simulation to rehearse at-risk scenarios and develop safe decision-making.
• Another USHST team is completing research papers providing extensive safety information for pilots about enhanced vision systems and stability augmentation systems.
• The USHST is collaborating with the GAJSC to promote their new reference tool for pilots about how impairment can be caused by certain over-the- counter medications.
• In order to reinforce a culture of safety among pilots within the helicopter community, the USHST is working with the FAASTeam to present a nationwide series of “Go Local” workshops. The two-hour session dives deeply into one specific helicopter accident, discusses the tragedy of lost lives, and helps pilots see that many operational decisions are not black and white choices. Workshops have been hosted by FAASTeam managers in Phoenix and Fort Worth and we have FAASTeam commitments for 2020 in these 12 cities: Little Rock, Milwaukee, Memphis, Oakland, Salt Lake City, Baton Rouge, Denver, Houston, Columbia SC, Greensboro NC, Washington DC, and Portland, OR. Detailed information about proposed USHST safety enhancements aimed at reducing the number of fatal accidents can be found at
www.USHST. org. The enhancements are organized into five safety categories: Visibility and Loss of Control, Risk Management, Enhanced Training, Technology Support and Pilot Competency. Each year, the U.S. helicopter industry safely flies more than 3.2 million flight hours. Let’s work together to build on that safe record and eliminate the small number of accidents that do occur.
NATA SUBMITS PROPOSED CHANGES TO NFPA
409: STANDARD ON AIRCRAFT HANGARS The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announces it has submitted proposed changes to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 409: Standard on Aircraft Hangars, addressing the issue of foam fire-suppression systems in aircraft hangars. NATA’s comments were developed through a collaboration with its members and the aviation industry. The Association’s comments were also based on the University of Maryland’s research report, “Review of Foam Fire Suppression System Discharges in Aircraft Hangars,” written by Dr. James Milke and undergraduate students from the Department of Fire Protection Engineering, of which Dr. Milke serves as Chair. “The recent report from the University of Maryland confirms what our industry has known for years, that
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foam fire-suppression systems are not necessary for most hangars, incredibly burdensome, and end up being a costly solution in search of a problem. The data shows that the risk of a fuel fire in a business aviation hangar is virtually nonexistent, while the risk of a foam system inadvertently discharging and damaging aircraft and the environment is incredibly high — amounting to 137 false discharges since 2004,” states NATA COO, Tim Obitts. “We are excited to propose these sensible changes
to NFPA 409 that help align the standard with the reality of our industry,” says Megan Eisenstein, NATA’s director of Regulatory Affairs. NATA’s proposed changes address three key elements that will assist in reducing the risk of aircraft and environmental damage from hangar foam fire- suppression systems: Create a new category of hangar called “Hazardous Operations.” This classification will apply to hangars that permit higher risk operations such as doping, hot work, in-hangar fuel transfers, and spray finishing. Typical FBO hangars that are not classified as “Hazardous Operations” would not require foam. Increase the maximum door height requirement for
Group II hangars from 28 feet to 35 feet. Reinstate the “Cluster Hangar” exemption that was
mistakenly removed during the previous 2016 NFPA 409 revision cycle. NATA is continuing to ask the industry to register its support of these comments through the website
www.NoFoamForGA.com. To date, the online support petition has been signed by 337 individuals representing 189 aviation businesses. The NFPA 409 Technical Committee on Airport Facilities will meet in early 2020 to begin reviewing the public’s comments. The next revision of NFPA 409 will be published in 2021.
STANDARDAERO ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND
OVERHAUL FACILITY IN CANADA In a celebratory ceremony attended by a number of helicopter operators, industry OEMs and local government officials, StandardAero announced the opening of its newest helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, continuing its longstanding commitment to the strategic Richmond, BC, area and to providing comprehensive aftermarket services to the dense helicopter industry in the Pacific Northwest and global community alike. The opening of the new StandardAero Vancouver
facility is the culmination of StandardAero’s efforts in establishing dedicated Centers of Excellence to
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