I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1643 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit certain helicopter flights 
over major cities with high population densities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2021 
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. NADLER, and Ms. 
VELA´ZQUEZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit certain 
helicopter flights over major cities with high population 
densities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Improving Helicopter 
Safety Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN FLIGHTS OVER MAJOR 
CITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘§ 44741. Prohibition on certain flights over major 
cities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, no person may operate 
a civil rotorcraft in covered airspace except as provided 
for under subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.—The pro-
hibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to a flight 
carried out for purposes of public health and safety, 
including— 
‘‘(A) law enforcement; 
‘‘(B) emergency response; 
‘‘(C) disaster response; 
‘‘(D) the provision of medical services; and 
‘‘(E) providing other services for the ben-
efit of the general public, including flights car-
ried out for research or for official purposes by 
a news organization. 
‘‘(2) INFRASTRUCTURE
MAINTENANCE.—The 
prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to a 
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flight carried out for purposes heavy-lift operations 
in support of construction and infrastructure main-
tenance. 
‘‘(c) COVERED AIRSPACE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘covered airspace’ means the airspace directly 
over any city with a population over 8 million people and 
with a population density of over 25,000 people per square 
mile, including the airspace over any waterways considered 
within the limits of such city.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44741. Prohibition on certain flights over major cities.’’. 
SEC. 3. HELICOPTER FLIGHT ROUTES FOR MAJOR CITIES 
AND SURROUNDING AREAS. 
Not later than 90 days after a city initially meets the 
requirements to be covered by the prohibition in section 
44741 of title 49, United States Code (as added by section 
2), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion shall issue or update such regulations as are nec-
essary to carry out the requirements of such section. 
SEC. 4. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 
(a) SECTION 44737.—Chapter 447 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amending by redesignating the second sec-
tion 44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA Reau-
thorization Act of 2018) as section 44740. 
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(b) ANALYSIS.—The analysis for chapter 447 of title 
49, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to the second 
section 44737 (as added by section 581 of the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2018); and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 44739 the following new item: 
‘‘44740. Special rule for certain aircraft operations.’’. 
(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN AIRCRAFT OPER-
ATIONS.—Section 44740 of title 49, United States Code, 
(as redesignated by subsection (a)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking the period at the 
end; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘(1)’’ the 
second time it appears; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by adding a period at 
the end. 
Æ 
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