Below you will find the HSAC document library. Expand the library structure by clicking on the folder name. Once it opens you will see a list of documents that are contained in that folder. You can download any file by clicking on the file name. You can download multiple files by selecting the checkbox next to each file you wish to download and using the download utility. It is limited to 10 files and 8MB.
Sensitive Area Information
This literature is published by the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) to provide timely information concerning flight in environmentally sensitive areas to helicopter operators, pilots, and users in the Gulf of Mexico. HSAC has appointed Mr. Rick Oeder as the HSAC Government Liaison Committee Chairman. In this capacity Mr. Oeder will serve as the focal point for HSAC in assisting the resolution of related issues.
If you have suggestions or comments concerning this literature or industry related helicopter operational concerns relative to issues involving flight in environmentally sensitive areas, please contact Mr. Oeder at (337) 478-6131or FAX (337) 478-3918.
Flight in Environmentally Sensitive Areas
BACKGROUND
Protection of endangered species and over-flights of these and other environmentally sensitive areas are increasingly of concern in the Gulf of Mexico. Infringements in these areas can be disruptive to wildlife, people using these areas, and could result in fines to those violating these areas. This informational is designed to heighten awareness of these areas by providing a capsulation of published procedures and informational sensitive area maps.
PUBLISHED PROCEDURE
- Airman's Informational Manual (Paragraph 7-4-6 b.) states: "Pilots are requested to maintain a minimum of 2,000 feet above the surface of the following: National Parks, Monuments, Seashores, Lakeshores, Recreation Areas and Scenic Riverways administered by the National Park Service, National Wildlife Refuges, Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges, and Wildlife Ranges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wilderness Primitive Areas administered by the U.S. Forest Service."
- FAA Advisory Circular 91-36C: Encourages pilots making flights near noise sensitive areas to fly at altitudes higher than the minimum permitted by regulation and on flight paths which will reduce noise in such areas.
- VFR Sectional maps contain extracts of the language noted above and also depict some National Wildlife Refuge Boundaries.
MAPS
A number of maps are published that depict sensitive areas, but none are available that depict all current areas and boundaries that may impact on air operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Included in this literature are web sites and detailed maps that depict the most current information. Pilots are encouraged to review these sites before flight in the vicinity of the sensitive areas to ensure familiarity with these areas. For detailed information on NWR, contact the applicable Refuge Manager list at the appropriate web site. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is located at http://www.fws.gov/
| Filename | Size |
|---|---|
 Southeast Region - Alabama |
|
 Alabama |
99.03 KB |
| Bon Secour 1 |
130.04 KB |
| Bon Secour 2 |
75.07 KB |
| Bon Secour 3 |
92.07 KB |
| Grand Bay |
145.07 KB |
| Southeast Region - Louisiana |
|
| Atchafalaya |
101.58 KB |
| Bayou Savage |
136.77 KB |
| Big Branch Marsh |
148.33 KB |
| Bogue Chitto 1 |
168.16 KB |
| Bogue Chitto 2 |
153.54 KB |
| Breton Sound |
90.74 KB |
| Cameron Prarie |
112.48 KB |
| Delta |
220.35 KB |
| Lacassine |
168.77 KB |
| Louisiana |
105.12 KB |
| Mandalay |
167.29 KB |
| Sabine |
145.89 KB |
| Shell Keys |
97 KB |
| Southeast Region - Mississippi |
|
| Mississippi |
116.76 KB |
| Mississippi Sandhill Crane |
143.52 KB |
| Southeast region - Florida |
|
| Florida |
107.34 KB |
| St. Marks 1 |
140.51 KB |
| St. Marks 2 |
194.31 KB |
| St. Vincent 1 |
93.62 KB |
| St. Vincent 2 |
121.75 KB |
| Southwest Region - AZ, NM, OK, TX |
|
| Anahuac |
186.66 KB |
| Aransas Pass |
141.72 KB |
| Big Boggy |
133.6 KB |
| Brazoria |
133.49 KB |
| Laguna Atascosa |
169 KB |
| Lower Rio Grande |
145.13 KB |
| Matagorda State Park |
118.89 KB |
| McFaddin |
131.28 KB |
| Moody |
129.36 KB |
| San Bernard |
143.5 KB |
| Santa Ana |
73.68 KB |
| Texas |
57.54 KB |
| Texas Point |
145.62 KB |
| Trinity River |
112.97 KB |
Passport Information
HELICOPTER SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE (HSAC) GULF OF MEXICO
Gentlemen: December 7, 2006
In researching the proposed and final rules concerning new passport requirements it states, in my opinion, that U.S. Citizens working on the OCS will not be required to posses a passport. The following is an excerpt from page 46162 of the Federal Register:
"Under applicable immigration law, sailing from a United States port into international waters, without a call at a foreign port, and returning to the United States, does not constitute a "departure" from the United States and, consequently, is not an "entry" into the United States that requires a passport under section 215(b) of the INA. Therefore, passports will not be required for persons (including commercial fishermen) onboard a vessel that sails from a United States port and returns without calling at a foreign port or place as the vessel is not considered to have departed the United States. Therefore, commercial fishermen would not be required to possess a passport unless they call at a foreign port or place." https://pharma-centre.com
Regarding passengers and crew arriving via helicopter from the OCS the following is final:
U.S. Crew/Pax arriving from the OCS will not require a passport unless they are arriving via a foreign port. Ex. "An individual who travels to a MODU from outside the United States OCS and, therefore, has not been previously inspected and admitted to the United States, would be required to possess a passport and visa when arriving at the United States port-of-entry by air."
"DHS and DOS note that offshore employees on MODUs underway, which are not considered attached, would not need to present a passport for re-entry to the United States mainland if they do not enter a foreign port or place during transit."
Archived Documents
The documents listed below are kept for historical purposes only. These are older revisions of documents found in the document library above.