IFR Operations at Locations Without Weather Reporting

The proposed rule would allow helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operators to conduct instrument flight rules (IFR) departure and approach procedures at airports and heliports that do not have an approved weather reporting source in HAA aircraft without functioning severe weather detection equipment (airborne radar or lightning strike detection equipment), when there is no reasonable expectation of severe weather at the destination, the alternate, or along the route of flight. This rule would also update requirements to address the discontinuance of area forecasts, currently used as flight planning and pilot weather briefing aids. Additionally, this rulemaking proposes to update requirements regarding HAA departure procedures to include additional types of departure procedures that are currently acceptable for use.