Partners

The United States Park Police helicopter "Eagle 2" near the United States Capitol Building.

NPS/R. Muller

U.S. Park Police

Learn more about the missions of the United States Park Police Aviation Unit.

Fort Lewis-based Company A, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment supporting Mount Rainier National Park climbing rangers.

U.S. Army/Steve Harding

Cooperators Supporting NPS Missions

• The National Guard, state, and county aircraft often assist the National Park Service in missions, including support for search and rescue operations as well as medevacs.
• The US Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine, often provide aerial imagery to support our missions.

US Customs Predator landing on the runway in Arizona.

Are helicopters and fixed wing airplanes the only aircraft used in national parks?

No, read about a blimp that was used for natural resource monitoring.

Interagency Partners

The bureaus and agencies co-located at the National Interagency Fire Center, including the National Park Service, partner and collaborate to manage wildland fires across boundaries.

Train the trainer course for water ditching and survival taken by an interagency group.

NPS

The NPS Aviation Program, also headquartered at the National Interagency Fire Center, operates in coordination with DOI’s Office of Aviation Services (OAS) to safely manage aviation activities in the parks. The NPS works with the U.S. Forest Service and other cooperating agencies to provide aviation safety training.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks employees in hoist training with the California Air National Guard.

NPS

Interagency partnerships provide training experiences for NPS personnel.

Maine State Forest Service at Acadia National Park

NPS

State and local partnerships expand capabilities for each park.