Fitzpatrick bill would strengthen helicopter safety measures

Underscoring the gaps that exist in helicopter safety compared with commercial airplanes, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has introduced legislation that would require helicopters to have flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires commercial airplanes and certain private aircraft to carry so-called black boxes, which record aircraft altitude, radio transmissions, and sounds within the cockpit. The technology helps federal investigators assess what factors may have led to an accident. However, loopholes in regulations allow some helicopters to operate without the recording equipment, according to the congressman’s office.

Aiming to improve safety, Rep. Fitzpatrick introduced the Helicopter Data and Voice Recorder Requirement Act, H.R. 5766, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD) on Oct. 28. The measure, if enacted, would make it unlawful for any air carrier to operate certain helicopters without a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, according to the text of the bill.

“I am proud to join Congressman Brown in introducing this bipartisan legislation, which will increase safety and accountability in the aviation industry by requiring flight data and cockpit voice recorders on helicopters,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said on Nov. 2.

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that from 2005 to 2017, there were 159 crashes involving helicopters with no black boxes. Of those accidents, the NTSB was unable to determine the cause of the crash in 18 cases, according to information from the congressman’s office.

“Now is the time for Congress to close this dangerous regulatory loophole so that investigators have access to vital black box data in the wake of a tragic accident,” the congressman said.