The FAA has denied a petition from Honolulu-based Trident Adventures seeking an exemption from passenger restraint rules to continue its "helocast" tours, in which participants jump from a hovering helicopter into the ocean. The agency concluded that Trident's safety measures, including passenger screening, trained crew and safety swimmers, do not provide an equivalent level of safety to the restraint requirements they would replace, and that they fail to guard against slips, turbulence, windblast or human error. Trident says it has run the activity for about seven years and roughly 3,500 participants without incident, and that its appeal is ongoing with no final decision yet.
Opposition came from U.S. Rep. Ed Case and a North Shore community group, which cited an unrelated $10,000 state fine against Trident for illegal snorkel drops in a protected marine area—fines Trident says were paid but disputes involvement in. U.S. Rep. Morgan Luttrell backed the exemption, citing veteran jobs. Jumps remain suspended pending appeal.
