Bill > SB1197

This bill aims to enhance safety regulations for tour aircraft operations in Hawaii by requiring operators to obtain a permit and carry substantial aircraft liability insurance. The legislation is motivated by recent safety concerns, including a 2024 National Transportation Safety Board warning about risky operating practices and a tragic helicopter crash in Kauai that brought the total number of air tour accident fatalities in Hawaii since 2000 to forty-eight. Specifically, the bill amends existing transportation regulations to mandate that tour aircraft operators (defined as businesses offering aircraft for hire to passengers for aerial tours or tourist-related activities) must now obtain a permit and provide proof of liability insurance that covers bodily injury, death, and property damage. The permit requirements include detailed reporting obligations, such as submitting monthly reports with specifics about each flight's date, time, passenger count, flight path, and any deviations from the planned route. The director of transportation will have the authority to establish and enforce these new rules, including the ability to revoke permits for non-compliance or misrepresentation. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2050, giving tour aircraft operators significant time to adjust to the new insurance and reporting requirements.

Business and Industry, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1197&year=2026