Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has announced its July 2021 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 backcountry facilities.

Dates and locations are listed below:

July 15, 2021 – between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., for sling loads of fence material in ʻŌlaʻa Tract near Wright Road between 3,500- and 4,000-ft. elevation.

July  19, 2021 –  between 8 a.m. and noon, for guinea grass surveys and control in the coastal backcountry between sea level and 2,000-ft. elevation.

July 20 or 27, 2021 – between 6:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., for ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku between 4,000- and 6,000-ft. elevation.

July 21, 2021 – between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., for Hawaiian petrel monitoring at Kahuku, between 5,000 and 6,800-ft. elevation.

July 22, 2021 – between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., for crew support sling loads in ʻŌlaʻa Tract between 3,500- and 4,500-ft. elevation.

July 22, 2021 – between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., for Hawaiian petrel monitoring at Kahuku, between 5,000 and 6,800-ft. elevation.

July 26, 2021 – between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., for crew support and alien plant control work in Kahuku between 5,000- and 7,000-ft. elevation.

July 29, 2021 – between 10:00 a.m. and noon, for crew support in Kahuku between 5,000- and 7,000-ft. elevation.

July 29, 2021 – between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., for crew supported sling loads in the Kahuku Unit between 4,000- and 6,000-ft. elevation.

July 30, 2021 – between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., for crew support sling loads in ʻŌlaʻa Tract between 3,500- and 4,500-ft. elevation.

In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.

Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.