Untitled - HFI Historical Archive - Helicopter Association International

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Ask the Administrator (ColI/illlled /rom page 8) Much of the present difficult situation between FAA and the industry must be blamed on the lawyers. They have placed an undue burden on the local FAA inspectors by requiring s.melions for all known violations. and shifted the decision making level \0 FAA Headquarters. Al one meeting where most of the general aviation associations were present, there had been a discussion of this deterioration of FAA/industry cOllllnunication and the increasingly heavyhunded enforcement practices of FAA. Every onc al lhal meeting agreed that Ihis is a serious and growing problem. Fonner FAA Adminislmlor Alan Me Anorhad been symp:l1hclic to this problem and hed mel wilh the lOp executives of the general aviation [rmle associations. As a resull orlhe meeling u "self :lUdil " program had been conceived (not yet implemcntcd) and considcration had been given to establishment of un FAA "ombudsman" at the top echelon \0 provide standardiz.ed interpretation of the FARs and to disseminate this infonnation for use throughout the system. This is felt to be a good and practical idea. DUSEY: I-Jas the recent FAA shirt to a "straight-line" org:lI1izution been or any help in dealing with this situation? HAl: Yes. In fact, there huve been several recent insllLnces where operators have received very responsive action on priority requests ror FAA IISsistance, thanks to the straight-line structure, To continue on this positive note,there are many good things about FAA's organization and practices, and many excellent individuals among FAA's personnel. Notable among these are Messrs. Donahue, Melugin and POliS, and or course there are many others too numerous to memion. FAA has done an excellent job or communicating with the industry in the ongoing update of the Rotorcraft Muster Plan. And FAA's Airpons people have been doing an exellent job of assisting in gelling heliports buill. BUSEY: I agree that the airports clement of FAA is doing quite well. Working with them, I hope to put public-use heliports in the correct places to satisfy the needs of both the operators and the public. HAl: Do you support the tilt-rotor as strongly as your predecessor. Alan Mc Artor? 36 ROTOR BUSEY: Yes. indeed. I have nown the XV-IS, and I was part or the Navy's procurement team for the v-no I feel that the tilt-rotor has much to orfer both military and civil aviation. How do you feel about it, as a civil :IiTemft? HAl: We share your high regard for the tilt-rotor's potential: but our immcdiate concern in the USA is meeting the needs or the 7.000 or so active civil helicopters in this country. It will be many years, even under the most optimistic scenario, before there will be any sizeable numbers of civil t ilt-rolors in operution. We arc pleased 10 sce the IUllount of interest in the tilt-rotor, but we wllnt to make cerltlin that fac ilities imd infmstructures built to serve the tilt-rotor are fully accessible by. and avuilable to, the large and growing neet of convenlional hclicopters. We must diligemly avoid a "Masspon" syndrome which would deny the use orvertiports to conventional hcliwpters operating both VFR ,lIld [FR. UUSEY: I would like to thank you for your candor in discussing these problem areas Wilh me. ObvioLlsly it would not be appropriate for me to make any judgements right now concerning the infomlation you have shared with me. 1·lowever, I will look into these mailers. Before departing. I would like tocover a few more points which h:lve not been discussed yet: • I support Secrelary Skinner's position of leaving the FAA within the Department of Transportation. • Concerning access to the money in the aviation trust fund ... 1 nlll confident that by next year, we will be able to discern clear trends in that direction. • I do 110t believe lhat we have been successrul in identifying aviation safety issues. • Concerning cominued funding of development or the tiit-rotor ... 