Alabama Northwest Florida Flight Standards District Office Commercial Air Tour Operations
Welcome Pat E. Bruce FAA Frontline Manager Operations Richard J. Henry FAA Safety Team Program Manager Airworthiness Michael Harlow Eastern Service Center Air Traffic Organization pat.bruce@faa.gov 205-876-1300 richard.henry@faa.gov 205-876-1304 Michael.ctr.harlow @faa.gov 404-305-5476 2
City of Destin Public Meeting Interested Proponents Michael Harlow December 5, 2017
Michael Harlow Atlanta Eastern Service Area 4 4
5 Flight Standards District Offices 5
6 Flight Standards District Offices 6
7 Destin, FL 331 Watersports Alpine Salute/Sky Pirates Boogies Watersports Captain Jambos Destin Watersports Discount Watersports Ft Walton Beach Parasail Just Chute Me Parasail Pelican Adventures Sundogs Parasail Wet N Wild Watersports Xtreme H20 Watersports 7
8 Panama City Beach, FL Paradise Watersports Crazy Waverunners Parasails 8
9 Panama City Beach, FL 9
10 Panama City Beach, FL 10
11 Panama City Beach, FL 11
12 Panama City Beach, FL 12
13 Panama City Beach, FL 13
14 Panama City Beach, FL 14
15 Panama City Beach, FL 15
16 Why is the FAA concerned? FAA s primary mission is to ensure safety of civil aviation. Rules and Regulations for Safety Title 14 - Code of Federal Regulations Aeronautics and Space (14 CFR) 16
17 Prohibited or Restricted Areas 17
18 Prohibited or Restricted Areas 18
19 Prohibited or Restricted Areas 19
20 Prohibited or Restricted Areas 20
21 Prohibited or Restricted Areas 21
22 (14 CFR) Part 91 Aircraft Minimum Safe Altitudes 91.119 (c) Over other than congested areas: An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. 22
23 (14 CFR) Part 101 ESA Parasail Altitude Restriction After a second midair collision between an aircraft and a parasailing operation on August 6, 2011, the FAA inspector assigned to the case recommended, among other things, that the maximum altitude limit of 500 feet found in 14 CFR 101.13 and applied to parasailing operations be reduced to 400 feet to prevent conflict with aircraft. In July 2013, the FAA s ESA notified parasailing operators in its area of jurisdiction that future COAs would contain a special provision restricting the maximum altitude to 400 feet instead of 500 feet, with no exceptions. The ESA parasailing contact stated that the ESA imposed the altitude reduction to provide a 100-foot separation between any parasail aloft and bannertowing aircraft. (NTSB Special Investigation Report, 6/18/14.) 23
24 (14 CFR) Part 101 24
25 (14 CFR) Part 101 c 2 =a 2 +b 2 Line feet 2 = Altitude feet 2 + trailing boat feet 2 Margin for Safety 500 ft c a 400 ft b 25
26 (14 CFR) Part 101 26
27 (14 CFR) Part 101 27
28 Can t comply with every rule where to from here? 101.3 Waivers» No person may conduct operations that require a deviation from this part except under a certificate of waiver issued by the Administrator Currently processing 109th waiver for Calendar year 2017 in the Eastern Service Area 28
FAA Flight Standards Service The Flight Standards Service promotes safe air transportation by setting standards, providing certification, and conducting oversight of airmen, air operators, air agencies, and designees. 29
FAA Flight Standards Service Surveillance Inspect current users of the National Airspace System (NAS) to determine compliance with current 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Investigation Violations, Accidents, Incidents, Complaints Certification Certify new entrants into the NAS Safety Promotion FAA Safety Team 30
Alabama Northwest Florida Flight Standards Office Linda Silvertooth Office Manager Tim Hayes Airworthiness Frontline Manager Pat Bruce Operations Frontline Manager Richard Henry FAA Safety Team 10 Airworthiness Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) 4 Avionics ASI s 3 Operation ASI s 31
Destin Area Operations Seven (7) Banner Tow Authorizations operating 21 aircraft (District) Fifteen (15) Commercial Tour Authorization Holders operating 24 aircraft (District) Destin (DTS) Seventeen Air Operators utilizing 25 aircraft Authorization Holder Executive Operator Fixed Base Operator 32
Letter of Authorization - Commercial Tour Operations Aircraft Airmen Area of Operations 33
Letter of Authorization - Aircraft FAA Aircraft Airworthiness Inspection Type Certificate Conformance Weight and Balance Airworthiness Directives Inspection Status Aircraft Total Time 34
Letter of Authorization - Airmen Airman Ratings Flight Time Drug and Alcohol Testing 35
Letter of Authorization Area of Operation Special Air Traffic Rule, FAR Part 93 Valparaiso Terminal Area FAR Part 93 Airspace is very rare (Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Washington Reagan National) The challenge is to safely weave civilian, commercial and general aviation flying into the on-going and intense military mission of Eglin AFB. 36
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Regulations Pertaining to Commercial Air Tour Operators 14 CFR Part 91- General Operating and Flight Rules 14 CFR part 136 - Commercial Air Tours and National Parks Air Tour Management 38
14 CFR 91.111 Operating near other aircraft. 91.111 Operating near other aircraft. (a) No person may operate an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard. (b) No person may operate an aircraft in formation flight except by arrangement with the pilot in command of each aircraft in the formation. (c) No person may operate an aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, in formation flight. 39
