Federal Aviation Administration, DOT
Section 135.615

Section 135.619

VFR flight planning.

(a) Pre-flight. Prior to conducting
VFR operations, the pilot in command
must - 
(1) Determine the minimum safe
cruise altitude by evaluating the terrain and obstacles along the planned
route of flight;
(2) Identify and document the highest
obstacle along the planned route of
flight; and
(3) Using the minimum safe cruise altitudes in paragraphs (b)(1)-(2) of this
section, determine the minimum required ceiling and visibility to conduct
the planned flight by applying the
weather minimums appropriate to the
class of airspace for the planned flight.
(b) Enroute. While conducting VFR
operations, the pilot in command must
ensure that all terrain and obstacles
along the route of flight are cleared
vertically by no less than the following:
(1) 300 feet for day operations.
(2) 500 feet for night operations.
(c) Rerouting the planned flight path. A
pilot in command may deviate from
the planned flight path for reasons
such as weather conditions or operational considerations. Such deviations
do not relieve the pilot in command of
the weather requirements or the requirements for terrain and obstacle
clearance contained in this part and in
part 91 of this chapter. Rerouting,
change in destination, or other changes
to the planned flight that occur while
the helicopter is on the ground at an
intermediate stop require evaluation of
the new route in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Operations manual. Each certificate holder must document its VFR
flight planning procedures in its operations manual.
Section 135.617

Pre-flight risk analysis.

(a) Each certificate holder conducting helicopter air ambulance operations must establish, and document in
its operations manual, an FAA-approved preflight risk analysis that includes at least the following - 
(1) Flight considerations, to include
obstacles and terrain along the planned
route of flight, landing zone conditions,
and fuel requirements;

(2) Human factors, such as crew fatigue, life events, and other stressors;
(3) Weather, including departure, en
route, destination, and forecasted;
(4) A procedure for determining
whether another helicopter air ambulance operator has refused or rejected a
flight request; and
(5) Strategies and procedures for
mitigating identified risks, including
procedures for obtaining and documenting approval of the certificate
holder-s management personnel to release a flight when a risk exceeds a
level predetermined by the certificate
holder.
(b) Each certificate holder must develop a preflight risk analysis worksheet to include, at a minimum, the
items in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Prior to the first leg of each helicopter air ambulance operation, the
pilot in command must conduct a preflight risk analysis and complete the
preflight risk analysis worksheet in accordance with the certificate holder-s
FAA-approved procedures. The pilot in
command must sign the preflight risk
analysis worksheet and specify the
date and time it was completed.
(d) The certificate holder must retain
the original or a copy of each completed preflight risk analysis worksheet at a location specified in its operations manual for at least 90 days from
the date of the operation.
Section 135.619

Operations control centers.

(a) Operations control center. After
April 22, 2016, certificate holders authorized to conduct helicopter air ambulance operations, with 10 or more
helicopter air ambulances assigned to
the certificate holder-s operations
specifications, must have an operations
control center. The operations control
center must be staffed by operations
control specialists who, at a minimum - 
(1) Provide two-way communications
with pilots;
(2) Provide pilots with weather briefings, to include current and forecasted
weather along the planned route of
flight;
(3) Monitor the progress of the flight;
and

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