1 believe that some of the R&D money cut from the SOl program will be used for tiltrotor. HAl: There was strong exprcssion or appreciation to the Administrator for attending this meeting, and for listening to the vicws expressed on behalf of the operational elements or the civil helicopter industry. i'ilf_ (Ed' ,f IIOfe: FAA·.f SY.ffe/ll Safety & Efficiellcy Rel.jew begal/ /lSCI'.f mee/ings ill AI/gllst 011 the FAA Compliallt;(! & EII!ol'cell/clI/ Progl'tJlII. Sec ROTON Calmdar.) Market Trends (C(III/illlll'll fmm p(l,C 34} Interesting is 1he faetthat we can now see enough of fl pnllem to verify lenders and lessors that today·. market and prices are not the aberration: this is where prices should have been had there not been such tough times for the past few years. So now that we know the "good times" arc here, let's look at some of the impressive gains made by reselling helicopters. And we'll see you in future issues of ROTOR magazine. as we discuss why v:llue, like beauty, is often in the eye or the beholder ... or the seller. What's Hapop ening in the Helicopter M arkef "What's really happening in the helicopter market?" ROTOR magazine asked The OFricial HclicO I )ter Bluc Book. Shilron Desfor, editor and publisher, answered, "About what you'd expect, if you've becn watching or panicipating yourself." The table on p"ge 34 Cl1n give you some insights into the increases as shown in the HIlle Book for averageequipped, "low" to "mid" time helicopters. In the last fifteen months, res"le pricing trenus have been strongly upwards. in some cases. increasing more than 35%, Light single-turbine ships are leading the pack in upward mobility, medium twins follow closely, in the 25% to 35% increment range. Heavier twins,as well asa few helicopters which were not expected to appreciate, actually increased slightly in the 3-1 5% range. Market Extremely Strong Although the market is still extremely strong, and although the price of used helicopters continues to increase, the feeding frenz.y h!L calmed. Look for some stabiliz:ltion, but don't believe that prices ure "through the roof." Today 's market is still recovering from the severe depression earlier this decade. Remember these words of ten years ago. when inllation was the subject: "TIle rate of increase of the rate of increase is slowing." Today the subject is helicopter resale prices. 11lese price increases are startling: but they clearly demonstrate tll:1I those abnonnal1y-Iow helicoptcr prices of past years urc finally gone, while strong prices of today will continue into the near future. Q Fall 1989
Heliport Technical Planning Committee The Heliport Technical Planning Committee (HTPC) recently has concentratcd on thc proposed international regulations embodicd in the ICAO HELIOPS/4 Report (see article by HAl's Director of Heliports and Technical Programs Ronald Bunch, p.tge [5 Summer '89 ROTOR). The thrust has been to support HAl's suggestion of a "two-tiered" system. The system would allow: I) Illany of the current operations to continue 2) minimize the economic impact 3) enhance the safety lind operating standnrds where necess:uy and 4) encourage a movement toward the lise of high pcrfonl1ance level. This effort is progressing slowly, and thcre is little official support for these proposals. A parallel effort has been hlking place with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where it has been proposed to adopt the ICAO I-iELIOP S/4 helideck requirements. The HAl and HTPC have becn assisting the International Association ofDl"illing Contractors (lADe) with prcparation of submissions to [MO, the U.S. Coast Guard and Ihe FAA. The Helicopter Safcty Advisory Conference (HSAC) has also been involved. and is making progress in this area, as the IMO is likely 10 main!:lin ils current "two-tiered" 'Ipproach with one set of standards for harsh areas like the North Sea, and one for other areas. The work of the FAA/Industry Ver I.iporl Working Gruup has resulted in issue of a draft Vertiport Design Guide (Advisory Circular 150/53xx-xx). This has been issued for comment to HAl and AHS members. and circulated to most of the HTPC (those interested in receiving a copy may contact HAl's Ron.tld Bunch at 703/683-4646). Most of the issues have been resolved, but the "landing angle/procedures" to be assumed and the corresponding airspace requirements is causing major debate. The current document conlftins the lalest FAA opinion. Airspace protection surfaces are large. and may create m.tjor problems in establishing "inner-city vertiports." HTPC will coordinate any industry commenls on the draft A/e. Ple.lsc forward comments to either HTPC Chainn:m John Leverton or HAl's Ronald BUllch. Fall 1989 COMMITTEE NEWS Safety Committee HAl's Safety COlllmillee, under Chainnan Don Andrews, Vice President of Operations/SafelY for Rocky Mountain Helicopters Inc .. addressed 11 number of current industry safety issues during a recent two-day meeting at HAl headquarters. The committee met with several FAA officiuls to develop the concept and format for a safely videolllpe. An ad hoc group of committee members will COlltribute content information. Production will be funded by the FAA. The videotape will be :1vailable in early 1990 for general use through the safety specialist at each Flight Standards District Office. The recent request for the aviation industry to provide