FAA delays deadline for new helicopter safety requirements

Washington – The Federal Aviation Administration has extended to April 22, 2015, the deadline for certain provisions aimed at improving safety among commercial helicopter and helicopter air ambulance operations.

FAA issued a final rule on Feb. 21 in response to a trend of injuries and fatalities. Among the requirements originally set to go into effect April 22, 2014, are enhanced operating procedures and training for flying in bad weather and at night or when landing in remote locations.

FAA issued the extension after receiving feedback from the industry indicating that the original deadline would not leave enough time for implementation and conducting pilot training. FAA also will use the extension to create detailed guidance materials, the agency announced in a press release.

Deadlines for other provisions in the rule that already were postponed to later years, such as the requirement that air ambulances install data monitoring systems by 2018, will not be affected by the extension.