Helicopter Air Ambulance, Commercial Helicopter, and Part 91 Helicopter Operations
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This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 02/21/2014 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2014-03689, and on FDsys.gov [4910-13] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Parts 91, 120, and 135 [Docket No.: FAA-2010-0982; Amdt. Nos. 91-330; 120-2; 135-129] RIN 2120–AJ53 Helicopter Air Ambulance, Commercial Helicopter, and Part 91 Helicopter Operations AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule addresses helicopter air ambulance, commercial helicopter, and general aviation helicopter operations. To address an increase in fatal helicopter air ambulance accidents, the FAA is implementing new operational procedures and additional equipment requirements for helicopter air ambulance operations. This final rule also increases safety for commercial helicopter operations by revising requirements for equipment, pilot testing, and alternate airports. It increases weather minimums for all general aviation helicopter operations. Many of these requirements address National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations, and are already found in FAA guidance. Today’s changes are intended to provide certificate holders and pilots with additional tools and procedures that will aid in preventing accidents. DATES: This rule is effective [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Affected parties, however, do not have to comply with the information collection requirements in §§ 120.105(i), 120.215(a)(9), 135.615, 135.617, 135.619, and 135.621 until the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approves the collection and assigns a control number under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The FAA will publish in the Federal Register a notice of the control number assigned by OMB for these information collection requirements. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in §§ 135.168 and 135.605 is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of [INSERT DATE 60 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. ADDRESSES: For information on where to obtain copies of rulemaking documents and other information related to this final rule, see “How to Obtain Additional Information” in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions about this action contact Andy Pierce, Aviation Safety Inspector, Flight Standards Service, 135 Air Carrier Operations Branch, AFS-250, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8238; e-mail [email protected]. For legal questions about this action contact Dean E. Griffith, Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-220, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-3073; e-mail [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for this Rulemaking The FAA’s authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code (U.S.C.). This rulemaking is promulgated under the general authority described in 49 U.S.C. 106(f) and 44701(a), and the specific authority set forth in section 306 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95), which is now codified at 49 U.S.C. 44730. 2 Specifically, 49 U.S.C. 44730 requires that part 135 certificate holders providing air ambulance services comply with part 135 regulations pertaining to weather minimums and flight and duty time when medical personnel are onboard the aircraft. The statute also directs the FAA to conduct rulemaking on helicopter air ambulance operations to address: (1) flight request and dispatch procedures; (2) pilot training standards for preventing controlled flight into terrain and recovery from IIMC; and (3) safety-enhancing technology and equipment, including, HTAWS, radio altimeters, and, to the extent feasible, devices that perform the function of flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. Further, section 44730 requires the rulemaking to address: (1) flight risk evaluation programs; and (2) operational control centers for helicopter air ambulance services with 10 or more helicopters. In addition, the statute directs the FAA to issue a final rule by June 1, 2012 with respect to the NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2010 (75 FR 62640). List of Abbreviations and Acronyms Used In This Document AC—Advisory Circular ARC—Aviation Rulemaking Committee AWOS—Automated Weather Observation System CFIT—Controlled Flight into Terrain CVR—Cockpit Voice Recorder ELT—Emergency Locator Transmitter EMS—Emergency Medical Service FDR—Flight Data Recorder FDMS—Flight Data Monitoring System FOQA—Flight Operational Quality Assurance 3 GPS—Global Positioning System HEMS—Helicopter Emergency Medical Services