Opportunities for Development of Future Helicopter Operations

The FAA’s “Helicopter Operations Development Program” is striving to improve the National Airspace System so that helicopters can employ their unique capabilities efficienctly. However, the helicopter’s truly unique capability is to fly slowly with no lower limit on airspeed. This capability is not yet developed for use during instrument flight. In addition, the capability can not be used to advantage until a suitable network of heliports is developed. These are two opportunities for development that may yield significant benefits in the future.