FAA Issues Final Rule Creating Stricter Helicopter Safety Procedures

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a landmark final rule today requiring stricter safety procedures for helicopters. The new rule requires helicopters, including ambulances, to implement stricter flight rules and procedures, to improve communications and pilot training, and to carry additional on-board safety equipment. The final rule was implemented in response to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and continued concerns about the high number of helicopter crashes. In crafting the rule, the FAA examined helicopter air ambulance accidents from 1991 through 2010 and determined 62 accidents that claimed 125 lives could have been mitigated by the new rule. Likewise, the FAA examined 20 commercial helicopter accidents from that same period that resulted in 39 fatalities. From 2011 through 2013, there were seven air ambulance accidents resulting in 19 fatalities and seven commercial helicopter accidents that claimed 20 lives. The new rule was to take effect on April 22, 2014 but compliance with the helicopter safety rule has been extended to April 22, 2015.  The FAA determined that more time was needed to develop guidance materials for the industry.  The deadlines for complying with the equipage requirements set out in the rule remain unchanged.