HTAWS—Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System ICAO—International Civil Aviation Organization IFR—Instrument Flight Rules IMC—Instrument Meteorological Conditions LARS—Light-weight Aircraft Recording System MHz—Megahertz MEL—Minimum Equipment List MOU—Memorandum of Understanding NM—Nautical Mile NPRM—Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NTSB—National Transportation Safety Board NVG—Night Vision Goggles NVIS—Night-Vision Imaging System OCC—Operations Control Center OCS—Operations Control Specialist OpSpec—Operations Specification PinS—Point-in-Space Approach PV—Present Value SAFO—Safety Alert for Operators TAWS—Terrain Avoidance and Warning System TSO—Technical Standard Order 4 VFR—Visual Flight Rules VMC—Visual Meteorological Conditions Table of Contents I. Executive Summary II. Background A. Statement of the Problem B. Related Actions C. NTSB Recommendations D. Congressional Action E. Summary of the NPRM F. General Overview of Comments III. Discussion of Public Comments and Final Rule A. Weather Minimums for Helicopters Flying under Visual Flight Rules in Class G Airspace (§ 91.155) B. Load Manifest Requirement for all Aircraft Operating under Part 135 (§ 135.63) C. Rules Applicable to All Part 135 Helicopter Operations. 1. Radio Altimeter (§ 135.160) 2. Safety Equipment for Overwater Operations (§§ 1.1, 135.117, 135.167, and 135.168) 3. Pilot Testing for Recovery from IIMC, Whiteout, Brownout, and Flat-light Conditions (§ 135.293) 4. IFR Alternate Airport Weather Minimums (§ 135.221) D. Rules Applicable to Helicopter Air Ambulance Operations 1. Applicability of Part 135 Rules to Helicopter Air Ambulance Operations (§§ 135.1, 135.267, 135.271, 135.601) 2. Weather Minimums (§ 135.609) 3. IFR Operations at Airports without Weather Reporting (§ 135.611) 4. Approach/Departure IFR Transitions (§ 135.613) 5. VFR Flight Planning (§ 135.615) 6. Pre-flight Risk Analysis (§ 135.617) 7. Operations Control Centers (§§ 135.619, 120.105, and 120.215) 8. Briefing of Medical Personnel (§§ 135.117, 135.621) 9. Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS) (§ 135.605) 10. Flight Data Monitoring System (§ 135.607) 11. Pilot Instrument Ratings (§ 135.603) E. General Comments IV. Regulatory Notices and Analysis A. Regulatory Evaluation B. Regulatory Flexibility Determination C. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis D. International Trade Impact Assessment E. Unfunded Mandates Assessment F. Paperwork Reduction Act G. International Compatibility 5 H. Environmental Analysis I. Regulations Affecting Intrastate Aviation in Alaska V. Executive Order Determinations A. Executive Order 13132, Federalism B. Executive Order 13211, Regulations that Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use VI. How to Obtain Additional Information A. Rulemaking Documents B. Comments Submitted to the Docket C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act Table 1 Affected Entities Table 2 Comparison of Benefits and Costs over 10 Years by Population Table 3 Costs Over 10 Years by Rule Provision Table 4 VFR Minimum Altitudes and Visibility Requirements Table 5 SBA Size Standards Table 6 Cost and Present Value (PV) Costs for Small Air Ambulance Operators that Apply to the Paperwork Provision I. Executive Summary The provisions of this rule are directed primarily toward helicopter air ambulance operations and all commercial helicopter operations conducted under part 135. This rule also establishes new weather minimums for helicopters operating under part 91 in Class G airspace. For helicopter air ambulances, this rule requires operations with medical personnel on board to be conducted under part 135 operating rules and introduces new weather minimums and visibility requirements for part 135 operations. It mandates flight planning, preflight risk analyses, safety briefings for medical personnel, and the establishment of operations control centers (OCC) for certain operators to help with risk management and flight monitoring. The rule also includes provisions to encourage instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. It requires helicopter air ambulances to be equipped with both helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems (HTAWS) (the HTAWS will warn pilots about obstacles in their flight path), and flight 6 data monitoring systems. Finally, helicopter air ambulance pilots will be required to hold instrument ratings. For all helicopters operated under part 135, these rules require that operators carry more survival equipment for operations over water. Alternate airports named in flight plans must have higher weather minimums than are currently required. These helicopters must be equipped with radio altimeters and pilots must be able to demonstrate that they can maneuver