Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012Show full title

[F1 SECTION 2 U.K. Helicopters

SPO.IDE.H.100 Instruments and equipment — general U.K.

(a) Instruments and equipment required by this Subpart shall be approved in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements if they are: U.K.

(1)

used by the flight crew to control the flight path;

(2)

used to comply with SPO.IDE.H.215;

(3)

used to comply with SPO.IDE.H.220; or

(4)

installed in the helicopter.

(b) The following items, when required by this Subpart, do not need an equipment approval: U.K.

(1)

independent portable light,

(2)

an accurate time piece,

(3)

chart holder,

(4)

first-aid kit,

(5)

survival and signalling equipment, and

(6)

sea anchor and equipment for mooring.

(c) Instruments and equipment not required by this Subpart as well as any other equipment that is not required by other applicable Annexes, but is carried on a flight, shall comply with the following: U.K.

(1)

the information provided by these instruments, equipment or accessories shall not be used by the flight crew to comply with Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 or SPO.IDE.H.215 and SPO.IDE.H.220; and

(2)

the instruments and equipment shall not affect the airworthiness of the helicopter, even in the case of failures or malfunction.

(d) Instruments and equipment shall be readily operable or accessible from the station where the flight crew member that needs to use it is seated. U.K.

(e) Those instruments that are used by a flight crew member shall be so arranged as to permit the flight crew member to see the indications readily from his/her station, with the minimum practicable deviation from the position and line of vision which he/she normally assumes when looking forward along the flight path. U.K.

(f) All required emergency equipment shall be easily accessible for immediate use. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.105 Minimum equipment for flight U.K.

A flight shall not be commenced when any of the helicopter’s instruments, items of equipment or functions required for the intended flight are inoperative or missing, unless:

(a)

the helicopter is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list (MEL), if established;

(b)

for complex motor-powered helicopters, and for any helicopter used in commercial operations, the operator is approved by the competent authority to operate the helicopter within the constraints of the master minimum equipment list (MMEL); or

(c)

the helicopter is subject to a permit to fly issued in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements.

SPO.IDE.H.115 Operating lights U.K.

Helicopters operated at night shall be equipped with:

(a)

an anti-collision light system;

(b)

navigation/position lights;

(c)

a landing light;

(d)

lighting supplied from the helicopter’s electrical system to provide adequate illumination for all instruments and equipment essential to the safe operation of the helicopter;

(e)

lighting supplied from the helicopter’s electrical system to provide illumination in all cabin compartments;

(f)

an independent portable light for each crew member station; and

(g)

lights to conform with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea if the helicopter is amphibious.

SPO.IDE.H.120 Operations under VFR — flight and navigational instruments and associated equipment U.K.

(a) Helicopters operated under VFR by day shall be equipped with a means of measuring and displaying the following: U.K.

(1)

magnetic heading,

(2)

time in hours, minutes and seconds,

(3)

pressure altitude,

(4)

indicated airspeed, and

(5)

slip.

(b) Helicopters operated under VMC overwater and out of sight of the land or under VMC at night, shall be, in addition to (a), equipped with: U.K.

(1)

a means of measuring and displaying:

(i)

attitude,

(ii)

vertical speed, and

(iii)

stabilised heading;

(2)

a means of indicating when the supply of power to the gyroscopic instruments is not adequate; and

(3)

for complex motor-powered helicopters, a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required in (a)(4) due to condensation or icing.

(c) Helicopters operated when the visibility is less than 1 500 m, or in conditions where they cannot be maintained in a desired flight path without reference to one or more additional instruments, shall be, in addition to (a) and (b), equipped with a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required in (a)(4) due to condensation or icing. U.K.

(d) Whenever two pilots are required for the operation, helicopters shall be equipped with an additional separate means of displaying: U.K.

(1)

pressure altitude,

(2)

indicated airspeed,

(3)

slip,

(4)

attitude, if applicable,

(5)

vertical speed, if applicable, and

(6)

stabilised heading, if applicable.

SPO.IDE.H.125 Operations under IFR — flight and navigational instruments and associated equipment U.K.

