FAA Suspends Visual Separation Procedures for Helicopters Nationwide
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has ordered air traffic controllers to suspend the use of visual separation for all helicopter operations. The directive follows a serious near mid-air collision between two helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico. An FAA investigation into the incident found that the procedure was not being applied correctly, posing a significant safety risk. The suspension will remain in effect until a comprehensive safety analysis is completed to review the procedure. This nationwide change is expected to impact the flow of helicopter traffic, particularly in high-density areas.
Official Source: https://aviationweek.com/business-aviation/safety-ops-regulation/faa-suspends-helicopter-atc-visual-separations
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