1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019”.
Improving Helicopter Safety Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit certain helicopter flights over major cities with high population densities, and for other purposes.
2. Prohibition on certain flights over major cities
In general— Chapter 447 of title 49 is amended by adding at the end the following:
“44741. Prohibition on certain flights over major cities
“(a) In general—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, no person may operate a civil rotorcraft in covered airspace except as provided for under subsection (b).
“(b) Exceptions
“(1) Public health and safety—The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to a flight carried out for purposes of public health and safety, including—
“(A) law enforcement;
“(B) emergency response;
“(C) disaster response;
“(D) the provision of medical services; and
“(E) providing other services for the benefit of the general public, including flights carried out for research or for official purposes by a news organization.
“(2) Infrastructure maintenance—The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to a flight carried out for purposes heavy-lift operations in support of construction and infrastructure maintenance.
“(c) Covered airspace defined—In this section, the term “covered airspace” means the airspace directly over any city with a population over 8 million people and with a population density of over 25,000 people per square mile, including the airspace over any waterways considered within the limits of such city.”
Conforming amendment— The table of sections for chapter 447 of title 49 is amended by adding at the end the following:
3. Helicopter flight routes for major cities and surrounding areas
Not later than 90 days after a city initially meets the requirements to be covered by the prohibition in section 44741 of title 49, United States Code (as added by section 2), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue or update such regulations as are necessary to carry out the requirements of such section.
4. Technical corrections
Section 44737— Chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is amending by redesignating the second section 44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) as section 44740.
Analysis— The analysis for chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
by striking the item relating to the second section 44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018); and
by inserting after section 44739 the following:
Special rule for certain aircraft operations— Section 44740 of title 49, United States Code, (as redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended—
in the heading, by striking the period at the end;
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “(1)” the second time it appears; and
in subsection (c)(2), by adding a period at the end.