Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026

(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.