Helicopters operated under IFR shall be equipped with:

(a)

a means of measuring and displaying:

(1)

magnetic heading,

(2)

time in hours, minutes and seconds,

(3)

pressure altitude,

(4)

indicated airspeed,

(5)

vertical speed,

(6)

slip,

(7)

attitude,

(8)

stabilised heading, and

(9)

outside air temperature;

(b)

a means of indicating when the supply of power to the gyroscopic instruments is not adequate;

(c)

whenever two pilots are required for the operation, an additional separate means of displaying:

(1)

pressure altitude,

(2)

indicated airspeed,

(3)

vertical speed,

(4)

slip,

(5)

attitude, and

(6)

stabilised heading;

(d)

a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required by (a)(4) and (c)(2) due to condensation or icing;

(e)

an additional means of measuring and displaying attitude as a standby instrument; and

(f)

the following for complex motor-powered helicopters:

(1)

an alternate source of static pressure; and

(2)

a chart holder in an easily readable position that can be illuminated for night operations.

SPO.IDE.H.126 Additional equipment for single-pilot operation under IFR U.K.

Helicopters operated under IFR with a single pilot shall be equipped with an autopilot with at least altitude hold and heading mode.

SPO.IDE.H.132 Airborne weather detecting equipment — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

Helicopters operated under IFR or at night shall be equipped with airborne weather detecting equipment when current weather reports indicate that thunderstorms or other potentially hazardous weather conditions, regarded as detectable with airborne weather detecting equipment, may be expected to exist along the route to be flown.

SPO.IDE.H.133 Additional equipment for operations in icing conditions at night — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

(a) Helicopters operated in expected or actual icing conditions at night shall be equipped with a means to illuminate or detect the formation of ice. U.K.

(b) The means to illuminate the formation of ice shall not cause glare or reflection that would handicap flight crew members in the performance of their duties. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.135 Flight crew interphone system U.K.

Helicopters operated by more than one flight crew member shall be equipped with a flight crew interphone system, including headsets and microphones for use by all flight crew members.

SPO.IDE.H.140 Cockpit voice recorder U.K.

(a) Helicopters with an MCTOM of more than 7 000  kg and first issued with an individual CofA on or after 1 January 2016 shall be equipped with a CVR. U.K.

(b) The CVR shall be capable of retaining data recorded during at least the preceding 2 hours. U.K.

(c) The CVR shall record with reference to a timescale: U.K.

(1)

voice communications transmitted from or received in the flight crew compartment by radio;

(2)

flight crew members’ voice communications using the interphone system and the public address system, if installed;

(3)

the aural environment of the cockpit, including, without interruption, the audio signals received from each crew microphone; and

(4)

voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker.

(d) The CVR shall start automatically to record prior to the helicopter moving under its own power and shall continue to record until the termination of the flight when the helicopter is no longer capable of moving under its own power. U.K.

(e) In addition to (d), depending on the availability of electrical power, the CVR shall start to record as early as possible during the cockpit checks prior to engine start at the beginning of the flight until the cockpit checks immediately following engine shutdown at the end of the flight. U.K.

(f) The CVR shall have a device to assist in locating it in water. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.145 Flight data recorder U.K.

(a) Helicopters with an MCTOM of more than 3 175  kg and first issued with an individual CofA on or after 1 January 2016 shall be equipped with an FDR that uses a digital method of recording and storing data and for which a method of readily retrieving that data from the storage medium is available. U.K.

(b) The FDR shall record the parameters required to determine accurately the helicopter flight path, speed, attitude, engine power, configuration and operation and be capable of retaining data recorded during at least the preceding 10 hours. U.K.

(c) Data shall be obtained from helicopter sources that enable accurate correlation with information displayed to the flight crew. U.K.

(d) The FDR shall start automatically to record the data prior to the helicopter being capable of moving under its own power and shall stop automatically after the helicopter is incapable of moving under its own power. U.K.

(e) The FDR shall have a device to assist in locating it in water. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.150 Data link recording U.K.

(a) Helicopters first issued with an individual CofA on or after 1 January 2016 that have the capability to operate data link communications and are required to be equipped with a CVR shall record on a recorder, where applicable: U.K.

