National park notifies public about planned flight operations during October

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is notifying the public about several flight operations planned during October.

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 maintain backcountry facilities.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also might conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes to assess any volcanic activity and maintain scientific instruments.

The planned flight operations are as scheduled:

• Between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Oct. 2 a fire crew will conduct wildfire suppression efforts, assess the potential for future fire spread and survey fire impacts near Nāpau Crater near the 3,500-foot elevation level.
• Between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 16 for ʻuaʻu, or Hawaiian petrel, monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000 and 9,000 feet in elevation.
• Between 7 and 11 a.m. Oct. 22 for invasive trees control and mapping from 800 and 3,500 feet in elevation in the Ka’ū desert to the Pepeiao area and a single point in the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea.
• Between 9 a.m. and noon Oct. 28 to transport crew and equipment for fence replacement on Mauna Loa between 4,000 and 6,500 feet in elevation.

Dates and times of flight operations can change based on aircraft availability and weather.

The park regrets any noise impact to area residents and park visitors.