KOBE BRYANT & GIANNA BRYANT HELICOPTER SAFETY ACT INTRODUCED IN SENATE
May 19, 2021
On January 25, 2021, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Brad Sherman introduced the Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act (S.36) in the U.S. Senate. If passed, the bill will require the FAA to issue regulations to implement National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations for crash-resistant systems with respect to both existing and new U.S. registered turbine-powered rotorcraft (i.e. helicopters) that are equipped to carry six or more passengers. Specifically, the law will require that all helicopters that carry six or more passengers be equipped with a flight data recorder, a cockpit voice recorder, and a terrain awareness and warning system. It is important to note however, that the FAA may still exempt any civilian helicopter from one or more of the equipment requirements.
In 2006, the NTSB recommended that both terrain awareness equipment and warning systems be deemed mandatory equipment on all helicopters, but no further concrete steps were taken to make the equipment mandatory under the law. In fact, to date the FAA only requires that such equipment be present on helicopter air ambulances. The Act is still currently under consideration in the Senate.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6622); Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com or 202-659-6665), or Andy Orr (aorr@eckertsemans.com or 202-659-6625).
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