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Enhanced Helicopter Safety: Mandatory Recorders and Warning Systems.

New regulations aim to improve helicopter flight safety, especially for passenger transport. They mandate the installation of flight data recorders, cockpit voice recorders, and terrain awareness and warning systems. This will help determine accident causes more easily, prevent future tragedies, and boost confidence in air travel.
Key points
All new and existing U.S.-registered turbine-powered helicopters certified for 6 or more passenger seats must be equipped with Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs).
These same helicopters will also be required to have Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) to help pilots avoid collisions with terrain.
The regulations are to be issued within 90 days of the Act's enactment, with helicopter owners having one to two years to comply.
The FAA Administrator may grant exemptions for certain civilian helicopters, but must report such exemptions to Congress.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_36
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]
Process start date: 2021-01-25
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_36.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-25.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • All new and existing U.S.-registered turbine-powered helicopters certified for 6 or more passenger seats must be equipped with Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs).
  • These same helicopters will also be required to have Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (TAWS) to help pilots avoid collisions with terrain.
  • The regulations are to be issued within 90 days of the Act's enactment, with helicopter owners having one to two years to comply.
  • The FAA Administrator may grant exemptions for certain civilian helicopters, but must report such exemptions to Congress.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Transport Security