New CAT Category for Yacht Heli-OPS?

🚁 Yacht Based Helicopter Operations Are Being Treated Unfairly by Maritime Aviation Regulators!

There’s a growing issue in maritime aviation that few are talking about and it’s one that’s quietly obstructing the growth of safe, commercially compliant helicopter operations from vessels and yachts.

Currently, helicopters operating commercially on yachts or ships are often treated under aviation cabotage laws when requesting to work in other countries, resulting in denied permits exemptions or the requirement of an 83 bis-style partnership.

🛑 The problem?

1️⃣ An 83 bis agreement isn’t practical.

These partnerships require the helicopter to be co-registered in the operating country, but vessels travel across jurisdictions constantly. Re-registering aircraft multiple times a year is simply not feasible; the process involves lengthy export/import inspections and paperwork. It's an outdated mechanism for today's mobile, vessel-based operations.

2️⃣ Cabotage shouldn’t apply.

Cabotage laws are meant to protect local economies ensuring that domestic carriers handle flights offering services to local populations. But ships bring their own guests. The helicopter is not serving the general public; it’s supporting the vessel’s own operations.

So who exactly is being protected?

Here's the kicker... 🚤 Maritime regulations allow ships to bring their own tenders and zodiacs, offering shore tours and activities in foreign ports without cabotage restrictions. Why is aviation treated differently?

💡 The reality is this:

Maritime Aviation, Vessel-based commercial helicopter operations are relatively new at scale. Regulators don’t have a clear box to put them in so operators are left applying for exemptions that, in some countries, are evaluated based on public opinion rather than operational merit. In most cases, we’re talking about highly controlled, low-volume operations in remote regions where no local operator could realistically set up shop without significant effort and cost.

This isn’t about bypassing local aviation businesses it’s about enabling safe, professional, and compliant operations that don’t currently fit into legacy frameworks.

✍️ It’s time we start crafting new policies that reflect the realities of modern maritime aviation.