554 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 136.13 

§ 136.13 Performance plan. 

(a) Each operator that uses a rotor-

craft must complete a performance 
plan before each commercial air tour 
or flight operated under § 91.146 or 
§ 91.147 of this chapter. The pilot in 
command must review for accuracy 
and comply with the performance plan 
on the day the flight occurs. The per-
formance plan must be based on infor-
mation in the approved aircraft flight 
manual for that aircraft taking into 
consideration the maximum density al-
titude for which the operation is 
planned, in order to determine: 

(1) Maximum gross weight and center 

of gravity (CG) limitations for hov-
ering in ground effect; 

(2) Maximum gross weight and CG 

limitations for hovering out of ground 
effect; and 

(3) Maximum combination of weight, 

altitude, and temperature for which 
height/velocity information in the ap-
proved aircraft flight manual is valid. 

(b) Except for the approach to and 

transition from a hover for the purpose 
of takeoff and landing, or during take-
off and landing, the pilot in command 
must make a reasonable plan to oper-
ate the rotorcraft outside of the cau-
tion/warning/avoid area of the limiting 
height/velocity diagram. 

(c) Except for the approach to and 

transition from a hover for the purpose 
of takeoff and landing, during takeoff 
and landing, or when necessary for 
safety of flight, the pilot in command 
must operate the rotorcraft in compli-
ance with the plan described in para-
graph (b) of this section. 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–1563; Amdt. No. 136–2, 
88 FR 48091, July 26, 2023] 

§§ 136.15–136.29 [Reserved] 

Subpart B—National Parks Air Tour 

Management 

S

OURCE

: Docket No. FAA–1998–4521, 72 FR 

6912, Feb. 13, 2007, unless otherwise noted. 

§ 136.31 Applicability. 

(a) This part restates and para-

phrases several sections of the Na-
tional Parks Air Tour Management Act 
of 2000, including section 803 (codified 
at 49 U.S.C. 40128) and sections 806 and 

809. This subpart clarifies the require-
ments for the development of an air 
tour management plan for each park in 
the national park system where com-
mercial air tour operations are flown. 

(b) Except as provided in paragraph 

(c) of this section, this subpart applies 
to each commercial air tour operator 
who conducts a commercial air tour 
operation over— 

(1) A unit of the national park sys-

tem; 

(2) Tribal lands as defined in this sub-

part; or 

(3) Any area within one-half mile 

outside the boundary of any unit of the 
national park system. 

(c) This subpart does not apply to a 

commercial air tour operator con-
ducting a commercial air tour oper-
ation— 

(1) Over the Grand Canyon National 

Park; 

(2) Over that portion of tribal lands 

within or abutting the Grand Canyon 
National Park; 

(3) Over any land or waters located in 

the State of Alaska; or 

(4) While flying over or near the Lake 

Mead Recreation Area, solely as a 
transportation route, to conduct a 
commercial air tour over the Grand 
Canyon National Park. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2001–8690, 67 FR 65667, Oct. 25, 
2002. Redesignated and amended by Amdt. 
136–1, 72 FR 6912, Feb. 13, 2007] 

§ 136.33 Definitions. 

For purposes of this subpart— 
(a) 

Commercial air tour operator 

means 

any person who conducts a commercial 
air tour operation. 

(b) 

Existing commercial air tour oper-

ator 

means a commercial air tour oper-

ator that was actively engaged in the 
business of providing commercial air 
tour operations over a national park at 
any time during the 12-month period 
ending on April 5, 2000. 

(c) 

New entrant commercial air tour op-

erator 

means a commercial air tour op-

erator that— 

(1) Applies for operating authority as 

a commercial air tour operator for a 
national park or tribal lands; and 

(2) Has not engaged in the business of 

providing commercial air tour oper-
ations over the national park or tribal 

555 

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT 

§ 136.37 

lands for the 12-month period preceding 
enactment. 

(d) 

Commercial air tour operation

— 

(1) Means any flight, conducted for 

compensation or hire in a powered air-
craft where a purpose of the flight is 
sightseeing over a national park, with-
in 

1

⁄

2

mile outside the boundary of any 

national park, or over tribal lands, dur-
ing which the aircraft flies— 

(i) Below 5,000 feet above ground level 

(except for the purpose of takeoff or 
landing, or as necessary for the safe op-
eration of an aircraft as determined 
under the rules and regulations of the 
Federal Aviation Administration re-
quiring the pilot-in-command to take 
action to ensure the safe operation of 
the aircraft); 

(ii) Less than 1 mile laterally from 

any geographic feature within the park 
(unless more than 

1

⁄

2

mile outside the 

boundary); or 

(iii) Except as provided in § 136.35. 
(2) The Administrator may consider 

the following factors in determining 
whether a flight is a commercial air 
tour operation for purposes of this sub-
part— 

(i) Whether there was a holding out 

to the public of willingness to conduct 
a sightseeing flight for compensation 
or hire; 

(ii) Whether a narrative that referred 

to areas or points of interest on the 
surface below the route of the flight 
was provided by the person offering the 
flight; 

(iii) The area of operation; 
(iv) The frequency of flights con-

ducted by the person offering the 
flight; 

(v) The route of flight; 
(vi) The inclusion of sightseeing 

flights as part of any travel arrange-
ment package offered by the person of-
fering the flight; 

(vii) Whether the flight would have 

been canceled based on poor visibility 
of the surface below the route of the 
flight; and 

(viii) Any other factors that the Ad-

ministrator and Director consider ap-
propriate. 

(3) For purposes of § 136.35, means any 

flight conducted for compensation or 
hire in a powered aircraft where a pur-
pose of the flight is sightseeing over a 
national park. 

(e) 

National park 

means any unit of 

the national park system. (See title 16 
of the U.S. Code, section 1, 

et seq.

) 

(f) 

Tribal lands 

means that portion of 

Indian country (as that term is defined 
in section 1151 of title 18 of the U.S. 
Code) that is within or abutting a na-
tional park. 

(g) 

Administrator 

means the Adminis-

trator of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration. 

(h) 

Director 

means the Director of the 

National Park Service. 

(i) 

Superintendent 

means the duly ap-

pointed representative of the National 
Park Service for a particular unit of 
the national park system. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2001–8690, 67 FR 65667, Oct. 25, 
2002. Redesignated and amended by Amdt. 
136–1, 72 FR 6912, Feb. 13, 2007; Amdt. 136–1, 72 
FR 31450, June 7, 2007] 

§ 136.35 Prohibition of commercial air 

tour operations over the Rocky 

Mountain National Park. 

All commercial air tour operations in 

the airspace over the Rocky Mountain 
National Park are prohibited regard-
less of altitude. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2001–8690, 67 FR 65667, Oct. 25, 
2002. Redesignated by Amdt. 136–1, 72 FR 
6912, Feb. 13, 2007] 

§ 136.37 Overflights of national parks 

and tribal lands. 

(a) 

General. 

A commercial air tour 

operator may not conduct commercial 
air tour operations over a national 
park or tribal land except— 

(1) In accordance with this section; 
(2) In accordance with conditions and 

limitations prescribed for that oper-
ator by the Administrator; and 

(3) In accordance with any applicable 

air tour management plan for the park 
or tribal lands. 

(b) 

Application for operating authority. 

Before commencing commercial air 
tour operations over a national park or 
tribal lands, a commercial air tour op-
erator shall apply to the Administrator 
for authority to conduct the operations 
over the park or tribal lands. 

(c) 

Number of operations authorized. 

In 

determining the number of authoriza-
tions to issue to provide commercial 
air tour operations over a national 
park, the Administrator, in coopera-
tion with the Director, shall take into