The FAA has instituted new rules designed to keep sightseeing helicopters from colliding with airplanes that are transitioning the Hudson River Corridor near the Statue of Liberty. The San Francisco Daily Journal, California’s largest legal newspaper, published this column on how the new rules came to pass, and why they aren’t enough.
Mountain Lifeflight EMS Helicopter Crash Update
The NTSB’s preliminary report on the crash contains little more than what was in the news accounts. The report does, however, offer one bit of new information. The helicopter impacted on a magnetic heading of 230 degrees. That heading is not in line with the route from Reno to Susanville. While that might ultimately prove to be important, little can be made
Mountain Lifeflight EMS Helicopter Crash at Doyle, California
An A-Star AS350B air ambulance helicopter crashed November 14 at Doyle, California, killing the 
three crew members on board. According to an article in the Reno Gazette Journal, the pilot made a distress call before the crash. That indicates that the pilot was likely experiencing a mechanical emergency. The photographs accompanying the article show that the wreckage was spread over a fairly large area. That indicates that the pilot lost control of the helicopter well before he was able to attempt an emergency landing.
Under the circumstances, the NTSB will be looking at the helicopter’s Continue Reading Mountain Lifeflight EMS Helicopter Crash at Doyle, California
Helicopter – C-130 Mid-Air Collision is Second Crash of Military Helicopter Off San Clemente Island
Thursday’s mid-air collision involving a Coast Guard C-130 and Marine Corps AH-1H Super Cobra was the second military helicopter crash that has occurred east of San Clemente Island since 2007.
On January 26, 2007, four were killed when a Navy MH-60S Seahawk crashed just miles from the 
spot of Thursday’s accident.
The Navy was unable to determine
EMS Helicopter Safety: NTSB Pushes the Envelope
There’s little question that EMS helicopters are the most dangerous aircraft in the sky. EMS helicopters have a fatal accident rate 6000 times that of commercial airliners. Flying EMS helicopters is one of the most dangerous jobs in America. In fact, according to the Washington Post, only working on a fishing boat is riskier.
Helicopter – Airplane Mid-Air Collision Over the Hudson: NTSB Boots It
place inMid-Air Collision Over The Hudson: Airplanes and Helicopters Don’t Mix Well
Compared to pilots in other countries, pilots in the US have extraordinary freedom. Of course, to keep commercial airliners safe from collisions, pilots of small aircraft are excluded from certain 
airspace near major airports unless they have first obtained a clearance from air traffic controllers. If a pilot obtains the necessary clearance, controllers will dictate the
OSC: FAA Ignoring EMS Helicopter Dangers For Fear of Negative Publicity
The FAA is supposed to use its regulatory powers to promote aviation safety. Over the years, however, it seems to have become too bureaucratic and conflicted to take decisive action when it counts most. Examples:
- In April, the NTSB asked the FAA to immediately ground the fleet of Zodiac aircraft because the aircraft’s wings tend to
EMS Helicopter Crash Suits Subject to Medical Malpractice Restrictions?
Special rules protect careless health care providers in California. The rules, collectively known as MICRA, were designed to make it harder for medical malpractice victims to sue the doctors who injure them. For example,
- The medical malpractice victim must provide the defendant doctor a special notice before filing suit.
- At any trial, special rules of
No One Should Suffer Burn Injuries in a Survivable Helicopter Crash
During the Vietnam war, hundreds of soldiers suffered serious burn injuries following otherwise survivable Huey helicopter crashes. In 1970, Bell Helicopter responded by developing a crashworthy 
fuel system and installing it in the new Hueys it produced. The crashworthy system included stronger fuel cells, breakaway fuel lines, and cutoff valves.
The Army kept track of the