91.119 Minimum Safe Altitudes: General (a)anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. (b)over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft. (c)over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. 40
14 CFR 91.119 Minimum Safe Altitudes: General (d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface - (1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and (2) A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums 41
14 CFR 91.147 Passenger Carrying Flights for Compensation or Hire. Each Operator conducting passenger-carrying flights for compensation or hire must meet the following requirements unless all flights are conducted under 91.146. (a) For the purposes of this section and for drug and alcohol testing, Operator means any person conducting nonstop passenger-carrying flights in an airplane or helicopter for compensation or hire in accordance with 119.1(e)(2), 135.1(a)(5), or 121.1(d), of this chapter that begin and end at the same airport and are conducted within a 25-statute mile radius of that airport. (b) An Operator must comply with the safety provisions of part 136, subpart A of this chapter, and apply for and receive a Letter of Authorization from the Flight Standards District Office nearest to its principal place of business. 42
91.147 Passenger carrying flights for compensation or hire (Continued) c) Each application for a Letter of Authorization must include the following information: (1) Name of Operator, agent, and any d/b/a (doing-business-as) under which that Operator does business; (2) Principal business address and mailing address; (3) Principal place of business (if different from business address); (4) Name of person responsible for management of the business; (5) Name of person responsible for aircraft maintenance; (6) Type of aircraft, registration number(s), and make/model/series; and 43
14 CFR 91.147 Passenger Carrying Flights for Compensation or Hire (Continued) (7) An Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program registration. (d) The Operator must register and implement its drug and alcohol testing programs in accordance with part 120 of this chapter. (e) The Operator must comply with the provisions of the Letter of Authorization received. 44
14 CFR Part 136, Subpart A - National Air Tour Safety Standards 136.7 Passenger briefings. (a) Before takeoff each pilot in command shall ensure that each passenger has been briefed on the following: (1) Procedures for fastening and unfastening seatbelts; (2) Prohibition on smoking; and (3) Procedures for opening exits and exiting the aircraft. (b) For flight segments over water beyond the shoreline, briefings must also include: (1) Procedures for water ditching; (2) Use of required life preservers; and (3) Procedures for emergency exit from the aircraft in the event of a water landing 45
14 CFR Part 136, Subpart A - National Air Tour Safety Standards (continued) 136.9 Life preservers for over water (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section, the operator and pilot in command of commercial air tours over water beyond the shoreline must ensure that each occupant is wearing a life preserver from before takeoff until flight is no longer over water. (b) The operator and pilot in command of a commercial air tour over water beyond the shoreline must ensure that a life preserver is readily available for its intended use and easily accessible to each occupant if: (1) The aircraft is equipped with floats; or (c) No life preserver is required if the overwater operation is necessary only for takeoff or landing. 46
14 CFR Part 136, Subpart A - National Air Tour Safety Standards (continued) 136.11 Helicopter floats for over water. (a) A helicopter used in commercial air tours over water beyond the shoreline must be equipped with fixed floats or an inflatable flotation system adequate to accomplish a safe emergency ditching, if (1) It is a single-engine helicopter, as provided in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). 47
14 CFR Part 136, Subpart A - National Air Tour Safety Standards (continued) (c) Fixed floats or an inflatable flotation system is not required for a helicopter under this section if: (1) The helicopter is over water only during the takeoff or landing portion of the flight, or (2) The helicopter is operated within power-off gliding distance to the shoreline for the duration of the flight and each occupant is wearing a life preserver from before takeoff until the aircraft is no longer over water. 48
Complaints. What we need: Contact information Date, Time and Location Description of what you observed Aircraft Identification (Registration N number, color of aircraft, any additional physical identification features Photo s or Video documenting occurrence Supporting information 49
FAA Action Send information to FAA via email, phone, US mail Information is used to open an investigation into the event Aviation Safety Inspector assigned investigation. Inspector contacts complainant and advises on disposition of investigation. If a violation has occurred. 50
Remediation Compliance Philosophy Airman must be willing and able Counseling Remedial Training On the Spot Correction 44709 Airman Reexamination Enforcement Action Civil Penalty Certificate Action 51