major safety priorities Hnd focus wasHudressed. A comprehensive list was developed and is being finalized by HAL The committee also mel with representatives of AAMS to finalize the joint HAI/AAMS guidelines ror the helicopter EMS industry. The goal is 10 have the manullis of both organiziltions renect identical guidelines. Issues and pl:tnS for HEll-EXPO '90 were also discussed. In ltddition to an open committee meeting, a three-day S:lfety Management Course, jointly sponsored by the I-IAI .md University of Southern California, is scheduled. The third day of the course addresses current industry issues and will be t .. ught by committee members. Following the success of the Safety Director's Forum at fonner HAl meetings, the committee will ltgain host this forum in Dallas, Texas, 1990 . The committee encourages HA I members to attend the three-day Safety Man;lgement Course, scheduled to precede HEll-EXPO '90 in Dallas. Infonnation on the course can be obtained by contacting Director of Safety and Flight OpeTfltions Glenn Leister. the University or Southern C;llifornia, or any Safety Cummittee member. The Safety Committee is also working closely with the USAIG insu\"ltncc group to develop themes rOf helicopter safety posters. USAIG will produce and distribute the posters to member organizations. At the conclusion of the formal meeting, committee members lOured the US Marine Air Wing, which provides helicoptersupport to the President of the United States and the Executive Departmcnt. The commillec was quite impressed with the quality of the equipment and the professionalism of the marine pilots, mechanics and security personnel involved. The next scheduled Safety Commillee meeting will be October 23 and 24. 1989 in Denver, Colorado, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The meeting is open. Local HAl members are encouraged to attend. Flight Operations Committee The new ch;linnan of the Flight Operations Committee is W. A. "Dub" Blessing. Correspondence may be sent to the following address: P.O. Box 149 29, Fon Worth, Texas, 76117: telephone: 214/616-56 14. Fornler committee chainnan Arthur Hitl will continue to be a member oflhe committee. legislative Advisory Committee William McKenna, President, U.S. Jet Aviation Inc .. was elected chairman of HAI's Legislative Advisory Committee during the committee's recent meeting HI HAl Headquarters. McKenna succeeds Jane Reese, Evergreen International. "Jane Reese did :ln outstanding job as chainnan of the committee," said HAl President Frank L. Jensen, Jr. "Bill Mc Kenna is 11 helicopter operator with a strong understanding of the politics in Washington. and how proposed legislation can affect civil helicopter interests." Jensen said. Legishllive Advisory Committee meetings will now be held monthly, instead of quarlcrly, in an effort to improve attendance and focus resources 011 t.lrgeted issues. HAl's Manager of Government Affairs, Matt Ubben, submitted two draft resolutions for the committee's consideration. Onc resolution would establish N.t1ional Helicopter Day: the sccond resolution focuses on the development of a ru lly-integrated heliport system plan. TIle resolutions were approved by the committee and sent to the Board of Directors for endorscment. Legal Committee Develops New Member Services !-lArs Legal Committee recently reelected l'lyman Hillcnbmnd to a second one-year teml as committee clHtinnan. (Colllilllle" 011 111'.1'/ (JO,f!,e) ROTOR 37
Page 2 and 3: NlCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Page 4: 4 ROTOR UP FRONT Before gelling to
Page 8 and 9: 20/20 EVERYTHING TO DO WITH VISION!
Page 10 and 11: HELICOPTERS SA VE THOUSANDS OF SUDA
Page 12 and 13: HELICOPTERS PLA Y IMPORTANT ROLE IN
Page 14 and 15: · .. _Ioo ."_ r.o . .... .. 6IiW ,
Page 16 and 17: A viation Associations Help Develop
Page 18 and 19: HELICOPTERS PROVE CRITICAL DURING B
Page 20 and 21: NEW MEMBERS WELCOME ABOARD! Join us
Page 22 and 23: SMOKE by Mel Larson My phone rang c
Page 24 and 25: OPERATOR PROFILE CHRISTOPH 31 : Omn
Page 26 and 27: By Paul Powers HELP Created for Lif
Page 28 and 29: By Glenn A. Leister Igor Sikorsky's
Page 30 and 31: Air Florida Rescue: Shows National
Page 32 and 33: SAFETY REVIEW Helicopter Response t
Page 34 and 35: By Barry Deslor and Sharon Deslor J
Page 38 and 39: Air Florida (Co1llilllled[rom page
Page 40 and 41: "Helicopter Day" (Continued/rom pag
Page 42 and 43: The Helicopter and the Valtellina,
Page 44 and 45: A company from over here that can g
Page 46 and 47: THE COST Of INSURANCE COMEDOWN TO f
Page 48: QUALITY KNOWN EWORLD. All around th

Untitled - HFI Historical Archive - Helicopter Association International

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