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I would say this about TOPS: We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with TOPS moving forward. TOPS has established itself as a leader in the helicopter safety space, and we are excited to leverage the years of industry knowledge that the TOPS team brings to the table to improve our practices, procedures, and policies.”
-Ryan Harbison, general manager & VP of business operations, Breeze Helicopters
In 2020, TOPS members recognized that a large portion of the air tour industry was errantly being excluded from its membership due to the sole focus on Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 certificate operators. One of TOPS’ goals is to be more representative of the air tour industry. As a result, a new category of membership was established to help mentor small FAR Part 91 operators and raise the level of safety for the whole industry. The Transitional Member is an operator who has air tour/
sightseeing operation(s) as an integral part of their business, but does not meet all the standards of the Program of Safety. The process includes a gap analysis and a 24-month timeline for full conformance with TOPS standards.
This inclusion of a new class of tour operators is proving to be effective. Several operators who previously would not have considered being a part of TOPS, including Panhandle Helicopter in Panama City Beach, Florida, and Breeze
“ Jan/Feb 2022
Helicopters in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, are now participating and appreciating the benefits. They now have access to TOPS operators’ resources and experiences to facilitate operational growth, improved training, professional development, and safety management. This involvement also can provide a pathway for aspiring personnel to join larger air tour operators in the future. The Transitional Membership will continue to evolve as TOPS learns how to better support these operators.
From the very first conversation I had with the members of TOPS, I could see how genuinely proud they were to explain what sets the ‘Tour Operators Program of Safety’ apart from other safety organizations. Immediately, I was inspired by their passion and commitment to going above and beyond the standard safety regulations in our industry.”
-Chynna Rosett, general manager, Panhandle Helicopter
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