The effects of aircraft overflights on visitors to U. S. National Parks

Aircraft overflights of public lands, and specifically of US National Parks, increasingly have become a source of sound intrusions into otherwise undisturbed natural environments. In response to both park management and public concern about the effects of these overflights, several studies have been conducted to examine the benefits and the impacts of aircraft flights over National Parks. This paper summarizes the methods and results of two such studies: 1) Dose-Response studies conducted at six sites in Grand Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Haleakala National Parks; 2) a Cognitive Survey conducted at a site in White Sands National Monument. In addition, this paper offers an approach for using the results of the Dose-Response studies to judge the relative impacts of aircraft overflights on visitors.