Maui chopper tours beg FAA to bend helicopter rules
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, a Maui-based company, asked the FAA for special permission to skip some usual flight rules. This could change how they operate their helicopters, and the public has until April 8, 2025, to share their thoughts. No costs or exact changes are set yet, but this is a chance to shape helicopter rules in Hawaii!
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Petition to Fly Below 1,500-Foot Minimum
Helicopter Consultants of Maui dba Blue Hawaiian Helicopters asked the FAA for an exemption from 14 CFR Sec. 136.75(d)(1) so it can fly below the 1,500-foot minimum altitude in specific areas (including razor back ridge crossings) during air-tour operations on the island of Kauai. The public may submit comments on this petition identified by docket FAA-2025-0301 through April 8, 2025.
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