FAA considers tightening rules governing medical helicopters
According to the NY Times, the FAA is contemplating more stringent rules for the operation of medical helicopters, in the wake of several crashes involving medical helicopters. As part of the increased regulation, medical helicopters may be required to be outfitted with collision avoidance systems.
According to the article:
The agency’s move follows a series of fatal medical helicopter crashes over the last two years that have killed 35 people. In recent years, both the National Safety Transportation Board, which makes recommendations to the F.A.A., and air safety experts have criticized the agency for not moving more quickly to improve medical helicopter safety.
Previously, the F.A.A. took the position that helicopter operators could make safety changes more quickly if they acted voluntarily. But John Allen, the F.A.A.’s director of flight standards, testified at a Congressional hearing Wednesday that the agency, while recognizing the industry’s voluntary actions, would soon begin a rulemaking proceeding to mandate the use of certain safety equipment and procedures.
It is difficult to predict whether or not this same ethos will trickle into the regulating of other helicopters that currently operate in a similar fashion, regarding voluntary actions.
The string of recent medical helicopters has highlighted the risk involved with such operations. In the case of medical helicopters, it is pretty clear that the benefit derived is worth the risk. It would be very difficult to make that same argument for tourist and media helicopters.
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