HANGAR TALK FAA Proposes Requiring
Pilot Certificates to Include Photos
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
American Eurocopter Delivers Fifth AS350 B3 To Phoenix Police Department’s Air Support Unit
American Eurocopter announced that it has delivered another AS350 B3 to the Phoenix Police Department’s Air Support unit. This is the fifth AS350 B3 in the unit’s fleet of helicopters that has grown to meet the needs of its citizens and its expanding cov- erage area.
The Phoenix Police
Department's Air Support Unit was established in 1973. The unit’s primary mission is to support to the Phoenix PD’s ground patrol units and it never closes. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and covers an area of more than 500 square miles with over 1.5 million res- idents.
The Air Support Unit began ROTORCRAFTPROFESSIONAL
operating AS350s in 2005. The unit’s coverage area has contin- ued to grow, so it has had to expand its fleet. The AS350 has been an integral part of the unit’s growth and has been a workhorse in the fleet. “Our helicopters need to have proven performance and reliability to handle the variety of missions we perform,” said Phil Tilford, Chief Pilot of the Phoenix Police Department’s Air Support Unit. “The AS350 B3 has been very dependable and has one of the lowest oper- ating costs in its class, so it was an easy choice.”
The AS350 is a powerful and
reliable aircraft that has estab- lished itself in the law enforce- ment community with unparal- leled visibility and proven law enforcement integration. With its unmatched performance, low operating costs, flexibility for extensive mission equipment options and added safety of its multiple-redundancy system design, the AS350 B3 has earned its reputation as a true multi-mission helicopter. ◆
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announced today it is proposing that all pilot certificates include photos of the certificate holder. This action follows a require- ment that all pilot certificates be made of plastic and contain security features, such as a holo- gram and an ultraviolet-sensi- tive layer, to prevent tampering, altering and counterfeiting. “The Department of
Transportation is committed to keeping the traveling public safe,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important safeguard to help make sure individuals can’t pose as pilots, whatever their inten- tions.”
Under the new FAA propos- al, pilots would obtain new cer- tificates on which their photo- graph would appear with a pro- posed expiration date of eight years. At the end of that time period, pilots would need to update their photo and obtain a new certificate. “Our current certificates are plastic and tamper-resistant, but this proposal will make them even more secure,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
If the proposal is finalized as proposed, all new airman cer- tificates and flight instructor
certificates would have to include a photograph. Existing pilots with a current commercial pilot certificate would have four years to comply, while a pilot with an airline transport pilot rating would have three years to obtain a new certificate with a photo. Existing private, recre- ational or sport pilot certificate holders would have five years to comply with the new require- ment.
If finalized, the resulting
final regulation will fulfill a pro- vision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which requires the FAA to issue plastic, tamper- resistant pilot certificates with photos.
Under the proposal, the cost of the new pilot certificate would be $22. That amount is compa- rable to drivers’ license fees in many states and would have to be renewed every eight years. The comment period for the proposed rule ends February 17, 2011. ◆
Enhanced Medical Helicopter Initiative Takes Flight
A long-time partnership between Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS) and Med-Trans Corp. has a new face and address – as well as a 2,700-pound royal blue helicopter. GHS has worked with Med-
Trans for 10 years, but now has partnered to locate GHS Med Trans, a dedicated helicopter, at GHS’ flagship Greenville Memorial Hospital. Having the
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