National Parks Air Tour Management

The FAA is codifying the provisions of title VIII of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (the Act), as a new part of its regulations. This action finalizes, in cooperation with the National Park Service, a 5,000-ft. above ground level (AGL) altitude that completes the definition of "commercial air tour operation" as required by the Act. If an operator conducts an operation below 5,000 ft. AGL over a national park, and that operation otherwise meets the statutory definition of a commercial air tour operation, that operator is defined as a commercial air tour operator and is required to meet the requirements of the Act and the new regulations. This final rule also codifies the provisions of Special Federal Aviation Regulation 78, the prohibition against commercial air tour flights over the Rocky Mountain National Park, as part of the new regulations. This action completes the codification of the new regulations and presents it for public information.