(1)

data link communication messages related to ATS communications to and from the helicopter, including messages applying to the following applications:

(i)

data link initiation;

(ii)

controller-pilot communication;

(iii)

addressed surveillance;

(iv)

flight information;

(v)

as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, aircraft broadcast surveillance;

(vi)

as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, aircraft operational control data; and

(vii)

as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, graphics;

(2)

information that enables correlation to any associated records related to data link communications and stored separately from the helicopter; and

(3)

information on the time and priority of data link communications messages, taking into account the system’s architecture.

(b) The recorder shall use a digital method of recording and storing data and information and a method for readily retrieving that data. The recording method shall allow the data to match the data recorded on the ground. U.K.

(c) The recorder shall be capable of retaining data recorded for at least the same duration as set out for CVRs in SPO.IDE.H.140. U.K.

(d) The recorder shall have a device to assist in locating it in water. U.K.

(e) The requirements applicable to the start and stop logic of the recorder are the same as the requirements applicable to the start and stop logic of the CVR contained in SPO.IDE.H.140 (d) and (e). U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.155 Flight data and cockpit voice combination recorder U.K.

Compliance with CVR and FDR requirements may be achieved by one flight data and cockpit voice combination recorder.

SPO.IDE.H.160 Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with: U.K.

(1)

a seat or station for each crew member or task specialist on board;

(2)

a seat belt on each seat, and restraint devices for each station;

(3)

for helicopters first issued with an individual CofA after 31 December 2012 , a seat belt with an upper torso restraint system for each seat; and

(4)

a seat belt with upper torso restraint system incorporating a device that will automatically restrain the occupant’s torso in the event of rapid deceleration on each flight crew seat.

(b) A seat belt with upper torso restraint system shall have a single point release. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.165 First-aid kit U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a first-aid kit. U.K.

(b) The first-aid kit shall be: U.K.

(1)

readily accessible for use; and

(2)

kept up-to-date.

SPO.IDE.H.175 Supplemental oxygen — non-pressurised helicopters U.K.

(a) Non-pressurised helicopters operated at flight altitudes when the oxygen supply is required in accordance with (b) shall be equipped with oxygen storage and dispensing apparatus capable of storing and dispensing the required oxygen supplies. U.K.

(b) Non-pressurised helicopters operated above flight altitudes at which the pressure altitude in the cabin compartments is above 10 000 ft shall carry enough breathing oxygen to supply: U.K.

(1)

all crew members for any period in excess of 30 minutes when the pressure altitude in the cabin compartment will be between 10 000 ft and 13 000 ft; and

(2)

all crew members and task specialists for any period that the pressure altitude in the cabin compartment will be above 13 000 ft.

(c) Notwithstanding (b), excursions of a specified duration between 13 000 ft and 16 000 ft may be undertaken without oxygen supplies, -in accordance with SPO.OP.195(b). U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.180 Hand fire extinguishers U.K.

(a) Helicopters, except ELA2 helicopters, shall be equipped with at least one hand fire extinguisher: U.K.

(1)

in the flight crew compartment; and

(2)

in each cabin compartment that is separate from the flight crew compartment, except if the compartment is readily accessible to the flight crew.

(b) The type and quantity of extinguishing agent for the required fire extinguishers shall be suitable for the type of fire likely to occur in the compartment where the extinguisher is intended to be used and to minimise the hazard of toxic gas concentration in compartments occupied by persons. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.185 Marking of break-in points U.K.

If areas of the helicopter’s fuselage suitable for break-in by rescue crews in an emergency are marked, such areas shall be marked as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Marking of break-in points

SPO.IDE.H.190 Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) U.K.

(a) Helicopters certified for a maximum seating configuration above six shall be equipped with: U.K.

(1)

an automatic ELT; and

(2)

one survival ELT (ELT(S)) in a life-raft or life-jacket when the helicopter is operated at a distance from land corresponding to more than 3 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed.

(b) Helicopters certified for a maximum seating configuration of six or less shall be equipped with an ELT(S) or a personal locator beacon (PLB), carried by a crew member or a task specialist. U.K.

