Those who felt that the new rules governing flights
over the Grand Canyon were too lenient now have something to cheer:
On Jan. 3, the Federal Aviation Adminstration issued a separate
rule banning all commercial flights over Colorado’s Rocky Mountain
National Park.
“This is fabulous news to bring
in the New Year,” said Colorado Rep. David Skaggs, D. “It’s what
I’ve been working for – to guarantee that visitors can enjoy the
astounding beauty of the park without being buzzed by low-flying
helicopters or sightseeing planes.”
Unlike the
new Grand Canyon restrictions, this ban met with little opposition
since there are presently no commercial sightseeing flights over
the park. “Too often we wait until peace and tranquillity are
destroyed before realizing that they are landscape values worth
protecting,” says Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. “This time
we’re doing it right.”
The ban will remain in
place until the FAA develops a rule governing flights over all
national parks. And even then, Skaggs is sure the ban will hold:
“I’m confident we will be able to retain this protection for the
park.”
* Elizabeth
Manning
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Silence wins in Colorado.
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