Report from Chile: Working Together for Vertical Aviation A global trend toward stricter regulation underscores the need for collaboration across our industry. By Loreto Moraga Recent regulatory actions in Chile and the United States reflect common challenges facing the vertical aviation community worldwide. But two experiences over the past year involving the Chilean Helicopter Association (ACHHEL) illustrate how international cooperation between industry members can thwart threats to aerial operations. These two cases demonstrate ACHHEL’s commitment to shaping national and international aeronautical regulations as we promote effective collaboration between vertical aviation stakeholders, open new markets, and create regulations that align with current operational needs and limitations. Patagonia Airspace Restrictions In the first case, ACHHEL earlier this year became aware of a draft management plan for the Kawésqar National Reserve (RNK) that had been under development since 2019. The RNK includes Chilean maritime territory adjacent to Kawésqar National Park, located in the provinces of Última Esperanza and Magallanes, in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica Region. This reserve, part of a broader network of protected areas in Patagonia, is crucial for biological and cultural conservation. After reviewing the draft plan, ACHHEL identified a significant issue concerning aerial operations: the plan eliminated aircraft use for tourism, permitting flights only for scientific, filming, or forestry-related activities. These restrictions applied to all aircraft, including drones. ACHHEL proposed several key revisions to the plan. First, we recommended updating the technical definitions for both manned and unmanned aircraft. The imprecise wording of the definitions as they are currently written makes the plan misleading, resulting in confusion that could lead to problems for the forestry authority and for communities in the future. Second, we suggested shifting the focus from regulating the types of aerial activities to regulating the types of aircraft permitted in the reserve. This approach prevents contradictions, such as choosing aircraft with a bigger environmental footprint to perform conservation work. Regulations, we argued, should focus on the environmental impact of the aircraft, not their activities or missions. Finally, we recommended that aircraft restrictions in protected areas be based on measurable criteria, such as emissions and sound levels. Limits on landings, takeoffs (except for unmanned aircraft systems, or UASs), and operations during bird migration should also be included. We will submit these suggestions to the appropriate authorities and local communities. Advocating for Open Skies A second development in the past year highlights the value of cooperation in the vertical aviation industry, where ACHHEL is active in advocating for regulatory improvements both internationally and domestically. For the past 45 years, Chile has pursued an “Open Skies” policy, deregulating air transport to open international markets and reduce trade barriers. This policy is implemented through air service agreements (ASAs) that allow companies to establish new routes for passenger and cargo transport. Much of the rest of Latin America, however, lacks this level of openness. In those areas, complex regulations hinder regional air operations. For example, maintenance requirements in countries that are part of the Regional Safety Oversight Cooperation System (SRVSOP), an ICAO organization created to improve operational safety in Latin America, often create bureaucratic delays, especially during emergencies such as natural disasters and wildfires, limiting the region’s capacity to respond. Through ACHHEL’s efforts, 10 Latin American countries agreed to reduce bureaucratic delays during regional emergencies by streamlining aircraft and crew approval processes and expediting aerial operations. (VAI Image) In 2019, ACHHEL initiated discussions with the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (CLAC). These talks led to the inclusion of a study note on aerial work and the proposal of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the 2019 CLAC meeting. This proposal was revived post-pandemic, and in 2023, the MoU was officially presented. It commits signatory countries to streamline aircraft and crew approval processes and to facilitate aerial operations during emergencies. In December 2023, the MoU was signed by Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela, with other CLAC member states invited to join in the future. Working with VAI on Common Challenges ACHHEL has been collaborating with VAI for several years now and is a member of VAI’s International Partnership Program, which promotes common safety and operational standards and best practices in vertical flight. Both associations strongly believe that the regular exchange of information on policy and regulations benefits both our members and the countries in which we operate. Sharing insights from different nations, as well as learning from the experiences of operators and companies in those regions, helps us navigate common challenges more effectively. For instance, the draft management plan for the RNK proposed banning air tour flights and other aircraft operations over protected areas, similar to US air tour management plans, which aim to reduce or even eliminate air tour operations over national parks. These efforts in both Chile and the United States, though distinct in their regional focus, reflect a global trend toward stricter regulation of aerial activity in certain areas. By engaging in ongoing dialogue, we can better understand the rationale behind these regulations and develop coordinated strategies to address similar challenges. Learning from one another’s experiences enables us to advocate more effectively for our members. Such collaboration strengthens our ability to protect both our industries and the natural landscapes in which we operate, ensuring sustainable practices in aerial operations worldwide. Loreto Moraga is president of the Chilean Helicopter Association (ACHHEL) and the Chilean Space Association (ACHIDE).
