FAA Exemption Clears Way for Human External Cargo Ops

The U.S. FAA has granted an exemption for cargo-hook use in human external cargo (HEC) applications, clearing the way for such operations to resume shortly following months of grounding. In the spring, the agency requested that operators halt HEC operations after determining that the cargo hooks were not certified for HEC operations, HAI said. This determination primarily affected cargo hooks used on MD 500/Hughes 369 operations.

The exemption was granted to Pennsylvania-based Haverfield Aviation on July 13. HAI, which assisted in the exemption process, said the exemption can be used as a template for other companies to resume their HEC operations. Haverfield can resume HEC flights once it incorporates appropriate changes to its Part 133 flight manual, HAI noted.

Issues surrounding the hooks surfaced after the FAA increased its focus on compliance with HEC operations, the association said. After determining that the cargo hooks were not certified for such use, the agency requested that operators cease such operations until they obtained an exemption or were in certification compliance.

Nineteen operators began working together to apply for the exemption with the assistance of HAI. “HAI worked tirelessly on behalf of Haverfield Aviation to ensure the HEC exemption process was moving through the complex system of the FAA,” said Brian Parker, president and CEO of Haverfield.

HAI noted that the hooks, “which have been used for decades in HEC operations, have never been implicated in any accident or incident.” The exemption requires Haverfield to use an emergency anchor (belly band) as a backup safety device in case of hook failure. It further calls for training on the use of the emergency anchor and incorporation of best practices.