Safety
FAA Moves To Improve Hawaii Air Tour Safety
Agency adds flexibility for weather avoidance
Hawaii air tour with helicopter
The FAA will allow Hawaii air tour operators to apply for authorizations to descend below the 1,500-foot agl minimum altitude to avoid unforecast weather. This minimum altitude was put in place to increase air tour safety after a spate of accidents in the 50th U.S. state.

Hawaiian commercial air tour operators can apply for FAA authorization to descend below the normal regulatory minimum altitude of 1,500 feet agl if it is for the purpose of weather avoidance, according to procedures proposed yesterday by the agency. The new procedures, including the application process for obtaining a letter of authorization, are outlined in draft Advisory Circular 136-B048.

The Advisory Circular would apply to air tours in the state operating under Part 121, 135, or 121/135 combined certificate holders (CH). “These authorizations are granted with conditions and limitations to enable CHs to remain in VMC and avoid entering unforecasted IMC,” the FAA said.

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