Not a year goes by where Hawaii does not see some type of aviation incident. Hundreds of thousands of flights operate in the state each year, and the vast majority are safe passenger, U.S. military, cargo and mail, emergency and utility operations. As an island chain, we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of air services to travel and facilitate the safe and efficient transport of goods, as well as provide vital roles and conduct training for our national security.

Aviation incidents will occur, despite each operator’s best attempts to ensure 100% safe and responsible flights.

As a U.S. military veteran and the CEO of the locally owned and operated company Paradise Helicopters for more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand the heartbreaking devastation that can be caused when an accident occurs. These events are rare, and our state’s helicopter industry has a safety record comparable to worldwide statistics.

Paradise Helicopters and most of the tour helicopter companies in Hawaii are locally owned and operated, employing hundreds of local families. We all grieve the loss of the three lives in the Kailua helicopter crash on April 29. While it is necessary to conduct a thorough investigation, and then learn from those findings, it is also critical to understand that crashes of any kind are few. In the entire U.S. in 2018, the fatal accident rate in the civil helicopter industry was 0.67 per 100,000 flight hours, while the overall helicopter accident rate was 3.65 per 100,000 flight hours.

Even one incident is one too many. That’s why Hawaii helicopter operators work to earn the industry’s top international safety certifications and qualifications. We also carefully review the findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following each incident, and work collaboratively with local, state and federal leaders and regulatory agencies.

It was long ago established that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controlled airspace in the U.S., as it is not feasible to have each state or municipality set their own rules. To help ensure the safety and enjoyment of our communities, Hawaii helicopter-tour operators have operated under some of the country’s toughest aviation regulations and standards.

This includes varying flight paths, flying at altitudes of 1,500 feet or more above ground level, conducting noise measurements, investing in noise-reduction aircraft technologies, earning safety and environmental certifications, and actively participating in community forums and discussions.

The recent establishment of a working roundtable on the island of Hawaii to address air-tour noise, as well as the launch of the third-party PlaneNoise database — available via HawaiiHelicopterAssociation.org or (808) 639-5566 to track community feedback — are two steps in the right direction.

Perhaps more so than many other states, helicopters play a vital role in providing essential and community services in Hawaii.

This includes search and rescue, emergency, utility, environmental, educational and other transportation flights. What would we do without them?

I am pleased that FAA, state Department of Transportation (DOT), Hawaii Helicopter Association (HHA) operators and community representatives are continuing a constructive discussion regarding helicopter operations.

We encourage a thoughtful approach to air tours that takes into account the many roles our helicopters serve and the greatly positive impacts of the industry’s operations and community support.

Calvin Dorn is CEO of Paradise Helicopters.