipad at 4,000’ elevation to Mauna Loa at 9,000 feet and back.
• Thursday, Dec. 14, between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., for invasive fountain grass surveys and control, from Kīlauea helipad to the southwest boundary and to Keauhou below 2,500’ elevation.
• Tuesday, Dec. 19 and 20, between 7 and 9 a.m. on both days, to transport crew from Kīlauea helipad to the upper Kahuku Unit at the 8,000-foot elevation for an anthropological study.

In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.

The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.

Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources and to maintain backcountry facilities.