Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 of 5 October 2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (c. 965)

ANNEX V U.K. SPECIFIC APPROVALS [PART-SPA]

SUBPART H HELICOPTER OPERATIONS WITH NIGHT VISION IMAGING SYSTEMS U.K.

Valid from 25/09/2019

SPA.NVIS.100 Night vision imaging system (NVIS) operations U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall only be operated under VFR at night with the aid of NVIS if the operator has been approved by the competent authority. U.K.

(b) To obtain such approval by the competent authority, the operator shall: U.K.

(1)

operate in commercial air transport (CAT) and hold a CAT AOC in accordance with Annex III (Part-ORO);

(2)

demonstrate to the competent authority:

(i)

compliance with the applicable requirements contained in this Subpart;

(ii)

the successful integration of all elements of the NVIS.

SPA.NVIS.110 Equipment requirements for NVIS operations U.K.

(a) Before conducting NVIS operations each helicopter and all associated NVIS equipment shall have been issued with the relevant airworthiness approval in accordance with[F1 Regulation (EU) No 748/2012]. U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 379/2014 of 7 April 2014 amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

(b) Radio altimeter. The helicopter shall be equipped with a radio altimeter capable of emitting an audio warning below a pre-set height and an audio and visual warning at a height selectable by the pilot, instantly discernable during all phases of NVIS flight. U.K.

(c) Aircraft NVIS compatible lighting. To mitigate the reduced peripheral vision cues and the need to enhance situational awareness, the following shall be provided: U.K.

(1)

NVIS-compatible instrument panel flood-lighting, if installed, that can illuminate all essential flight instruments;

(2)

NVIS-compatible utility lights;

(3)

portable NVIS compatible flashlight; and

(4)

a means for removing or extinguishing internal NVIS non-compatible lights.

(d) Additional NVIS equipment. The following additional NVIS equipment shall be provided: U.K.

(1)

a back-up or secondary power source for the night vision goggles (NVG);

(2)

a helmet with the appropriate NVG attachment.

(e) All required NVGs on an NVIS flight shall be of the same type, generation and model. U.K.

(f) Continuing airworthiness U.K.

(1) Procedures for continuing airworthiness shall contain the information necessary for carrying out ongoing maintenance and inspections on NVIS equipment installed in the helicopter and shall cover, as a minimum: U.K.

(i)

helicopter windscreens and transparencies;

(ii)

NVIS lighting;

(iii)

NVGs; and

(iv)

any additional equipment that supports NVIS operations.

(2) Any subsequent modification or maintenance to the aircraft shall be in compliance with the NVIS airworthiness approval. U.K.

SPA.NVIS.120 NVIS operating minima U.K.

(a) Operations shall not be conducted below the VFR weather minima for the type of night operations being conducted. U.K.

(b) The operator shall establish the minimum transition height from where a change to/from aided flight may be continued. U.K.

Valid from 25/09/2019

SPA.NVIS.130 Crew requirements for NVIS operations U.K.

(a) Selection. The operator shall establish criteria for the selection of crew members for the NVIS task. U.K.

(b) Experience. The minimum experience for the commander shall not be less than 20 hours VFR at night as pilot-in-command/commander of a helicopter before commencing training. U.K.

(c) Operational training. All pilots shall have completed the operational training in accordance with the NVIS procedures contained in the operations manual. U.K.

(d) Recency. All pilots and NVIS technical crew members conducting NVIS operations shall have completed three NVIS flights in the last 90 days. Recency may be re-established on a training flight in the helicopter or an approved full flight simulator (FFS), which shall include the elements of (f)(1). U.K.

(e) Crew composition. The minimum crew shall be the greater of that specified: U.K.

(1)

in the aircraft flight manual (AFM);

(2)

for the underlying activity; or

(3)

in the operational approval for the NVIS operations.

(f) Crew training and checking U.K.

(1) Training and checking shall be conducted in accordance with a detailed syllabus approved by the competent authority and included in the operations manual. U.K.

(2) Crew members U.K.

(i) Crew training programmes shall: improve knowledge of the NVIS working environment and equipment; improve crew coordination; and include measures to minimise the risks associated with entry into low visibility conditions and NVIS normal and emergency procedures. U.K.

(ii) The measures referred to in (f)(2)(i) shall be assessed during: U.K.

(A)

night proficiency checks; and

(B)

line checks.

SPA.NVIS.140 Information and documentation U.K.

The operator shall ensure that, as part of its risk analysis and management process, risks associated with the NVIS environment are minimised by specifying in the operations manual: selection, composition and training of crews; levels of equipment and dispatch criteria; and operating procedures and minima, such that normal and likely abnormal operations are described and adequately mitigated.