Partners

United States Park Police helicopter on plaza in front of U.S. Capitol.
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.
A person in a green flight suit hunches on the ground while a helicopter takes off nearby in a rocky mountainous area.
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.
A large unmanned aircraft comes into a runway for a landing.
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.
A group of students stands in a pool with life vests listening to a person talk from the edge of the pool.
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.
Two people hang from a hoist line below a large hovering helicopter.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks employees in hoist training with the California Air National Guard.

NPS

Interagency partnerships provide training experiences for NPS personnel.
Three men stand and listen to a man pointing at something in a helicopter.
Maine State Forest Service at Acadia National Park

NPS

State and local partnerships expand capabilities for each park.

Last updated: June 2, 2021