Overview
- Brazil’s civil aviation regulator ordered the suspension of panoramic helicopter flights by VRP, Broad Fly, Nobre Turismo and Mr. Top Fly after inspections flagged operational irregularities.
- The measure grounds nine helicopters that belonged to the four firms and follows three fatal accidents in eight months that together killed 13 people.
- Inspectors found records showing some aircraft logged far fewer minutes than they actually flew, a practice that reduces mandatory maintenance tied to flight hours and raises safety risks.
- The most recent crash on August 8 killed a pilot and three Colombian tourists, and a June midair collision killed six people including public figures, which intensified scrutiny of the sector.
- Before the suspensions Rio had 12 authorized panoramic operators with 46 helicopters, and ANAC says its rule review this year aims to strengthen inspections, separate compliant operators from violators, and make sightseeing flights safer.