NOAA Regulated Overflight Zone
To protect seabirds and marine mammals, Federal Regulations prohibit disturbing wildlife in the
sanctuary by operating aircraft below 2,000 feet, within one nautical mile of the coast and offshore
rocks and islands. Failure to maintain a minimum altitude of 2,000 feet above ground level over
any such waters is presumed to disturb marine mammals or seabirds (15 CFR Part 922.152.)
While this regulation was not intended to affect takeoff and landings from the Copalis Beach
airstrip, pilots need to be aware of the regulation. To be in compliance, pilots traveling north
from Copalis Airport and flying along the shoreline should ascend to 2,000' as soon as it is safe
and practicable.
View the Overflight Zone Poster for a visual guide.
Download a printable flyer of the NOAA Regulated Overflight Zone Poster.
(3.8Mb pdf)
For more information on the Copalis Beach State Airport, see
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/AllStateAirports/CopalisBeach_CopalisState.htm
Additional information for pilots can be found on NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries main
website, http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/flight/.
For information about regulations that could affect your flight plan along the
Olympic coast contact:
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
115 East Railroad Ave
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 457-6622
olympiccoast@noaa.gov
Contact for page content: George Galasso
