Access To Helicopters -- Rotors In Motion (Ref. FAR 91.13)

On occasion, when your jet touches down, a helicopter will meet up with your passengers and transport them to their final destination. This is a more common occurrence at airports such as TEB where time pressed executives need to get to Manhattan promptly; only a helicopter can help them avoid the long lines of traffic through congested Hudson River crossings.

The safety of your passengers is as important as when they egress your business jet as it is when they are onboard. However, the helicopter Captain will give safety instructions to the passengers as they leave your aircraft and head over to the helicopter.

When the following criteria cannot be observed, the helicopter engines will be shut down for other than direct entry to or egress from the passenger compartment of the helicopter.

• The Captain will ensure that prior to departure, and again upon arrival, that all passengers are briefed concerning the route for entering and disembarking with due regard to the helicopter rotors.
   

• A crewmember will be seated at the controls of the helicopter at all times when the engines are operating or the rotors are in motion.

• Passengers will be escorted or directed to approach and depart the aircraft by the most direct unimpeded route. Where feasible, a physical barrier will be established along the ingress/egress route to restrict traffic to that route.

• Unsupervised access to the baggage compartment while the engines are operating or the rotors are turning will, without exception, be limited to company personnel who have received instruction from company helicopter pilots concerning safety in and around helicopters. Local agents at any facility may have access to these compartments only if supervised by a company helicopter crewmember.