To auntiemaria:

Thanks for your comments on the safety tips. I'd like to comment on your comments based on some other info I have learned...


• Make sure that the company operates under FAA Part 135 certification. In order to maintain a certificate of this type, the company must follow a rigorous and expensive maintenance program and its pilots must pass annual flight tests not required of companies operating only under Part 91 of Federal Aviation Regulations.

That's a requirement of all the commercial helicopters here on Kaua`i

A: I believe that the Bali Hai helicopter that fatally crashed on Kauai in 2004 was only certified under Part 91. I think the FAA is supposed to tighten this up, but I don't think that's been implemented yet.

• Ask specifically what kind of instrumentation the helicopter has. It should be sufficient to allow the pilot to navigate during heavy rain, low cloud cover, or other hazardous weather conditions. And remember: these conditions can pop up suddenly.

All of the Kaua`i copters are relatively new.

A: One of the Hawaii papers reported that the Heli USA copter that crashed yesterday was a 1979 model. That's pretty old. It's still worth asking the tour service how up to date their machines are.

• Vet your pilot. Who will be piloting your flight? An ad that hypes the number of flying hours logged by the company tells you nothing about the flying experience of an individual pilot. Not every pilot who qualifies for a helicopter license has had extensive experience with a given island’s terrain or its microweather.

A: Still worth asking about. The two pilots in the previous two fatal crashes were both new to Hawaii. I would want to know that before going up with that person.

• Make sure the helicopter you will be flying on has emergency floats on the skids. Even if you are wearing a life vest, the floats are still necessary to allow you time to get out of the helicopter.

The helicopter which went down yesterday, had floats.

A: That's true because the previous fatal crash of the copter from this company did not have floats and it sank. So they were anxious to fix that problem. But currently floats are not required of all services. The rule has not been implemented yet.

Nothing personal, but I think it's important to be pro-active consumers and ask questions. After all, it might save your life.

Add the insurance question as another one for tour operators. Meanwhile here are some accounts of some of the latest victims. I hope the FAA reads these and tightens up the safety requirements.

http://starbulletin.com/2007/03/11/news/story02.html

http://starbulletin.com/2007/03/11/news/story03.html

Just read on tripadvisor than another crash occurred today

Here is Foxnews link to the crash that occured today on Kauai with one dead and 3 seriously injured.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Mar...rCrash,00.html

How tragic! It's time for the FAA to get on it.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...0366/1001/NEWS

My wife thought she heard of yet another Chopper crash on Kauai since the Princeville one. Possibly Sunday 3/11 or Monday 3/12. Does anyone have any info.

Auntiemarie........any word on this?

Sadly true/ One person died, but the pilot is being praised as a hero as he didnt crash into a house or the tourist filled beach in Haena. There's another thread about interisland that has discussed some of this. Sad indeed.

Tragic indeed, but I'm guessing none of the paying passengers had the opportunity for free rides courtesy of Uncle Sam while on active duty.
M

tragic indeed mikemo.

your remarks are tragicly inappropriate.

RichInPa

true

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...405761832.html

NTSB concludes improper maintenance, how terrible:
http://tinyurl.com/7eg6gd

Four deaths, down to a pin and a lockwasher .....

Tnx JohnD for the followup.

Here's a short but more detailed NTSB report of the cause of the accident....

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...07MA073&rpt=fi