An Act relative to public safety around hospitals with air emergency helipads

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Sena

HB 2697 blocks non-emergency flight training within 2 NM of hospital helipads and bars descents below 2,000 ft AGL, protecting patients, staff, and hospital ops.

Accompanied a study order, see H5254 (under House Rule 27)

Summary: House Bill 2697 – An Act relative to public safety around hospitals with air emergency helipads

Purpose and intent

Establishes public safety protections for hospitals equipped with air emergency helipads by restricting non-emergency flight training activities in the surrounding airspace.

Aims to reduce risk of aircraft conflicts, inadvertent descents, or maneuvers that could endanger patients, staff, and hospital operations near helipads.

Key provisions

Prohibition area: Within a 2 nautical mile radius of hospital helipads in Massachusetts.

Prohibited activities: Non-emergency aircraft flight training maneuvers, including simulated landings, practice approaches, turns about a point, power-off turns, and related maneuvers.

Altitude restriction: Overflights of these areas may not descend below 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL).

Applicability to pilots: Private flight schools and recreational pilots are not to treat these locations as appropriate places to concentrate maneuvers due to public safety concerns.

General language: The bill uses a “Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary” clause, indicating a broad preemption to ensure the restrictions apply despite other rules.

Affected parties and impacts

Primary affected groups: Non-emergency flight training operators, private flight schools, and recreational pilots operating near hospital helipads.

Indirect effects: Hospitals with helipads may benefit from reduced flight-training activity directly overhead or nearby, potentially lowering risk to patients, staff, and emergency operations.

Operational considerations: Flight training programs located near hospital helipads may need to modify curricula, routing, or scheduling to comply with the 2 nm/2,000 ft AGL requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction: February 27, 2025.

Legislative actions: Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (Feb. 27, 2025); Senate concurred (date listed in docket).

Hearing schedule: Originally set for July 14, 2025; rescheduled to July 24, 2025 (07:00 PM–05:00 PM) in Room A-2 and via virtual attendance.

Related/precedent: Related matter previously filed as House Bill 2400 in the 2023-2024 session; identical or substantially similar provisions appear in HD 121 for the 2025-2026 session.

Practical notes

The bill does not specify an effective date; details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties are not provided in the summary text.

If enacted, the bill would supersede conflicting state rules or laws to enforce the 2 nm/2,000 ft AGL restrictions around hospital helipads.

Bottom line

HB 2697 seeks to enhance safety around hospital air emergency helipads by restricting non-emergency flight training maneuvers within 2 nautical miles and preventing descent below 2,000 ft AGL, with broad language to preempt conflicting regulations. The measure is currently under review with a scheduled hearing in July 2025.