California congressman introduces helicopter safety bill honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, making it mandatory for all helicopters to come equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system.

On Sunday, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were killed when their helicopter went down in Calabasas, California. It was foggy, and the chopper crashed into a hill. The helicopter did not have a terrain alarm system.

Sherman's bill also calls for the creation of a commission on helicopter safety, which would report to Congress best practices for helicopters during times of low visibility.

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Earlier this week, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Jennifer Homendy said that 16 years ago, her agency recommended that all helicopters carrying six or more passengers install a terrain awareness and warning system, but the Federal Aviation Administration rejected the proposal, the Los Angeles Times reports. The FAA denies this, citing the fact that helicopter air ambulance operations must have terrain alarm systems.