STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1597

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.R. No. 68

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.R. No. 68 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AND HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE EVERY ACTION NECESSARY TO ADDRESS RAPIDLY INCREASING SAFETY RISKS AND COMMUNITY DISRUPTION RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT REGULATION OF RAPIDLY INCREASING OPERATIONS OF TOUR HELICOPTERS AND SMALL AIRCRAFT THROUGHOUT HAWAII SKIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress, Federal Aviation Administration, and Hawaii Department of Transportation to take every action necessary to address rapidly increasing safety risks and community disruption resulting from insufficient regulation of rapidly increasing operations of tour helicopters and small aircraft in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu Tour Helicopter Safety and Noise Inter-Action Group, Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, and Hawaii Island Coalition Malama Pono.

Your Committee finds that helicopter tours and small commercial aircraft operations have grown rapidly in the State. Your Committee further finds that these operations have been involved in several notable accidents and incidents that have resulted in loss of life; risks to passengers, residents, and visitors; and damage to property. This measure urges federal authorities, who have maintained sole jurisdiction over tour flight operations, to address safety risks and community disruptions posed by helicopter tours and small commercial aircraft operations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that certified copies of this measure be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Transportation and Governor; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 68, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 68, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair