FAA Guards Maine Hospital Helipad with New Slice of Sky Territory
Published Date: 4/8/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to create new controlled airspace starting 700 feet above Blue Hill, Maine, to keep helicopter flights at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital safe and organized. This change mainly affects pilots flying in and out of the hospital heliport and helps with instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. Comments on this plan are open until May 23, 2025, and there’s no cost to the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Class E Airspace at Blue Hill Heliport
If you are a pilot flying to or from Blue Hill Memorial Hospital Heliport, the FAA proposes new controlled Class E airspace starting at 700 feet above the surface and extending within a 6-mile radius of the heliport. The change is to provide controlled airspace needed to support a new RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations and to improve the safety and management of helicopter flights.
FAA Says No Significant Economic Impact
The FAA certified this proposed rule is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866 and "will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency states the anticipated impact is so minimal that a regulatory evaluation is not warranted.
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Key Dates
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