The Air Navigation Order 2016

Dropping of persons and grant of parachuting permissions

90.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (9), (10) and (11), a person must not drop, be dropped or be permitted to drop to the surface or jump from an aircraft flying over the United Kingdom except under and in accordance with the terms of either a police air operator’s certificate or a parachuting permission granted by the CAA under this article.

(2) A person must not drop, be dropped or be permitted to drop from an aircraft in flight so as to endanger persons or property.

(3) The CAA must grant a parachuting permission if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit person to hold the permission and is competent to conduct parachuting safely, having regard in particular to the applicant’s—

(a) previous conduct and experience; and

(b) equipment, organisation, staffing and other arrangements.

(4) An aircraft must not be used for the purpose of dropping persons unless the aircraft—

(a) has a certificate of airworthiness and—

(i) that certificate has been issued or rendered valid for that aircraft under the law of the country in which the aircraft is registered; and

(ii) that certificate, or the flight manual for the aircraft, includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose; or

(b) has been authorised for the purpose of dropping persons by—

(i) the CAA; or

(ii) an organisation approved by the CAA to provide such an authorisation,

and is operated in accordance with a written permission granted by the CAA under this article; or

(c) is operated under and in accordance with the terms of a police air operator’s certificate.

(5) Every applicant for and holder of a parachuting permission must make available to the CAA if requested a parachuting manual.

(6) The holder of a parachuting permission must make such amendments or additions to its parachuting manual as the CAA may require.

(7) The holder of a parachuting permission must make its parachuting manual available to every employee or person who is engaged or may engage in parachuting activities conducted by the holder.

(8) The manual must contain all such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable such employees or persons to perform their duties.

(9) Nothing in this article applies to the descent of persons by parachute from an aircraft in an emergency.

(10) Nothing in this article prohibits the lowering of any person in an emergency or for the purpose of saving life.

(11) Nothing in this article prohibits the lowering of any person from a helicopter to the surface if there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid for the helicopter under the law of the country in which it is registered and that certificate or the flight manual for the helicopter includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.

(12) In this article, “dropping” includes projecting and lowering.