H.R. 8226

119 HR 8226 IH: Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-09
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8226  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 9, 2026   Mr. Nadler  (for himself,  Ms. Malliotakis ,  Mr. Menendez ,  Mr. Goldman of New York , and  Mr. Espaillat ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure    A BILL
To establish safety equipment, training, and maintenance requirements for turbine-powered helicopters carrying 2 or more passengers for compensation or hire, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026  .
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Certain helicopter operators conduct passenger service under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, that is substantially similar to part 121 of such title scheduled passenger operations.
(2)
These operations avoid the more rigorous standards for pilot training, duty and rest, maintenance, and equipment required under part 121 of such title.
(3)
The Federal Aviation Administration has acknowledged this gap and proposed rulemaking to close it, but such rulemaking has not been finalized.
(4)
Public safety requires that rotorcraft providing passenger service comply with standards equivalent to those governing airlines.
(5)
This Act builds on, and does not duplicate, the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration Safety Management System final rule issued in 2024.
(6)
A series of helicopter accidents in recent years, including fatal crashes involving tour operators, charter services, and air taxi operations, have revealed recurring issues with pilot fatigue, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient equipment, including the April 2025 Hudson River helicopter crash, which demonstrated that inadequate maintenance oversight under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, can contribute to catastrophic failures, highlighting the need for harmonized standards with part 121 of such title.
3.
Definitions
In this Act:
(1)
Part 121 operations
The term  part 121 operations  means operations conducted under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(2)
Part 121 operators
The term  part 121 operators  means operators conducting part 121 operations.
(3)
Part 135 operations
The term  part 135 operations  means operations conducted under part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
(4)
Part 135 operators
The term  part 135 operators  means operators conducting part 135 operations.
(5)
Rotorcraft
The term  rotorcraft  has the meaning given that term in section 1.1 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
4.
Safety equipment and operational standards for helicopter operations
(a)
Applicability
This section applies to all turbine-powered helicopters carrying 2 or more passengers for compensation or hire.
(b)
Requirements
Operators subject to subsection (a) shall comply with safety equipment, training, and maintenance requirements equivalent to those applicable to part 121 operations, including—
(1)
equipment capable of providing terrain awareness, or equivalent technology approved by the Administrator;
(2)
equipment capable of cockpit voice recording, or equivalent technology approved by the Administrator;
(3)
equipment capable of flight data recording, or equivalent technology approved by the Administrator; and
(4)
compliance with standards under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, for pilot qualification, duty and rest, and maintenance programs.
(c)
Compliance timeline
(1)
In general
Operators subject to this section shall achieve full compliance not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
(2)
Extension
The Administrator may grant an extension of up to 6 additional months upon a showing of good faith progress toward compliance.
(d)
Exception
This section shall not apply to operations conducted exclusively for emergency medical services under subpart L of part 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
5.
Rulemaking
(a)
Final rule
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue final regulations to carry out this Act.
(b)
Termination of inconsistent exemptions
The Administrator shall rescind or modify any exemptions, interpretations, or guidance inconsistent with this Act.
6.
Enforcement
An operator that fails to comply with the requirements of this Act shall be subject to the same penalties, certificate actions, and enforcement measures applicable to violations by part 121 operators under  chapter 447  of title 49, United States Code.
7.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Aviation Administration $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the requirements of this Act, including rulemaking, enforcement, oversight, and the hiring and training of aviation safety inspectors to strengthen maintenance and operational surveillance of rotorcraft operators.
8.
Implementation plan
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing—
(1)
staffing needs for implementation of this Act;
(2)
steps taken to hire and train additional aviation safety inspectors; and
(3)
progress in integrating rotorcraft operators into oversight systems consistent with part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
9.
Effective date
The requirements of this Act shall take effect on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.