The way I read this....not only do you have to do a map recon before flight but you have to record for posterity what obstructions you use to determine your minimum safe altitude. Now that will throw a HUGE Speed Bump into the process!
Preplanned data can be determined for inter-hospital flights and other known routes but scene calls will now require the pilot be provided the location prior to takeoff so the Safe Height calculations can be and recorded.
The way I read this one has to calculate the safe height above ground for the route then add the cloud separation criteria and bounce that against the current and forecast weather for the duration of the flight before running out to the aircraft.
The follow-up question is how does one keep track of temporary masts, cranes, tethered balloons and the like and incorporate that data into preplanned routes? Notams are supposed to have that information but how do you update the preplanned route data to ensure it is timely?
"Business as usual" mindsets are going to have to change now if this is enacted and
enforced by the FAA.
However the FAA as usual left it up to the individual operators to determine the method and documentation method to determine the minimum safe height for the "route" being flown without setting forth the definitions of what they considered a "route" to be.
all visual flight rules (VFR)
segments of the flight must be conducted within the weather minimums
and minimum safe cruise altitude determined in pre-flight planning.
Specifically, A021 requires pilots to identify a minimum safe cruise
altitude during pre-flight planning by identifying and documenting
obstructions and terrain along the planned flight path. HEMS pilots
must also determine the minimum required ceiling and visibility to
conduct the flight using the revised weather minimums contained in
A021.