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Editor: James T. Crouse
Profession: Aviation Accident Attorney

Category: Helicopter Crashes

Since 1964, there have been 207 tour helicopter accidents in Hawaii - 34 of them fatal - killing 75 people. The fatalities were reported on five islands with one third of the fatalities reported from the island of Kauai. The NTSB investigated the latest two crashes on this island, found both crashes were probably caused by erroneous decisions by the pilots, then made recommendations to the FAA.

Nigel Turner, president and CEO of Heli USA, thinks the NTSB has "very good ideas" referring to it's recommendations for tour helicopters and added "I want to do anything to increase safety". Heli USA owned and operated one of the tour helicopters that flew into a storm, crashed, and killed three - Bali Hai owned the other which slammed into a mountain, killing all 5 on board.

David Chevalier, CEO of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, also supports the safety boards' recommendations saying, "We have to do everything within our power to reduce risks." His pilots are already being trained on the weather patterns in the state - one of the NTSB's recommendations due to the hazardous weather pattern that differ from island to island.

Chevalier also approved of the NTSB's call for National Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast technology on the air tour routes in Hawai'i. He said the new equipment will cost operators money, but said the extra degree of safety will be worth it. The sooner we get it here in Hawai'i, the better it will be, and the safer it will make things," he said.

Chevalier reports his company flies about 150,000 tourists a year - if the average cost of a 45 minute heli tour is $200 per person, that adds up to about $30 million per year in revenue for his company alone. Frieda is impressed Mr. Chevalier feels the extra safety for his passengers is worth the expense.

Tour Operators Program of Safety is an organization for tour helicopter companies which abides by tough regulations and annual audits. Only four of Hawaiian helicopter companies are members - Blue Hawaiian, Hawaii Helicopter of Maui, Sunshine Helicopters and Makani Kai Helicopters. One of these companies would be Frieda's choice of tour choppers because of their self imposed adherence to safety and willingness to be monitored. As Robert Butler executive director states, "We as an industry need to establish guidelines that are going to be even more restrictive than what the FAA requires . . .the industry should lead and not be regulated." Wow! To this Frieda says "AMEN" - what a concept! What a world this would be if all American companies - government included - would adopt this ethic of operation! (Frieda can always dream, can't she?)

NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS

The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended these regulations for tour helicopters:

Require all helicopters used in tours over the ocean, regardless of the amount of time over water, to be equipped with fixed or inflatable floats.

Develop a training program for tour pilots that specifically addresses Hawai'i weather patterns and in-flight procedures, and require that all helicopter tour operators provide the training to newly hired pilots.

Require operators to provide rest breaks and other operational practices for pilots to ensure performance and safety.

Develop a body or mechanism to oversee commercial air tour operations in Hawai'i and to enforce tour regulations.

Re-evaluate altitude restrictions in Hawai'i.

Require recurrent maintenance policies.

Create a system in Hawai'i that would use Global Positioning System satellites to give air tour pilots more information about local weather, air traffic and their location.

The last time the FAA toughened regulations for Hawaiian tour companies was in 1994 and these regulations proved effective in decreasing accidents. Ian Gregor, spokesman for the FAA, said, "We think the existing rule is a good rule, and it's been an effective rule," . . ."Of course, we're going to thoroughly review the NTSB's recommendations."

The FAA is once again reviewing recommendations from the NTSB - a formal response is promised within 90 days. Let's hope they not only review the recommendations, but they heed the words of the people involved in the industry - the ones with first hand experience, and they are open to the fact that after 17 years, the regulations may need a little "tweaking".

Stay tuned.