HAI Members to Testify before Congress about Rushed Rules Limiting Park Air Tours

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HAI members to testify before Congress about rushed rules limiting park air tours

Two HAI members, Mark A. Schlaefli and Jake Tomlin, will tell Congress Dec. 5 that the National Park Service and the FAA have overstepped by limiting, and in some cases eliminating, air park tours without consideration of the economic, environmental, and access ramifications for the public and air tour operators.

HAI: 75 Years of Service

HAI WAS THERE: Working with industry sectors to ensure safety

HAI continues to develop safety programming for industries that rely on helicopters to carry out their operations. The utilities industry is one example.

HAI at Work

Advocating for You, Dec. 4, 2023

The HAI Government Affairs team on the US Senate’s FAA reauthorization bill, a House subcommittee hearing on air tour management plan progress, and airport landing fees in Torrance, California. Plus, HAI US Western Regional Rep Chuck Street writes about his recent outreach activities.

HAI Member News

Rotor Technologies introduces uncrewed R550X (VIDEO)

Rotor Technologies has introduced the R550X, an uncrewed autonomous helicopter based on the Robinson R44 Raven II.

Airbus highlights how helicopters contribute to firefighting operations

Airbus Helicopters has published a feature about the essential role that helicopters play in wildfire suppression as fire season starts in Latin America.

Vertical Aerospace receives notice from New York Stock Exchange

Vertical Aerospace has informed the New York Stock Exchange of its commitment to meet listing standards after receiving notice that the company’s shares have not closed above $1 over the preceding 30 trading days.

Beta to invest $41M in electric aircraft facility in New York

Beta Technologies is partnering with Clinton County in New York to expand its flight test and delivery center at Plattsburgh International Airport (KPBG).

Bell interviews Pegasus Aero Group CEO about firefighting missions

Bell has published a Q&A with Pegasus Aero Group CEO Héctor Tamarit Almagro from last week’s EUROPEAN ROTORS 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Industry News

Volatus, eVertiSKY to collaborate on UAM living lab

Volatus Infrastructure & Energy Solutions has signed an agreement with eVertiSKY to partner on urban air mobility (UAM) projects including a living lab in 2024 and the adoption of software-defined airspace.

Air medical operators fly through economic turbulence

(AIN) - Below-cost reimbursements threaten the air medical industry, as Air Methods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October amid mounting debt, influenced by private equity investment and legislative changes.

How We Serve

New Zealand helicopter rescue crew prepares for busy season

(Stuff) - Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter crew members are gearing up for the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The charity has conducted nearly 400 missions across the South Island during 2023.

Regulatory News

FAA proposes extending CVR requirements to 25 hours

The FAA is proposing an amendment to cockpit voice recorder (CVR) regulations to increase the recording duration from 2 hours to 25 hours for all newly manufactured aircraft.

Safety

FAA Safety Briefing: Keeping the cabin warm and safe

The FAA is recommending that maintenance technicians remind general aviation pilots of the potential hazards of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in heated cabins, including installing a CO detector if they don’t already have one.

FAA flight advisory: GPS interference testing, Fort Moore, Georgia, Dec. 6–10

GPS testing is scheduled for Dec. 6–10 at Fort Moore, Georgia, and may result in an unreliable or unavailable GPS signal.

Understanding the risk of unanticipated yaw (VIDEO)

(Safety for Flight) - This European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) video explains the phenomenon of unanticipated yaw and what actions pilots should take in flight to recover if this situation occurs.

Accidents & Incidents

To learn how HAI is working with the industry to prevent VTOL accidents, visit VAST.aero and USHST.org.

NTSB investigates helicopter accident in Texas (VIDEO)

(KTAB/KRBC) – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed that a helicopter crash near Sterling City resulted in the death of at least one person.