Story ID: 
New Charter Regs Target Aeromed Ops
By: AIN Staff
Caption: The FAA released proposed new regulations for charter operators on  October 7, specifically targeting aeromedical services.
Word Count: 148
The FAA released proposed new regulations for charter operators on  October 7, specifically targeting aeromedical services. There were 135  helicopter air ambulance accidents from 1992 through 2009, with 126  fatalities, and 75 commercial helicopter accidents with 88 fatalities  (excluding air ambulances) during that period. The FAA estimates that  the cost of compliance with the proposed rules will be $136 million for  air ambulance operators and $89 million for commercial operators.  The rules would require air ambulance operators to add HTAWS, conduct  all operations under Part 135, implement preflight risk analysis  programs, conduct safety briefings for medical personnel, amend weather  requirements and all pilots in command would be required to have  instrument ratings. Additional requirements apply to non-air ambulance  commercial operators, but all fixed- and rotary-wing Part 135 operators  would have to prepare a load manifest for each flight and send it to the  base of operations. See the full proposal at  www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/.