---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 135.617"
title: "14"
number: "135.617"
heading: "Pre-flight risk analysis."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/135.617"
---

# §135.617. Pre-flight risk analysis.

- (a) Each certificate holder conducting helicopter air ambulance operations must establish, and document in its operations manual, an FAA-approved preflight risk analysis that includes at least the following—
  - (1) Flight considerations, to include obstacles and terrain along the planned route of flight, landing zone conditions, and fuel requirements;
  - (2) Human factors, such as crew fatigue, life events, and other stressors;
  - (3) Weather, including departure, en route, destination, and forecasted;
  - (4) A procedure for determining whether another helicopter air ambulance operator has refused or rejected a flight request; and
  - (5) Strategies and procedures for mitigating identified risks, including procedures for obtaining and documenting approval of the certificate holder's management personnel to release a flight when a risk exceeds a level predetermined by the certificate holder.
- (b) Each certificate holder must develop a preflight risk analysis worksheet to include, at a minimum, the items in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section.
- (c) Prior to the first leg of each helicopter air ambulance operation, the pilot in command must conduct a preflight risk analysis and complete the preflight risk analysis worksheet in accordance with the certificate holder's FAA-approved procedures. The pilot in command must sign the preflight risk analysis worksheet and specify the date and time it was completed.
- (d) The certificate holder must retain the original or a copy of each completed preflight risk analysis worksheet at a location specified in its operations manual for at least 90 days from the date of the operation.

## Notes

### Source

Source: Docket FAA-2010-0982, 79 FR 9975, Feb. 21, 2014, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 41706, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709, 44711-44713, 44715-44717, 44722, 44730, 45101-45105; Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 58 (49 U.S.C. 44730).

### Source

Source: Docket 16097, 43 FR 46783, Oct. 10, 1978, unless otherwise noted.