Requests FAA Hold Public Hearings
In a letter sent to FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey on behalf of the National Air
Transportation Association (NATA) this week, Senator Conrad Burns
(R-MT), a key member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and
the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, requested
that the FAA hold public hearings on the National Air Tour Safety
Standards Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
The FAA notice proposes several additional requirements for
existing commercial air tour operators and mandates Part 135
commercial air carrier certification for most sightseeing
operations now permitted under private Part 91
regulations.
Currently, sightseeing operations that depart and return to the
same airport and that remain within 25 statute miles of that
airport are not required to hold a commercial air carrier
certificate. The FAA now proposes that the majority of these
operators obtain Part 135 certification. Only a few charitable
types of operations would remain exempt under this proposal. These
exempt operations also face new and limiting requirements under the
proposal.
Under the rule, all air tour operators would need to comply with
new standards above and beyond current Part 135 regulations.
Mandatory wearing of lifejackets by passengers whenever a flight
passes over water, installation of helicopter floats, minimum
altitudes and standoff distances would all be required by the NPRM
of all commercial air tours.
Of particular interest to both Senator Burns and NATA is the
economic impact of this proposed rule.
"Most disconcerting is the projected economic impact of this
rule," Burns stated in the letter. "By the FAA's own admission,
roughly 41% of the projected operators affected will be forced to
'exit the industry.'"
NATA says Senator Burns
joined the growing list of requests that the FAA hold public
meetings on the NPRM, stating, "Public meetings will provide the
FAA an opportunity to address the complete impact that the NPRM
will have on both pilots and small business owners, not only in
Montana, but also across the country."
"We are grateful for Senator Burns' support on this critical
NPRM and thank him for his continued leadership on general aviation
issues in the Senate," stated NATA president James K.
Coyne.
A copy of Senator Burns' letter can be found at the NATA
website.