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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to release a new advisory circular (AC 136-B048) that may impact helicopter tour operations in Hawaii. The draft, which was introduced last year, aims to enhance safety by restricting the altitudes at which tour aircraft can operate. However, operators like Maverick Helicopters Hawaii have raised concerns that these changes could negatively affect safety.
Currently, FAA regulations under Part 136, Appendix A require helicopters to maintain minimum altitudes of 1,500 feet except during takeoff and landing. Operators have been using a deviation manual since 2008 that allows for certain exceptions. Jake Harmon, chief pilot at Maverick Hawaii, stated that the FAA intends to eliminate this manual and enforce strict adherence to the altitude limits unless unforeseen weather conditions arise.
Harmon expressed disappointment with the FAA's response after operators voiced their concerns earlier this year. "Our expectation was that these were safety concerns," he said. "They didn’t do anything."
