The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is calling on its members and others in the industry to join its campaign to support the air tours sector by filing protests with the US National Park Service (NPS) and the US FAA about the NPS’s draft Air Tour Management Plans (ATMPs). In its draft document, the NPS, which is responsible for the management of all US national parks, is looking to severely curtail helicopter air tours in a number of national park sites. Specifically, the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii, and the Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
The draft calls for tours at the Hawaiian parks to be cut by 50%, while in South Dakota, a complete ban is proposed.
HAI is requesting that its members and others in the industry comment on these draft ATMPs by 20 June to demonstrate their support for keeping America’s national parks open to all. Because the US federal government counts formal letters as a single comment, HAI asks that respondents take a moment to personalise their response and share their reasons why the flights should continue.
“It is time to use our collective voice, even if you do not think you are affected by these proposals,” explained James Viola, HAI President and CEO. “The Park Service will continue to produce these ATMPs for other lands administered by them, so it is important that our industry speaks up now… so that the Park Service hears us loud and clear.”
HAI points to aerial tours as an important workforce development pipeline for the vertical aviation industry and argues that reducing or eliminating these flights will create significant complications for an industry that is already facing a shortage of skilled personnel.
Moreover, it adds, tourism is a major economic driver in both Hawaii and South Dakota. “The helicopter tour businesses buy fuel and supplies from other local businesses. Their employees have mortgages, buy groceries, and pay taxes. While some localities might be able to absorb the loss of an entire tourism sector, these ATMPs will probably have a significant economic impact on smaller communities that are dependent on tourism,” said Viola.
