{"data":{"id":"us/14-cfr-135.617","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"14 CFR 135.617","heading":"Pre-flight risk analysis.","body":"(a) Each certificate holder conducting helicopter air ambulance operations must establish, and document in its operations manual, an FAA-approved preflight risk analysis that includes at least the following—\n(1) Flight considerations, to include obstacles and terrain along the planned route of flight, landing zone conditions, and fuel requirements;\n(2) Human factors, such as crew fatigue, life events, and other stressors;\n(3) Weather, including departure, en route, destination, and forecasted;\n(4) A procedure for determining whether another helicopter air ambulance operator has refused or rejected a flight request; and\n(5) Strategies and procedures for mitigating identified risks, including procedures for obtaining and documenting approval of the certificate holder's management personnel to release a flight when a risk exceeds a level predetermined by the certificate holder.\n(b) Each certificate holder must develop a preflight risk analysis worksheet to include, at a minimum, the items in paragraph (a) of this section.\n(c) Prior to the first leg of each helicopter air ambulance operation, the pilot in command must conduct a preflight risk analysis and complete the preflight risk analysis worksheet in accordance with the certificate holder's FAA-approved procedures. The pilot in command must sign the preflight risk analysis worksheet and specify the date and time it was completed.\n(d) The certificate holder must retain the original or a copy of each completed preflight risk analysis worksheet at a location specified in its operations manual for at least 90 days from the date of the operation.","path":["Title 14—Aeronautics and Space","CHAPTER I—FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","SUBCHAPTER G—AIR CARRIERS AND OPERATORS FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE: CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS","PART 135—OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: COMMUTER AND ON DEMAND OPERATIONS AND RULES GOVERNING PERSONS ON BOARD SUCH AIRCRAFT","Subpart L—Helicopter Air Ambulance Equipment, Operations, and Training Requirements"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-14.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:24:20Z","sha256":"cdd94a606d1c7181d0db2794d2834258c196db7ea06ccb6a337c44de1e2c4395","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/14-cfr-135.615","next":"us/14-cfr-135.619"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}