The use of aircraft for emergency operations including fire suppression, search and rescue and medical emergencies is considered appropriate under established policy and guidelines. Helicopters are also used for administrative support functions in the back country such fish stocking, biological surveys, etc. DEC fixed wing and helicopter flights, except in emergencies, are restricted to periods of low visitor use to reduce sound and visual intrusions. The "off-peak" period ranges from October 16 to May 24 annually. Aircraft use requires pre-approval by the Commissioner or by his designee (as defined by Chapter 8410 of DEC Policies and Procedures Manual, adopted 1974).
Noise exists over the wilderness due to commercial and private flights from nearby airports as well. All airspace is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); the states do not have the power to regulate their own air space. In cooperation with the Department of Defense and the State Office of Military and Naval Affairs, military overflights have been discontinued over much of the wilderness. However, a narrow flight path exists parallel to Long Lake and the Raquette River. Private flights are required to maintain a minimum horizontal and vertical clearance of 500 feet above or near natural obstructions such as mountaintops. In contrast, the FAA requires a 2,000 feet clearance above the terrain in federally designated wilderness areas. These specially defined areas, are clearly depicted on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aeronautical charts.