A loop of Hoover Dam aboard a Papillon helicopter on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, in Boulder City.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 2:58 p.m.
A plan to limit noise from plane and helicopter tours flying over Lake Mead National Recreation Area is in the works and available for public comment starting Wednesday.
The Federal Aviation Administration, National Park Service and seven flying-tour companies put together an agreement outlining what parts of the 1.5 million-acre park's skies should be off limits to planes and helicopters, what hours are appropriate for tours and what cultural sites should be protected.
Air tour companies Papillon, Maverick Helicopters, American Aviation, Grand Canyon Airlines, Southwest Safaris, Air Grand Canyon and newcomer 5 Star were involved in the agreement.
A federal act passed in 2000 established the right to enter into such voluntary agreements with air tour companies. This marks the first agreement governing operations over the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
“The proposed voluntary agreement would establish operating parameters to ensure protection of national park resources and values and visitor experience without compromising aviation safety,” the park service said in a statement.
Air traffic is the source of the loudest noise in the park, according to the draft agreement.
“While many areas of the park have an incredible natural soundscape unique to quiet desert environments, all of the acoustic monitoring locations had audible aircraft,” the agreement says.
The agreement seeks to mitigate that noise by requiring planes and helicopters to fly at higher altitudes in certain areas. Hovering and circling will be prohibited.
The park service can also establish temporary detours or no-fly periods during special events.
Once the agreement goes into effect, the park service will monitor flying tours to make sure they follow the new standards and report violations to the FAA. Park visitors can also report violations.
The agreement would also prohibit flights over or near the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. Grand Canyon National Park is exempt from the act, according to the park service.
A 30-day public review period of the agreement runs from March 20 to April 19. Public comments can be submitted through the National Park Service website. More information can be found at parkplanning.nps.gov.
