The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) will review the Maldives CAA's helicopter regulatory oversight capability.
Helicopter operations ceased on the Maldives fifteen years ago, following two fatal accidents involving Hummingbird Island Helicopters (Malé) and Maldivian Air Taxi (Malé). Both operators transitioned to all-fixed-wing aircraft in late 1999, and merged in 2013 under Trans Maldivian Airways (TMW, Malé). It is now the world's largest Twin Otter operator.
The Minister of Tourism Moosa Zameer announced late last year that the government would work to resume commercial helicopter services, pending amendments to regulations.
In a statement, the Maldives CAA says that the review will involve a full risk assessment of helicopter operations.
"UK CAA experts will support MCAA and AOC Accountable Managers to establish the intentions of the operations and recommend how these operations can be achieved safely," the statement says. "The project will also involve an offshore helideck review, to provide a complete 'risk picture' of future helicopter operations."
The Indian Ocean island nation is heavily reliant on tourism, and currently utilises seaplanes and boats to move visitors throughout its twenty-six atolls.
