General Aviation and Commercial Division
National Tiltrotor & Rotorcraft Operations Program
The Operations and Safety Program Support Branch is responsible for the National Tiltrotor and Rotorcraft Operations. The branch manager serves as the Flight Standards senior technical advisor and is responsible for providing the operational technical expertise and advice for the development of national policy, guidance, and direction for rotorcraft and tiltrotor operations.
As the primary policy office for Tiltrotor and Rotorcraft Operations, the Branch:
- Ensures that Congressional legislated requirements for helicopter and tiltrotor initiatives are incorporated in FAA programs.
- Ensures the efficient integration of helicopter and tiltrotor aircraft into the NAS to enhance safety, improve capacity, and reduce delay for all system users.
- Represents the FAA at the ICAO Helicopter/Tiltrotor Study Group.
- Responsible for providing the operational and technical expertise necessary for the development of national policy and regulations and coordinating the development, operational testing, evaluation, and implementation of national standards, programs and procedures for helicopter and tiltrotor operations.
- Responsible for the coordination and prioritization of operational programs and initiatives relating to the development and improvement of air and ground infrastructure for helicopter and tiltrotor operations.
- Serves as a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement’s Trinational Technical Safety and Security Helicopter Work Group.
- Serves as Chairman of the FAA Vertical Flight Committee and is the principal element responsible for strategic and tactical planning for the coordination and prioritization of FAA rotorcraft and tiltrotor programs including research and development, aircraft certification, flight standards, airports, air traffic, and safety.
- Serves as Program Manager for the FAA Night Vision Goggle Program and as a member of the RTCA Special Committee (SC-196) on Night Vision Goggle Appliances and Equipment.
- Serves as the FAA Representative to the JAA Helicopter Operation Sub-Committee.
- Serves as the focal point within the FAA for coordinating helicopter and tiltrotor issues with industry and other US and foreign governmental agencies.
