HONOLULU (KHON2) — Blue Hawaiian Helicopters is asking the Federal Aviation Administration for an exemption that would allow its tour aircraft to fly as low as 700 feet above ground level in parts of Oʻahu, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island.
Under current federal rules, air tours in Hawaiʻi must stay at least 1,500 feet above the surface. The company says that lowering the altitude would actually improve safety because clouds in Hawaiʻi often form at or near 1,500 feet, forcing helicopters into potentially dangerous weather conditions. The company says a lower altitude would keep aircraft below cloud layers, with better visibility and safer flying conditions.
The company points to its Safety Management System, instrument-rated pilots, terrain awareness systems, and more than 700,000 tour flight hours since 2000 without a weather-related accident as proof it can operate safely below the current ceiling.
But community leaders say the public was left out of the discussion.
“It shocked me to find out the proposal is not only covering lower minimum altitudes over Maui, Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi but it’s covering my own area where I live in Central Oʻahu,” said Danielle Bass, chair of the Mililani Neighborhood Board.
In the FAA documents, Blue Hawaiian states, “All exemption areas are over unpopulated areas.”
Those areas include: (AGL stands for above ground level).
Maui/Moloka’i
Maui Area 1 – Waihee Valley to Honokohau Valley to Nakalele Point: 700ft AGL minimum.
Moloka’i Area 2 – Moku Ho’oniki Island shoreline to Pelekunu Valley : 700ft AGL minimum.
Moloka’i Area 3 – Pelekunu Valley to the back of Wailau Valley : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback Ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.
Maui Area 4 – Mauka of Kapalua Airport to Launiopoko Valley to Olowalu Valley to Iao Valley to Waikapu Valley : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback Ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.
Maui Area 5 – Makawao Forest to Hana Rainforest to Waihoi Valley : 700ft AGL minimum.
Oʻahu
O’ahu Area 1 – Hanauma Bay shoreline to Kailua : 700ft AGL minimum.
O’ahu Area 2 – Mokoili Island back valleys to Turtle Bay : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback Ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.
O’ahu Area 3 – Waimea Bay to Dole Plantation : 700ft AGL minimum.
O’ahu Area 4 – Southern Wheeler AAF airspace to Ko’Olina resort to H1 Highway back to Middle Lock of Pearl Harbor : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback Ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.Hawaiʻi Island
Area 1 – Waikoloa Heliport to Kilauea Summit : 700ft AGL minimum.
Area 2 – Kulani Cone to Eucalyptus Tree Area : 700ft AGL minimum.
Area 3 – Maku’u Point to Puu O’o Vent: 700ft AGL minimum.
Area 4 – ITO, shoreline to Cape Kumukahi, shoreline to Kalapana to Puu O’o vent : 700ft AGL minimum.
Area 5 – ITO, Shoreline to Pololu Valley : 700ft AGL minimum.
Area 6 – Waimanu Valley to Waimea : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback Ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.
Area 7 – Honokane Nui or Pololu Valley to either Watertank or Riders areas : 700ft AGL minimum. Depicted Razorback ridges can be crossed at 500ft AGL minimum.
Bass says she first learned of the proposal through social media posts from neighbor island residents.
“As the chair of the Mililani Neighborhood Board I found this to be surprising to say the least that Blue Hawaiian Helicopters didn’t approach, or communicate this proposal to anyone in our community,” Bass added.
The vice-chair for the North Shore Neighborhood Board also said she wasn’t aware of the proposal either.
Residents are also worried about the impact of doubling noise levels by cutting the altitude in half.
“If you do start proposing the minimum altitude level to be a mere 700 feet above our homes, that will be very concerning to residents in terms of safety, and their own acceptability of noise level. This is a health and safety issue too,” Bass said.
State Representative Darius Kila, who is the House Transportation Chair, also expressed concern about the broader precedent.
“They’re asking pretty much for the expansion of the primitive operation that exists now currently… when you go to a lower threshold of what you usually fly in these routes, you’re posing a threat not just to wildlife, but to the neighbors and the community alike,” Kila said.
He added that if the FAA grants Blue Hawaiian’s request, it could open the door for other operators to seek similar exemptions.
“If Blue Hawaiian was granted the exemption… you cannot do for one and not do for all. This could have an impact on the future of helicopter tours in Hawaiʻi alike,” Kila said.
Blue Hawaiian’s proposal says the lower altitudes would be limited to specific routes over largely unpopulated areas, though opponents dispute that — pointing out that Central Oʻahu alone has more than 85,000 residents.
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The FAA is reviewing the petition. For now, the 1,500-foot minimum altitude rule for Hawaiʻi tour flights remains in place. The deadline to submit comments for or against the change is Monday.