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Articles for category Regulatory




Oct
17
2016

MX BY THE BOOK – Part 2

Posted by Admin

Though inspection is part of the FAA definition of maintenance, I kept it separate for three reasons: One, inspections have their own set of performance rules in Part 43. Two, in the course of aircraft maintenance, other than inspection, the mechanic selects the reference. In the case of an inspection program, the owner/operator selects the reference under authority in Part 91. And three, once an inspection program/reference has been selected, the mechanic is required by regulation to follow that reference. I’m sure everyone agrees the inspection process is an expensive recurring cost in maintaining an aircraft. And although it would be unwise for an owner/operator not to consult with a mechanic prior to selecting an inspection program, it happens. Even though a mechanic may know a more efficient program to follow, Part 43.15 mandates the mechanic to follow the selected inspection program. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryRegulatory categoryTraining



Sep
26
2016

Maximum Performance Takeoff — Into IMC?

Posted by Admin

A few months ago I was visiting a large helicopter flight school. While touring the school, I had the opportunity to sit in on a ground school class. The students were training toward their helicopter instrument rating, so the material being presented was on that topic. My initial impression was very positive. I thought: Wow, these young aviators are getting a great education in a highly standardized, quality-based training environment. The portion of the course I was observing was covering takeoff considerations during IMC conditions and the regulatory requirements identified in Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.175. All was going well ... and then I heard these words: “An instrument takeoff (ITO) is nothing more than a maximum performance takeoff into IMC.” Initially I thought I misheard the instructor, but it became quickly apparent that I had indeed heard correctly. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryCareer Development categoryTraining categorySafety categoryRegulatory



Sep
20
2016

REGULATORY IMPACTS ON HELICOPTER FINANCING - LEASING

Posted by Admin

“One of my great ambitions before I die is to fly in an aircraft that is on an airline's balance sheet.” – Sir David Tweedie at the Empire Club of Canada, 25 April 2008 With that statement, Sir David Tweedie changed the world. For nearly a decade, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) labored to create a new set of accounting standards governing leases. In the first quarter of this year, FASB finally released Topic 842 on leases, and IASB released IFRS 16 on leases. Let’s not rewrite the hundreds of pages that have already been written about the new standards, but do note that you can find some of the best at www.elfaonline.org/Issues/Accounting/. (Look especially for articles by Bill Bosco, who has very clear explanations.) The major takeaway is that now leases have to appear on corporate balance sheets. So why is this important to helicopters? While it's a truism that the oil industry drives the helicopter industry, it’s seldom mentioned—but just as true—that the availability of capital equally drives the helicopter industry. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryRegulatory categoryHelicopter Sectors



Aug
29
2016

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team Supports FAA Revisions to Autorotation Testing

Posted by Admin

The United States Helicopter Safety Team is offering a supportive voice to recent changes made by the Federal Aviation Administration in its Practical Test Standards (PTS) for helicopter instructors. (https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_standards/media/FAA-S-8081-7B.pdf) “The revision provides examiners a path to mitigate some risks associated with the Flight Instructor PTS requirements to demonstrate proficiency in the touchdown portion of an autorotation,” explains Raj Helweg, USHST industry co-chairman and chief pilot of Air Methods. “If a CFI applicant has proven competence with this touchdown portion of an autorotation prior to the evaluation, these revised test standards offer flexibility and a greater margin of safety by eliminating the requirement to repeat these maneuvers during the practical test.” [Read More...]



Categories: categorySafety categoryTraining categoryRegulatory



Aug
01
2016

Optimizing Mission Display Readability and Performance

Posted by Admin

Modern airborne video surveillance systems enable mission teams to search for objects of interest and observe unfolding events (either overtly or covertly) while recording and reporting what’s being observed. Improvements to a helicopter’s video surveillance system can significantly improve mission effectiveness. Ways to improve the system include: [Read More...]



Categories: categoryTraining categorySafety categoryRegulatory



Jul
24
2016

FAA Updated Guidance: Almost Lost in Translation

Posted by Admin

Beginning last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released several training-related guidance updates. These releases included advisory circulars, a national policy notice, and most recently, the Flight Instructor Helicopter Practical Test Standards (PTS). In several of my previous training articles, I referred to subject matter affected by the release of this new guidance. I would now like to review a few of the specific documents released by the FAA and provide an overview of how changes may affect you. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryTraining categoryRegulatory



Jun
13
2016

PHPA Speaks Out Regarding Helicopter Noise

Posted by Admin

Last month, the Professional Helicopters Pilots Association put out a statement regarding the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition (LAAHNC) Ongoing Efforts to Solicit Complaints Against Helicopter Noise which read: The Professional Helicopter Pilots Association is troubled with the LAAHNC’s ongoing efforts to solicit helicopter complaints from Los Angeles residents. Although we encourage people to utilize the Federal Aviation Administration’s automated helicopter noise complaint system when they are bothered by helicopter noise, it appears the LAAHNC may be encouraging people to “game” the system and make multiple complaints on single incidents or simply complain about any sort of noise and attribute that noise to helicopters. The LAAHNC also continues to proclaim that no progress with regard to helicopter noise has been made. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryRegulatory categoryHelicopter Sectors



Oct
12
2015

“I’m an NVG Instructor”…Are you sure?

Posted by Admin

In October 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released new regulations related to the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) in the US National Airspace System. Inclusive of these newly minted FARs was guidance on NVG pilot training and certification contained within FAR Part 61. Additionally, specific criteria was established to be an NVG Instructor. Although the regulation is clear as to the specific eligibility requirements to be an NVG Instructor, the guidance to provide an NVG instructor the required endorsement per FAR 61.195(k)(7) is non-existent. Since the release of these new regulations in 2009, FAA personnel have struggled to find unity among their colleagues on this issue. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryCareer Development categoryTraining categoryRegulatory



Jun
02
2015

How to Cut Your Helicopter Insurance Costs

Posted by Admin

Insurance is a necessity for helicopter owners. You need it to protect your investment and cover any liability costs should an accident occur. This said, there is no reason to pay more for insurance than you have to. So how do you reduce your policy costs? Here’s what helicopter insurance experts told us. [Read More...]



Categories: categoryRegulatory



May
18
2015

Game of Drones

Posted by Admin

The FAA has formally proposed a new Part 107 to the FARs covering unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds. It would allow these microdrones (what the FAA officially calls “small Unmanned Aircraft Systems” or “sUAS”) to be flown for commercial purposes by certificated DRone OPerators (DROPs) as long as they fly below 500 feet AGL within their line of sight, during the daytime, and outside Class A, B, C, and D airspace. DROPs can obtain certification by passing a knowledge test and a security screening, but they need not hold conventional pilots’ licenses, undergo skills testing or have minimum levels of flight experience. The public—obviously including the helicopter community—has until 24 April 2015 to submit comments, which can be done online at www.regulation.gov, by searching for the docket number: FAA-2015-0150-0017. [Read More...]

DroneBattles_1_Opener.jpg  DroneBattles_2.jpg  DroneBattles_3.jpg  DroneBattles_4.jpg 

Categories: categoryCareer Development categoryHelicopter Sectors categoryRegulatory


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