The Maui News
Hawaii U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono and Hawaii U.S. Representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda introduced two bills that will improve air tour safety and reduce noise for local residents.
The Air Tour and Skydiving Safety Improvement Act, first introduced by Senators Schatz and Hirono in 2020, will create new safety standards that protect passengers on air tours and improve the safety of skydiving flights in Hawaii and across the country.
The Hawaii Air Tour Management Act will require the Federal Aviation Administration to work with the state to create a new management plan that reduces the noise of these tours.
In Hawaii, at least 85 people have died in air tour crashes since the National Transportation Safety Board began keeping records – the highest number of any state, according to a news release. Because of a gap in federal law, certain commercial air tour operators are subject to less stringent safety standards that were intended for small, private recreational flights.
Most commercial air tours and charter flight operators are subject to more rigorous safety and training standards, the news release said.
The Air Tour and Skydiving Safety Improvement Act closes the loophole for commercial air tour operators and improves regulations to be more in line with those of larger flight operations, the news release said.
“Air tours contribute to Hawaii’s tourism economy, but repeated crashes and safety incidents have underscored the need to do more to protect passengers, operators, and communities,” said Senator Hirono in a news release. “Safety must be the top priority for air tour operators. This bill will help prevent future tragedies by strengthening the safety regulations governing air tours in Hawai’i and across the county.”
The bill also requires small aircraft tour operators to use warning systems for remote terrain flights, begins a process to improve data collection to track these flights, and aims to improve pilot training and aircraft maintenance for parachute operators. It is supported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association.
The Hawaii Air Tour Management Act would require the FAA Administrator to work with the Gov. Josh Green to establish an air tour management plan for all parts of the state not already covered by a National Park air tour management plan.
“The constant noise and tragic number of accidents we’ve seen in Hawai’i have made it clear that we need to do more to both make air tours less disruptive for residents and safer for passengers and pilots,” Senator Schatz said. “Our two bills will apply new standards to make air tours safer, help air tour companies operate more responsibly, and reduce noise.”
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