(c) ELTs of any type and PLBs shall be capable of transmitting simultaneously on 121,5 MHz and 406 MHz. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.195 Flight over water — other-than-complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a life-jacket for each person on board, that shall be worn or stowed in a position that is readily accessible from the seat or station of the person for whose use it is provided, when: U.K.

(1)

flying over water beyond autorotational distance from the land where in case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight; or

(2)

flying over water at a distance of land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying at normal cruising speed, where in case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is able to sustain level flight; or

(3)

taking off or landing at an aerodrome/operating site where the take-off or approach path is over water.

(b) Each life-jacket shall be equipped with a means of electric illumination for the purpose of facilitating the location of persons. U.K.

(c) The pilot-in-command of a helicopter operated on a flight over water at a distance from land corresponding to more than 30 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed or 50 NM, whichever is less, shall determine the risks to survival of the occupants of the helicopter in the event of a ditching, based on which he/she shall determine the carriage of: U.K.

(1)

equipment for making the distress signals;

(2)

life-rafts in sufficient numbers to carry all persons on board, stowed so as to facilitate their ready use in emergency; and

(3)

life-saving equipment to provide the means of sustaining life, as appropriate to the flight to be undertaken.

(d) The pilot-in-command shall determine the risks to survival of the occupants of the helicopter in the event of a ditching, when deciding if the life-jackets required in (a) shall be worn by all occupants. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.197 Life-jackets — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a life-jacket for each person on board, that shall be worn or stowed in a position that is readily accessible from the seat or station of the person for whose use it is provided, when: U.K.

(1)

operated on a flight over water at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is able to sustain level flight;

(2)

operated on a flight over water beyond auto-rotational distance from the land, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight; or

(3)

taking off or landing at an aerodrome or operating site where the take-off or approach path is so disposed over water that in the event of a mishap there would be the likelihood of a ditching.

(b) Each life-jacket shall be equipped with a means of electric illumination for the purpose of facilitating the location of persons. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.198 Survival suits — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

Each person on board shall wear a survival suit when operating:

(a)

on a flight over water in support of offshore operations, at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is able to sustain level flight and when:

(1)

the weather report or forecasts available to the pilot-in-command indicate that the sea temperature will be less than plus 10 °C during the flight; or

(2)

the estimated rescue time exceeds the estimated survival time; or

(b)

so determined by the pilot-in-command based on a risk assessment taking into account the following conditions:

(1)

flights over water beyond auto-rotational distance or safe forced landing distance from land, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight; and

(2)

the weather report or forecasts available to the pilot-in-command indicate that the sea temperature will be less than plus 10 °C during the flight.

SPO.IDE.H.199 Life-rafts, survival ELTs and survival equipment on extended overwater flights — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

Helicopters operated:

(a)

on a flight over water at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is able to sustain level flight; or

(b)

on a flight over water at a distance corresponding to more than 3 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight, and if so determined by the pilot-in-command by means of a risk assessment, shall be equipped with:

(1)

at least one life-raft with a rated capacity of not less than the maximum number of persons on board, stowed so as to facilitate their ready use in emergency;

(2)

at least one survival ELT (ELT(S)) for each required life-raft; and

(3)

life-saving equipment, including means of sustaining life, as appropriate to the flight to be undertaken.

SPO.IDE.H.200 Survival equipment U.K.

Helicopters operated over areas in which search and rescue would be especially difficult shall be equipped with:

(a)

signalling equipment to make distress signals;

(b)

at least one survival ELT (ELT(S)); and

(c)

additional survival equipment for the route to be flown taking account of the number of persons on board.

SPO.IDE.H.201 Additional requirements for helicopters conducting offshore operations in a hostile sea area — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.

Helicopters operated in offshore operations in a hostile sea area, at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed, shall comply with the following:

(a)

When the weather report or forecasts available to the pilot-in-command indicate that the sea temperature will be less than plus 10 °C during the flight, or when the estimated rescue time exceeds the calculated survival time, or the flight is planned to be conducted at night, all crew members and task specialists on board are wearing a survival suit.

