Why is it illegal to fly over the Grand Canyon?

Why is the Grand Canyon restricted airspace? Sightseeing tour flights and private aircraft often make the airspace over the Canyon very busy. To reduce collision risk and control noise pollution, the FAA designates the Canyon a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA).



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Grand Canyon National Park is a small single runway airport located near the southeast rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The airspace north of the airport's Class Delta airspace is highly regulated and restricted.

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Below the rim. Only 5 percent of the roughly 6.25 million people who visit the Grand Canyon every year go below the rim, and only about 10 percent of those make it to the river.

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Look across the canyon and the elevation of the North Rim is 1,000 feet higher. If you've arrived from an elevation any lower than 4,000 feet, chances are you're going to feel the effects of the thin air: shortness of breath, light-headedness, and perhaps a tinge of a headache. So don't go full tilt right away.

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Helicopter Tours Flying Over the Grand Canyon Soar into adventure with a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon's spectacular landscapes. From the vantage point of a helicopter tour, you can gaze over the rim of the canyon to the Colorado River winding along its ancient floor.

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Firearm Information As of February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this park.

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You may not take rocks, fossils, plant specimens, or anything else out of the park except the items you brought in and the souvenirs you purchase during your visit. If you find antlers in the woods, leave them there.

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Enjoy breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon South Rim including Zuni Corridor, Imperial Point, the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers, Kaibab National Forest, and Kaibab Plateau. The flight duration of this Grand Canyon air tour is approximately 40-45 minutes.

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If you are already at the South Rim, a helicopter ride will add an extra thrill to your experience. It would also let you see parts of the Grand Canyon that you cannot see from the South Rim viewpoints, and learn interesting facts about the Grand Canyon from your pilot.

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They make early morning (before noon) Grand Canyon air tours at the West Rim your best bet, whether you go by plane or helicopter. A morning aerial tour will give you better visibility and a flight that's much smoother than in the afternoon.

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How much does it cost to be rescued from the Grand Canyon? While costs vary, most search-and-rescue efforts utilizing a helicopter for a few hours will be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. It can be more if a rescue takes longer than a few hours.

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The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters).

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