Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has announced its September 2022 flight operations schedule.  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 to maintain back country.

Below is a detailed list of scheduled flight dates.  Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.

September 6 between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to support vegetation monitoring between 6,000 and 8000 feet elevation on Mauna Loa.

September 7 between 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. for ungulate survey at Kahuku units between 4,000 and 6,000 feet elevation.

September 12 between noon and 2:00 p.m., for fence crew support in ʻŌlaʻa Tract between 3,500 and 4,500 feet elevation.

September 15 and 16 between 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. for Hawaiian petrel monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000 and 9,000 feet elevation.

September 16 between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m., for crew support sling loads in ʻŌlaʻa Tract between 3,500 and 4,500 feet elevation.

September 19 between 8:00 and 11:00 am for survey and control of invasive guinea grass in the coastal Keauhou area, between sea level and 2,500 feet elevation.

September 20 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., for crew support sling loads in Kahuku Unit between 3,500 and 4,500 feet elevation.

September 20 between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. to support vegetation monitoring between 6,000 and 8000 feet elevation on Mauna Loa.

September 23 between 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. for aerial imaging of Rapid ‘Ōhi’a Death in ‘Ōla’a and Kīpukapuaulu at 4,000 feet elevation.

September 25  between 10 am and 12 pm, Facilities will be doing maintenance on the luas on the cabins of Mauna Loa between the 10,500 and 13,200 feet elevation.

September 26 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., for crew support sling loads in ʻŌlaʻa Tract between 3,500 and 4,500 feet elevation.

September 28 between 10 am and 12 pm, Facilities will be doing maintenance on the luas on the cabins of Mauna Loa between the 10,500 and 13,200 feet elevation.

September 29 between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for fountain grass control in the Southwest section of the park to the coast at Keauhou, from sea level to 4000 feet elevation.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) may be finishing up low-level helicopter flights that will cover Kīlauea volcano.  The USGS may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation..

For more information visit the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website.