(b)

All life-rafts carried in accordance with SPO.IDE.H.199 shall be installed so as to be usable in the sea conditions in which the helicopter’s ditching, flotation and trim characteristics were evaluated in order to comply with the ditching requirements for certification.

(c)

The helicopter shall be equipped with an emergency lighting system with an independent power supply to provide a source of general cabin illumination to facilitate the evacuation of the helicopter.

(d)

All emergency exits, including crew emergency exits, and the means of opening them shall be conspicuously marked for the guidance of occupants using the exits in daylight or in the dark. Such markings shall be designed to remain visible if the helicopter is capsized and the cabin is submerged.

(e)

All non-jettisonable doors that are designated as ditching emergency exits shall have a means of securing them in the open position so that they do not interfere with occupants’ egress in all sea conditions up to the maximum required to be evaluated for ditching and flotation.

(f)

All doors, windows or other openings in the cabin compartment intended to be used for the purpose of underwater escape shall be equipped so as to be operable in an emergency.

(g)

Life-jackets shall be worn at all times, unless the task specialist or crew member for whose use the life jacket is provided is wearing an integrated survival suit that meets the combined requirement of the survival suit and life-jacket.

SPO.IDE.H.202 Helicopters certified for operating on water — miscellaneous equipment U.K.

Helicopters certified for operating on water shall be equipped with:

(a)

a sea anchor and other equipment necessary to facilitate mooring, anchoring or manoeuvring the helicopter on water, appropriate to its size, weight and handling characteristics; and

(b)

equipment for making the sound signals prescribed in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, where applicable.

SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water — ditching U.K.

Complex motor-powered helicopters operated on a flight over water in a hostile environment at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed and other-than-complex motor-powered helicopters flying over water in a hostile environment beyond a distance of 50 NM from land shall be:

(a)

designed for landing on water in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code;

(b)

certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code; or

(c)

fitted with emergency flotation equipment.

SPO.IDE.H.205 Individual protective equipment U.K.

Each person on board shall wear individual protective equipment that is adequate for the type of operation being undertaken.

SPO.IDE.H.210 Headset U.K.

Whenever a radio communication and/or radio navigation system is required, helicopters shall be equipped with a headset with boom microphone or equivalent and a transmit button on the flight controls for each required pilot, crew member and/or task specialist at his/her assigned station.

SPO.IDE.H.215 Radio communication equipment U.K.

(a) Helicopters operated under IFR or at night, or when required by the applicable airspace requirements, shall be equipped with radio communication equipment that, under normal radio propagating conditions, shall be capable of: U.K.

(1)

conducting two-way communication for aerodrome control purposes;

(2)

receiving meteorological information;

(3)

conducting two-way communication at any time during flight with those aeronautical stations and on those frequencies prescribed by the appropriate authority; and

(4)

providing for communication on the aeronautical emergency frequency 121,5 MHz.

(b) When more than one communications equipment unit is required, each shall be independent of the other or others to the extent that a failure in any one will not result in failure of any other. U.K.

(c) When a radio communication system is required, and in addition to the flight crew interphone system required in SPO.IDE.H.135, helicopters shall be equipped with a transmit button on the flight controls for each required pilot and crew member at his/her assigned station. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.220 Navigation equipment U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with navigation equipment that will enable them to proceed in accordance with: U.K.

(1)

the ATS flight plan, if applicable; and

(2)

the applicable airspace requirements.

(b) Helicopters shall have sufficient navigation equipment to ensure that, in the event of the failure of one item of equipment at any stage of the flight, the remaining equipment shall allow safe navigation in accordance with (a), or an appropriate contingency action to be completed safely. U.K.

(c) Helicopters operated on flights in which it is intended to land in IMC shall be equipped with navigation equipment capable of providing guidance to a point from which a visual landing can be performed. This equipment shall be capable of providing such guidance for each aerodrome at which it is intended to land in IMC and for any designated alternate aerodromes. U.K.

SPO.IDE.H.225 Transponder U.K.

Where required by the airspace being flown, helicopters shall be equipped with a secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder with all the required capabilities.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted 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.