The National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration have completed an air tour management plan for the park, which is home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Under the plan, only 1,548 air tours will be authorized per year — down from existing levels of more than 11,300 flights. The regulations are the result of a federal appeals court finding three years ago that the NPS and the FAA failed to enforce a 2000 law governing commercial air tours over national parks and some tribal lands.
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Hawaii Island Coalition Malama Pono sued, demanding something be done nationwide.