Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

The new Congress is beginning with the introduction of&nbsp;bills potentially deleterious to&nbsp;the rotorcraft industry.&nbsp;

 


Last Monday, California Democrats Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Brad Sherman introduced the “Kobe and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act” that would mandate the installation of helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (HTAWS) and flight recorders in all helicopters capable of carrying more than six passengers. The bill is named after the late basketball legend and his daughter, who, along with seven others, died in a high-profile crash of a Sikorsky S-76B north of Los Angeles last January.

 


While the NTSB investigation is ongoing, flight track data from the aircraft suggests that the pilot suffered spatial disorientation after entering IMC and lost control of the helicopter. Nevertheless, Sherman proclaimed, "The Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act will finally direct the FAA to require these safety features for passenger helicopters to avoid tragedies like the one that claimed the life of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven others.”

 


The bill also would mandate the installation of crash-resistant cockpit voice and flight data recorders in Part 29 helicopters, no matter if operated either privately under Part 91 or commercially under Part 135. Equipment would need to be installed within one to two years&nbsp;of related FAA rulemaking following enactment.&nbsp;

 


Separately, Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) has reintroduced his “Safe and Quiet Skies Act” that would effectively end most heli-tourism in the U.S. Case’s bill would allow states, localities, and tribes to impose stricter regulations on tour flights in their jurisdictions, to include time, route, and frequency;&nbsp;require that tour flights fly above the 1,500 feet agl and&nbsp;be no louder than 55 dBA over occupied areas; prohibit pilots from acting as tour narrators; and ban flights over military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Capitol Hill Targets Helicopter Safety, Tourism

The new Congress begins with the introduction of  bills calling for mandatory HTAWS, seeking limits on air tours.

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Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent 

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Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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