Helicopter Association International (HAI) just completed a two-day Air Tour Safety Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii. Participants included HAI president Matt Zuccaro, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives from all branches, staff from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and air tour operators in the State of Hawaii. This initiative provided a forum to review and enhance safety and operating environments for air tours, and included an analysis of recent air tour incidents. HAI president Matt Zuccaro, joined by Jim Ballough, Director of FAA Flight Standards, moderated the sessions and workshop, supported by Jeff Guzzetti of the NTSB, Larry Wilkinson of the FAA, Honolulu office, along with numerous presenters. The workshop focused on a closer working relationship of all the parties involved, identification of issues and concerns, and plans that will facilitate achieving solutions. As a result of the forum an industry/regulatory working group will be established to review the relative data, and formulate solutions to the issues and concerns raised in the forum. The efforts of the working group will be focused on the common goal of enhancing the safety and operational environment in which air tours are conducted in the state of Hawaii.
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