Press Releases

FAA to raise the bar on helo certification rules

The FAA is about to change helicopter certification rules to align them with the current performance levels of the aircraft they regulate. The rules, in effect, are catching up with the improved capabilities of modern rotorcraft.

The agency issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) last August, and the comment period was to end on October 23.

The proposed changes affect Part 27 (normal category) and Part 29 (transport category) regulations. Part 27 applies to helicopters that weigh 7,000 pounds or less and have nine seats or fewer, up to the size of a Eurocopter EC 135 or Bell 429. Part 29 applies to larger helicopters, from the EC 145 or Bell 430 and up, for example.

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