Thu, Dec 23, 2010
Association Says All Commercial Rotorcraft Operators Will Be
Effected
Although the long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
was billed as a regulatory initiative aimed at helicopter air
medical operations, it goes well beyond that. It would affect other
Part 135 operations, all commercial helicopter operations, and even
Part 91 operations, according to Helicopter Association
International.
HAI says it has been receiving considerable feedback from air
medical operators and working closely with the Air Medical
Operators Association (AMOA) and the Association of Air Medical
Services (AAMS), both affiliates of HAI, in developing a response
to this major rulemaking proposal.
However, since the NPRM proposes new equipment requirements, new
weather minimums, and new training requirements, all of which could
affect operations beyond the air ambulance business, HAI is urging
broader participation in comments on the NPRM.
According to HAI:
- The NPRM would extend the Part 135 requirement that now applies
to multi-engine aircraft, requiring Part 135 operators to prepare a
load manifest document, including weight and balance, prior to any
flight. (It would allow operators to transmit a copy of the load
manifest documentation to their base of operations, in lieu of the
duplicate copy).
- The NPRM proposes to revise Part 91 Visual Flight Rules weather
minimums, changing the current requirement to remain clear of
clouds to clear of clouds with minimum visibility of a half mile in
daytime and one mile at night.
File Photo
For all commercial helicopter operations, the NPRM proposes
to:
- Revise instrument flight rules weather minimums for an
alternate airport.
- Require pilots to demonstrate competency in recovering from
inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions.
- Change the definition of “extended over-water
operation” for all helicopters operating under Part 135 and
require additional equipment for these operations. It also would
define “over-water operations” and require
electronically deployable life rafts for all flights operating over
water beyond autorotational distance from shore.
The NPRM also proposes to require radio altimeters for all
commercial helicopters.
The deadline for public comment is January 10, 2011.
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