H.R. 8226 — Helicopter Safety Parity Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings that certain helicopter passenger operations under FAA part 135 regulations (i.e., commuter and on-demand) avoid more rigorous part 121 standards (i.e., scheduled air carriers) for pilot training, duty and rest, maintenance, and equipment; notes the FAA's proposed but un-finalized rulemaking to close this gap; asserts that public safety requires equivalent part 121 standards for rotorcraft passenger service; clarifies that the Act builds on the FAA's 2024 Safety Management System rule; and cites recent fatal helicopter accidents, including the April 2025 Hudson River crash, as demonstrating risks from inadequate part 135 oversight.

This section establishes definitions for terms used in the Act, including “part 121 operations” and “part 121 operators” (i.e., operations and operators under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, generally covering scheduled air carrier and commuter operations); “part 135 operations” and “part 135 operators” (i.e., operations and operators under part 135, generally covering on-demand air taxi and commuter services); and “rotorcraft” (as defined in 14 C.F.R. § 1.1).

This section requires operators of turbine-powered helicopters carrying 2 or more passengers for compensation or hire to comply with safety equipment, training, and maintenance requirements equivalent to those for part 121 air carrier operations (i.e., standards generally applicable to scheduled airlines), including (1) terrain awareness equipment or equivalent approved by the FAA Administrator, (2) cockpit voice recording equipment or equivalent, (3) flight data recording equipment or equivalent, and (4) part 121 standards for pilot qualifications, duty and rest periods, and maintenance programs. Operators must achieve full compliance within 24 months of enactment, with the Administrator authorized to grant up to a 6-month extension for good faith progress. The requirements do not apply to emergency medical services operations under 14 C.F.R. subpart L of part 135.

This section directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to (1) issue final regulations implementing the Act not later than 18 months after the date of enactment and (2) rescind or modify any exemptions, interpretations, or guidance inconsistent with the Act.

This section subjects operators that fail to comply with this Act to the same penalties, certificate actions, and enforcement measures applicable to part 121 operators (i.e., scheduled air carriers) under 49 U.S.C. chapter 447 (Safety Regulation).

This section authorizes appropriations of $50 million annually to the Federal Aviation Administration for FY2026 through 2030 to carry out this Act, including rulemaking, enforcement, oversight, and hiring and training aviation safety inspectors to strengthen maintenance and operational surveillance of rotorcraft operators.

This section directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator to submit to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, not later than 12 months after enactment, a report describing (1) staffing needs for implementation of this Act, (2) steps taken to hire and train additional aviation safety inspectors, and (3) progress in integrating rotorcraft operators into oversight systems consistent with part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (i.e., air carrier certification standards typically applied to larger commercial operations).