Urges Members To Contact Representatives Concerning The Alexander-Wyden Amendment

The Alexander-Wyden amendment, which would give the National Park Service unprecedented power to curtail air tour operations, passed in the U.S. Senate as part of the surface transportation bill this week. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is now urging its members to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in an effort to have the amendment stripped from the bill before passage there.

The language of the amendment gives the Director of the National Park Service the authority to establish air tour management plans, issue air tour permits for commercial air tour operations conducted in accordance with an air tour management plan, enter into a voluntary agreement with a commercial air tour operator, and issue interim operating permits under subsection. The FAA Administrator has the authority to ensure that any action taken under this section does not adversely affect aviation safety or the management of the national airspace system.

The amendment says that a commercial air tour operator would not be allowed to conduct commercial air tour operations over a national park or tribal lands, as defined by this section, except as outlined in the law and defined by the NPS. Before commencing commercial air tour operations over a national park or tribal lands, a commercial air tour operator would be required to apply to the Director for authority conduct such flights. The NPS would also have the authority to determine the number of authorizations that would be granted.

Even if the language is stripped by the House, it could be re-inserted in the bill in a conference committee.

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