Upon his retirement as a non-routine flight operations captain from a fractional operator in 2015, Dr. Veillette had accumulated more than 20,000 hours of flight experience in 240 types of aircraft—including balloons, rotorcraft, sea plans, glides, war birds, supersonic jets and large commercial transports. He is an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University. In June 2023, he won the prestigious Bill Gunston Technology Writer of the Year Award.
According to FAR 135.607 "Flight Data Monitoring System," as of April 23, 2018, no person may operate a helicopter in air ambulance operations unless it is equipped with an approved flight data monitoring (FDM) system capable of recording flight performance data.
Several years ago, I was asked by a helicopter EMS operator whether I would first choose to set up an aviation safety action program (ASAP) or flight data monitoring (FDM) program for an operation such as his. I have extensive hands-on experience with ASAPs and was one of the principals involved with getting the first ASAP program approved in business aviation. Now that the FAA has grown more comfortable with ASAPs outside of FAR Part 121 carriers, it is easier getting an ASAP program approved and implemented.
