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119-hr-8226119th CongressWALLET

Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

Introduced

Summary

Align rotorcraft safety rules with airline standards. This bill would require turbine-powered helicopters that carry two or more paying passengers to meet many of the same equipment, training, and maintenance rules that apply to Part 121 airline operations.

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  • Passengers and families: Would require helicopters to have terrain awareness or equivalent technology, cockpit voice recording, and flight data recording. That aims to close safety gaps on commercial rotorcraft flights.
  • Operators and pilots: Would make Part 135 rotorcraft meet Part 121 standards for pilot qualification, duty and rest, and maintenance programs. Failure to comply would trigger the same penalties and certificate actions that apply to Part 121 operators.
  • FAA and oversight: Would require the FAA to issue final regulations within 18 months and set a 24-month compliance deadline with a possible 6-month extension for good-faith progress. The bill also authorizes funding to hire and train more aviation safety inspectors and strengthen surveillance.

*Would increase federal spending by authorizing $50 million per year for FY2026–2030, totaling $250 million.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New safety rules for helicopter operators

If enacted, the bill would require turbine-powered helicopters that carry two or more paying passengers to meet safety, training, and maintenance standards like Part 121 airlines. Operators would need terrain awareness (or an FAA-approved equivalent), cockpit voice recording, and flight data recording equipment and must follow Part 121 pilot qualification, duty-rest, and maintenance rules. The rule would take effect two years after enactment, with a required FAA final rule within 18 months, an FAA implementation report in 12 months, and a 24-month compliance deadline (one 6-month extension if good-faith progress is shown). Flights conducted only for emergency medical services under Part 135 Subpart L would be excluded. The FAA would also be authorized $50 million each year for FY2026–FY2030 to support rulemaking, hiring, and oversight, and operators who do not comply would face the same penalties and certificate actions used against Part 121 operators.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

NY • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 4/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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