Court Upholds Ban On Helicopter Tours Above Mt. Rushmore, Badlands Parks

"A federal circuit court has upheld a recent prohibition on helicopter tours over Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park in South Dakota, rejecting motions from aircraft companies to repeal the ban.

The ban on commercial air tours, which went into effect last month, was the result of an air tour management plan completed by the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in mid-November.

Specifically, the plan put an end to all aerial tours and within a half mile of the park’s boundaries, with a goal of preserving natural and cultural resources, sacred tribal sites and wilderness character, according to the government agencies."

Sharon Udasin reports for The Hill June 10, 2024.