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FAA Launches Advisory Committee to Evaluate Commercial Air Tour Safety

The FAA has established the Commercial Air Tour Aviation Rulemaking Committee (Commercial Air Tour ARC), tasked with reviewing and developing recommendations to increase the safety of such operations. The Commercial Air Tour ARC is in response to Section 363 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which requires the FAA to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish increasing safety regulations for commercial air tour operators.

Commercial air tours include operators conducting non-stop sightseeing flights within a 25–statute mile radius of the departure airport as provided for in 14 CFR 119.1(e)(2). These operations include many flight schools offering non-instructional rides, museums, and small single-aircraft/single-pilot operators at local airports. Congress provided a small business provision that exempts operators conducting 100 or fewer commercial air tours in a calendar year from having to comply with the provision of the NPRM resulting from the ARC recommendations.

The FAA is now soliciting nominations for participation in the Commercial Air Tour ARC. Nominees must either be representatives of industry (including manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft technologies), air tour operators or organizations that represent such operators, or aviation safety experts with specific knowledge of safety management systems and flight data monitoring programs under 14 CFR Part 135.

As a provider of commercial air tours utilizing several types of aircraft, including Ford Tri-Motor rides on national tour, biplane rides at Pioneer Airport, and helicopter rides at AirVenture, EAA will be asking to participate in the ARC. With decades of safe air tour operations, extensive maintenance experience, and a fully implemented safety management system, EAA is poised to provide a real-world perspective to the FAA.

Those looking to nominate potential participants, including self-nominations, must follow the directions published in the Federal Register notice. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on February 28, 2025.

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