NTSB Recommends Expanding Helicopter Terrain-Avoidance Training Rules to All Part 135 Operators

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released Recommendation ANC15MA041, designated as A-17-038. This directive is addressed to the Federal Aviation Administration and calls for an expansion of existing regulatory oversight regarding flight training curricula. Specifically, the NTSB urges the FAA to broaden the application of Federal Aviation Administration Order 8900.1, volume 3, chapter 19, section 6, which outlines the Safety Assurance System for Flight Training Curriculum Segments. The current provisions in paragraphs 3-1251(B) and 3-1252 focus on controlled flight into terrain-avoidance training programs for operations conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 involving helicopters. The recommendation explicitly states that these specific training program requirements should be extended to encompass all 14 CFR Part 135 operations, regardless of the aircraft type used. This move aims to standardize safety assurance measures across a broader scope of commercial air carrier activities.