Definition
Federally protected land areas managed by the National Park Service. In an aviation context, pilots are requested to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level when flying over national parks, national monuments, wilderness areas, primitive areas, and similar designated sites, in order to reduce noise impact and avoid disturbing wildlife and visitors. This is an FAA advisory request, not a regulation, but it is treated as expected practice.
Plain English
When you fly over a national park or similar protected area, stay at least 2,000 feet above the ground. It is not a hard rule, but pilots are expected to do it to keep the area quiet and undisturbed.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA discussions of other airspace areas, flight planning, chart review, and noise-sensitive areas.
Derivation
National means belonging to or managed by the nation. Park comes from an older word for an enclosed or protected area. Together, National Parks are protected public lands managed at the federal level, which helps explain why pilots may see special overflight guidance for them.
Why Pilots Care
Violating altitude or operational limits over these areas can lead to enforcement action, fines, or certificate action.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a National Park is automatically prohibited airspace. In many cases it is a noise-sensitive area with a requested minimum overflight altitude, but some parks have specific rules that must be checked before flight.
Example Sentence 1
Planning a route across Yosemite, the pilot climbed to ensure she remained at least 2,000 feet above the terrain while crossing the national park.
Example Sentence 2
Route planning software flagged National Parks along the corridor and suggested an altitude adjustment.