Requiring vertical separation near airports during critical phases of flight

(a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the Administrator shall ensure that each segment of a helicopter route contains, in the appropriate helicopter route chart, recommended flight altitudes, including altitude ceilings and floors, in a manner consistent with FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document). (b) Consideration of vertical separation in route criteria Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall amend FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document), to add minimum vertical separation requirements to the criteria for the helicopter route chart program. (c) Charting minimum separation near airports (1) In general The Administrator shall ensure that any helicopter chart that represents an area near an airport clearly conveys to an operator the segments of such helicopter routes in the vicinity of such airport. (2) Content requirements At minimum, each such chart shall clearly convey for each of the segments, the recommended flight altitudes, including altitude ceilings and floors, and any necessary instructions, to ensure minimum separation, in accordance with FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, titled Air Traffic Control (or any successor document), between— (A) a helicopter utilizing such segment; and (B) a fixed-wing aircraft operating at or near such airport during critical phases of flight. (d) Update policy Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall update FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration (or any successor document), to account for any additional changes made by this section. (e) Annual review The Administrator shall ensure that any changes made to Helicopter Route Charts as a result of this section are assessed on an annual basis as part of the annual review described in section 115.