How Safe Are Helicopter Sightseeing Tours? NYT | Top Stories By: Christine Chung 24 April 2025 at 05:47 The F.A.A. allows many of these popular flights to operate under less stringent rules than other commercial aviation, opening the door to dangers like pilot fatigue. © Kevin Hagen for The New York TimesHelicopter tours, popular among sightseers in destinations like New York, have drawn scrutiny over how they are regulated.