Perlmutter, Neguse Work With Karen Mahany On 'Safe Helicopters Now Act'
SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)- Two of Colorado's Congressional representatives are working to make helicopters safer. Democrat Representatives Joe Neguse and Ed Perlmutter worked with the widow of a Frisco Flight for Life helicopter pilot to create the "Safe Helicopters Now Act."
Karen Mahany's husband, a pilot, was killed in a fiery crash outside St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Summit County in July 2015, just minutes after the helicopter took off. Patrick Mahany had flown for Flight for Life for 27 years.
The cause was determined to be from hydraulic issues, but the helicopter might not have burst into flames after impact if it had been equipped with what's called a crash resistant safety system.
A federal bill to prevent such fires after crashes was passed last year.
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The Safe Helicopters Now Act would give manufacturers a tax credit for putting safer fuel systems into existing emergency helicopters.
Karen Mahany helped write the bill which was introduced in the House last week.