WASHINGTON (March 18, 2021) — The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday its intent to hold a public board meeting March 23, 2021, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, to consider a draft report on recommendations for the implementation of stricter regulatory requirements for some types of revenue passenger-carrying general aviation operations.
The NTSB has a long history of concerns about the safety of various revenue passenger-carrying operations, including sightseeing flights conducted in hot air balloons, helicopters, and other aircraft and parachute jump flights. These operations are not subject to the same maintenance, airworthiness, and operational requirements as other commercial flight operations.
The five-member board will consider the need for broader oversight and additional safety requirements for certain types of revenue passenger-carrying general aviation operations.
In keeping with established federal and local social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while also ensuring the NTSB’s compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, the board meeting for this event will be webcast to the public, with the board members and investigative staff meeting virtually. There will be no physical gathering to facilitate the board meeting.
WHO: NTSB investigative staff and board members.
WHAT: A webcast of a virtual board meeting.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 23, 2021, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
HOW: The board meeting will be webcast only, there will not be a public gathering of NTSB investigative staff or board members. A link to the webcast will be available shortly before the start of the meeting at http://ntsb.windrosemedia.com/.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt is scheduled to hold a virtual media availability at 2 p.m. Eastern time, to answer questions about the meeting and the safety recommendations issued by the board.
The virtual media availability with Chairman Sumwalt will be conducted using Microsoft Teams Live Event. Journalists who RSVP to [email protected] will receive an email with the link and information about how the availability will be conducted. A recording of the availability will be made available on the NTSB’s YouTube channel as soon as practicable.
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
