Air tours of Glacier National Park will cease after 2029

Those wishing to tour Glacier National Park by air have roughly seven years remaining to do so.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the completion of an air tour management plan for Glacier National Park on Sept. 23.

In an effort to protect park resources, including natural and cultural resources, preservation of wilderness character and visitor experience, the new plan authorizes the three existing commercial air tour operators to provide up to 144 air tours per year on a defined route and at specific altitudes through the end of 2029.

All commercial air tours will cease over the park on Dec. 31, 2029.

The operating parameters of the new plan will be effective within 90 days and apply to all commercial air tours over the park and commercial air tours within one half mile outside the boundary of the park, including any tribal lands within that area.

“The purpose of the air tour plan is to ensure that park resource values in Glacier National Park … are protected,” said Pete Webster, the park’s deputy superintendent.

There are currently three operations with permits to provide air tours of Glacier National Park, Homestead Helicopters Inc., Minuteman Aviation Inc. and Red Eagle Aviation Inc.

Commercial air tours have occurred over Glacier National Park for many years without defined operating parameters. According to the park, the air tour management plan “protects national park resources and values by providing continued education and management oversight” by placing a number of restrictions on existing tour providers.

All operators will be limited to three tours per day, which will be conducted on a single designated air tour route for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that begins and ends in the airspace above West Glacier.

The route must be flown clockwise with operators adhering to the altitudes assigned at each point throughout the route. Operators are instructed to transition altitudes slowly between points to minimize noise.

Helicopters will fly no lower than 2,600 feet while fixed-wing aircraft will fly 500 ft. higher than the rotorcraft, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, or in an emergency, or to avoid unsafe conditions, or unless otherwise authorized for a specified purpose such as wildlife

avoidance measures.

Operators may not deviate from the designated route and altitudes.

Once becoming aware (through visual identification, communication from the NPS or other federal agencies, state or tribal agencies, or through other means) of the presence of wolverines, Canada lynx, or grizzly bears along the flight route, operators are required to avoid these areas.

The three current operators are restricted from transferring their permit if they cease tours. No new permits will be issued.

In addition, the park and FAA must be notified if any operator plans to buy new aircraft or replace existing aircraft. Any new or replacement aircraft must not exceed the noise level produced by the aircraft being replaced.

Glacier is among 24 parks in the National Park System for which the agencies are developing air tour management plans.

According to the NPS, each management plan is developed to allow air tours to be regulated in a way that is consistent with the NPS’s mission and the FAA’s authority to ensure flight safety. The plans meet the requirements from the National Parks Air Tour Management Act to mitigate or prevent significant adverse impacts from commercial air tours on the park and NPS’s obligation to protect the park's natural and cultural resources, wildlife, and the visitor enjoyment. 

The NPS and FAA consulted with Tribes that have tribal lands adjacent to Glacier National Park, and that attach historic and cultural significance to resources within the park while drafting the new plan. These included Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation, Crow Tribe of Montana, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana and Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation of Montana.

Reporter Jeremy Weber can be reached at jweber@dailyinterlake.com.