558 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§§ 136.43–136.49 

on experience if the modification im-
proves protection of national park re-
sources and values and of tribal lands. 

(c) 

New entrant operators. 

The Admin-

istrator, in cooperation with the Direc-
tor, may grant interim operating au-
thority under this paragraph (c) to an 
air tour operator for a national park or 
tribal lands for which that operator is 
a new entrant air tour operator if the 
Administrator determines the author-
ity is necessary to ensure competition 
in the provision of commercial air tour 
operations over the park or tribal 
lands. 

(1) 

Limitation. 

The Administrator 

may not grant interim operating au-
thority under this paragraph (c) if the 
Administrator determines that it 
would create a safety problem at the 
park or on the tribal lands, or if the Di-
rector determines that it would create 
a noise problem at the park or on the 
tribal lands. 

(2) 

ATMP limitation. 

The Adminis-

trator may grant interim operating au-
thority under this paragraph (c) only if 
the ATMP for the park or tribal lands 
to which the application relates has 
not been developed within 24 months 
after April 5, 2000. 

[Doc. No. FAA–2001–8690, 67 FR 65667, Oct. 25, 
2002. Redesignated by Amdt. 136–1, 72 FR 
6912, Feb. 13, 2007] 

§§ 136.43–136.49 [Reserved] 

Subpart C—Grand Canyon 

National Park 

§§ 136.51–136.69 [Reserved] 

Subpart D—Special Operating 

Rules for Air Tour Operators in 
the State of Hawaii 

S

OURCE

: Docket No. FAA–2022–1563; Amdt. 

No. 136–2, 88 FR 48092, July 26, 2023, unless 
otherwise noted. 

§ 136.71 Applicability. 

(a) Except as provided in paragraph 

(b) of this section, this subpart pre-
scribes operating rules for air tour 
flights conducted in airplanes, pow-
ered-lift, or rotorcraft under visual 
flight rules in the State of Hawaii pur-
suant to parts 91, 121, and 135 of this 
chapter. 

(b) This subpart does not apply to: 
(1) Operations conducted under part 

121 of this chapter in airplanes with a 
passenger seating configuration of 
more than 30 seats or a payload capac-
ity of more than 7,500 pounds. 

(2) Flights conducted in gliders or 

hot air balloons. 

§ 136.73 Definitions. 

For the purposes of this subpart: 

Air tour 

means any sightseeing flight 

conducted under visual flight rules in 
an airplane, powered-lift, or rotorcraft 
for compensation or hire. 

Air tour operator 

means any person 

who conducts an air tour. 

§ 136.75 Equipment and requirements. 

(a) 

Flotation equipment. 

No person 

may conduct an air tour in Hawaii in a 
rotorcraft beyond the shore of any is-
land, regardless of whether the rotor-
craft is within gliding distance of the 
shore, unless: 

(1) The rotorcraft is amphibious or is 

equipped with floats adequate to ac-
complish a safe emergency ditching 
and approved flotation gear is easily 
accessible for each occupant; or 

(2) Each person on board the rotor-

craft is wearing approved flotation 
gear. 

(b) 

Performance plan. 

Each operator 

must complete a performance plan that 
meets the requirements of this para-
graph (b) before each air tour flight 
conducted in a rotorcraft. 

(1) The performance plan must be 

based on information from the current 
approved aircraft flight manual for 
that aircraft, considering the max-
imum density altitude for which the 
operation is planned to determine the 
following: 

(i) Maximum gross weight and center 

of gravity (CG) limitations for hov-
ering in ground effect; 

(ii) Maximum gross weight and CG 

limitations for hovering out of ground 
effect; and 

(iii) Maximum combination of 

weight, altitude, and temperature for 
which height-velocity information 
from the performance data is valid. 

(2) The pilot in command (PIC) must 

comply with the performance plan. 

(c) 

Operating limitations. 

Except for 

approach to and transition from a