Hawaii Volcanoes National Park announces the upcoming flight plans for October:
• Between 6 and 9 a.m. today, Oct. 1, to shuttle passengers and gear for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kilauea to Mauna Loa at about 9,000-foot elevation.
• Between 7 and 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, to shuttle passengers and gear for petrel monitoring from about 9,000-foot elevation on Mauna Loa to the summit of Kilauea.
• Between 6 and 9 a.m. Oct. 15 to shuttle passengers and gear for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kilauea to Mauna Loa at about 9,000-foot elevation.
• Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Oct. 16 for invasive banana poka surveys and control on Mauna Loa Road between 5,000- and 6,000-foot elevation.
• Between 7 and 10 a.m. Oct. 17 to shuttle passengers and gear for petrel monitoring from about 9,000-foot elevation on Mauna Loa to the summit of Kilauea.
• Between 6 and 10 a.m. Oct. 29 for ungulate surveys and control work in the Kahuku Unit, between 4,000- and 6,500-foot elevation.
• Between 8 a.m. and noon Oct. 30 for invasive Guinea grass surveys and control along Keauhou Trail, from the coast to 2,000 feet elevation.
• Between noon and 1 p.m. Oct. 30 to shuttle passengers and supplies to control invasive plants from ‘Ainahou to ‘Apua Point.
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 maintain backcountry facilities.