원더풀 투어 파트너인 그랜드캐년 투어운영자인 헬리콥터/항공사는 국가안전교통위원회와 연방항공청의 철저한 관리와 감독하에 TOPS (투어운영자 안전프로그램)을 매년 실시하고 감사하고 있습니다.

아래는 투어운영자 안전프로그램에 대한 정의와 역사 그리고 임무에 대한 오리지널 영문컨텐츠

사이트링크 

https://wonderfulvegastour.com/

Grand Canyon Helicopters/Grand Canyon Airlines, safety is our top priority. and its subsidiaries are fully certified by the Tour Operators Program of Safety (TOPS). TOPS (www.TOPSsafety.org) is an organization whose main goal is to ensure safety and reliability throughout the air tour industry. Operators who carry a TOPS certification have agreed to operate their airlines to standards that far exceed those set forth by the FAA. These standards are upheld and enforced by regular internal audits and annual external audits by independent industrial safety auditors.

In addition to stringent operating standards, TOPS members provide a wealth of safety training to all employees involved in any portion of a visitor's flight. This includes additional safety training for management, flight crew, and ground support staff. The aircraft are also required to carry additional emergency communications equipment beyond what is required by the FAA. For example, all aircraft are equipped with an advanced radio stack that connects the pilot to a dedicated company radio network. With this network, the aircraft is in contact with our highly trained flight following staff for the entire duration of the flight. Information about weather, additional aircraft, winds and more are relayed by the flight following center to other company aircraft flying in that area.

When flying with a TOPS-certified carrier guests can be assured that they are touring with some of the safest and most highly trained professionals in the industry.

TOPS Missions & History

TOPS’s mission is to provide the public with access to scenic areas while in the care of good, safe and professional air tour operators.

TOPS history: In 1993, the need for safety programs specifically geared for the air tour industry became evident. Although helicopter tour operations had a good safety record, the flight-seeing industry was then experiencing growing pains. Accidents that may have been avoided, and media sensationalism that poorly depicted the helicopter tour industry, incorrectly portrayed the tour industry as unconcerned with public safety. Following discussions within the forum of the Helicopter Association International (HAI), a Helicopter Tour Operators Committee (HTOC) was formed. The tour operators, in coordination with several of the standing committees of the HAI, drafted a detailed safety program that was to become the principal guideline for TOPS. This program incorporated the expertise and experience of those who know the industry best: the air tour operators and the manufacturers of the air tour equipment.

In 1995, a draft of the prospective TOPS Program of Safety was presented to and well received by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Board (NTSB).

The effectiveness of the TOPS Program of Safety is well proven by the statistics gathered since 1996. In a typical year, professional helicopter tour operators in the US fly some 100,000 tour hours, of which about 85,000 hours are flown by TOPS members. TOPS members have a cumulative safety record much better than that of general aviation at large. 

source: Grand Canyon Helicopters safety website