Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park announces flight operations for April 2023:
April 3 between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to service the radio repeater near Mauna Loa summit, and to assess Mauna Loa Cabin and trail.
April 11 between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for Kahuku ungulate survey between 4,000- and 6,500-ft. elevation.
April 19, 24 and 27 between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. to remove old fence material at the Great Crack fence line between 1,000- and 2,500-ft. elevation.
The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
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.
In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will conduct several low-level helicopter flights in April over Kīlauea caldera, the volcano’s summit area and rift zones:
April 17 and 18 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. multiple flights are planned by USGS to deploy temporary seismic instruments in Kīlauea caldera areas south of the crater to the 3,300-ft. elevation, and in the upper East Rift Zone to the 3,200-ft. elevation.
April 28 between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. multiple flights with several external loads are planned by USGS to deploy temporary seismic instruments in areas south of Kīlauea caldera to the 3,250-ft. elevation.
The USGS may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.