FAA Regulation Update

Responsible pilots and FBOs know the importance of staying aware of the latest FAA updates. To help you stay legal, compliant, and in the know, here are some of the FAA’s latest news and updates you should know about.

FAA issues significant ruling to improve helicopter safety

On Feb. 20, the FAA issued a final rule requiring helicopter operators, including air ambulances, to have stricter flight rules and procedures, improved communications, training, and additional on-board safety equipment. The ruling is in response to the government’s and industry’s concerns, and marks the most significant improvements to helicopter safety in decades.

According to the new ruling, all U.S. helicopter operators, including air ambulances, are required to use stricter flying procedures in bad weather to reduce the probability of collisions with terrain, obstacles, or other aircraft.

Within 60 days of the ruling, all helicopter operators will be required to use enhanced procedures for flying in challenging weather, at night, and when landing in remote locations. Within three years, helicopter air ambulances must use the latest on-board technology and equipment to avoid terrain and obstacles, and within four years, they must be equipped with flight data monitoring systems.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said of the ruling, “This is a landmark rule for helicopter safety. These improvements will better prepare pilots and better equip helicopters, ensuring a higher level of safety for passengers and crew.”

FAA bans flight crews from using PEDs during flight operations

On February 12, the FAA issued a final rule that reinforces that airline pilots and flight crews cannot use personal electronic devices (PEDs) for personal use during all flight operations.

Effective April 14, 2014, the ruling reinforces the FAA existing policies and procedures and meets an FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 mandate by prohibiting all commercial airline — both passenger and cargo — flight crews from using personal wireless communications devices or laptop computers for personal reasons during all aircraft operations.

Effective April 14, 2014, the ruling reinforces the FAA’s existing policies and procedures and meets an FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 mandate by prohibiting all commercial airline flight crews — both passenger and cargo — from using personal wireless communications devices or laptop computers for personal reasons during all aircraft operations.

The FAA’s 1981 "sterile cockpit" rule already forbids pilots to engage in distracting behavior during critical phases of flight, including take-off and landing, and the FAA has previously asked carriers to address the distraction issue through their crew training programs. The rule reflects current flight deck operating procedures and imposes minimal cost to the airlines.

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