From The Editor
FAA Proposes New Safety Rules The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Oct 7, 2010, via a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), sweeping new equipment and regulation changes in an effort
to enhance the safety of all helicopter operations. While this action has been expected for many months, there will no doubt be a great deal of debate and political wrangling before any changes are actually put into place.
The NPRM process works like this; The FAA determines a particular need. They then gather information from both internal and external (operator) sources, conduct an analysis, hold a series of meetings, determine a reasonable solution, then present it to the Administrator. The Administrator then approves the plan and a NPRM is recorded in the Federal Register. Once that is complete a ninety‐day comment period begins, where all parties are given an opportunity to state their position, recommend changes, lobby for additions and deletions. Once the comment period has ended, in this case January 10, 2011, the Administrator then approves or disap‐ proves the final rules and the result becomes regulatory.
The Highlights ators;
As we go to press only a few of the industries associations have commented on the FAA’s proposals. The key word here is proposal. It is rare that the first NPRM is what actually becomes regulatory. The changes proposed by the FAA were not unexpected.
The ironic aspect of this NPRM is that most of the well established air medical ambulance operators already have deployed the equipment mentioned above, and adopted the proposed training and operational changes. This begs the question, what will these new rules actually change? One aspect which will change, should these proposals become rules, is that all air medical operators will be required to equip their aircraft, train their crews, and conduct their operations in a fair and standard manner. How that will be monitored remains to be seen.
What Is Missing What these proposals could mean for Air Ambulance oper‐
• Require Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS)
• Seeks comments on recording systems for light aircraft • Conduct all operations with any passengers under FAA Part 135
• Require Operational Control Centers if the operator has more than ten aircraft
• Mandate safety briefings for medical personnel • Amend requirements for visual and instrument flight planning
• Ensure pilots hold an Instrument Rating
What these proposals could mean for ALL commercial heli‐ copter operators:
• Revise Instrument alternate weather minimums • Pilots must demonstrate proficiency in the recovery from inadvertent IMC conditions
• Equip their aircraft with radar altimeters • Change the definition of “extended overwater opera‐ tions”
• Prepare, transmit, and establish procedures to keep a Load Manifest (passenger list) on file and accuracy
Ron Whitney Managing Editor
Many in the industry were quite surprised the FAA did not address what is believed to be the most pressing issue, flight at night or during reduced visibility. Night Vision Goggles, along with Enhanced Vision Systems have been proven to increase the safety margins when crews are properly trained in the use of such equipment. However, the FAA did not make a move to require this type of equipment, at this time. It is worth noting that the FAA, in their press release announcing the NPRM, felt it was necessary to measure and comment on the economic impact of these proposed rules. Begs another question, are we more concerned with the cost of safety?
We are very interested in your opinion on these new rules, send us an email and let us know what you think.
Best Regards,
4 EMS PRO Magazine
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52