The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2007

Exits – commercial air transport aeroplanes and helicopters

61.—(1) This article applies to every commercial air transport aeroplane or helicopter and to an aircraft to which article 83 applies that is registered in the Territory.

(2) Whenever an aeroplane or helicopter to which this article applies is carrying passengers, every exit and every internal door in the aeroplane or helicopter shall be in working order, and, subject to paragraph (3), during take-off and landing and during any emergency, every exit and door shall be kept free from obstruction and shall not be fastened by locking or otherwise so as to prevent, hinder or delay its use by passengers.

(3) In the case of—

(a) an exit which, in accordance with arrangements approved by the Governor either generally or in relation to a class of aeroplane or helicopter or a particular aeroplane or helicopter, is not required for use by passengers, may be obstructed by cargo;

(b) a door between the flight crew compartment and any adjacent compartment to which passengers have access the door may be locked or bolted if the pilot-in-command of the aeroplane or helicopter so determines, for the purpose of preventing access by passengers to the flight crew compartment;

(c) any internal door which is so placed that it cannot prevent, hinder or delay the exit of passengers from the aeroplane or helicopter in an emergency if it is not in working order, paragraph (2) shall not apply.

(4) Every exit from the aeroplane or helicopter shall be marked on interior surfaces with the words “exit” or “emergency exit” in capital letters, which shall be red in colour and if necessary shall be outlined in white to contrast with the background.

(5) Every exit from the aeroplane or helicopter shall be marked on exterior surfaces with the words “exit” or “emergency exit” in capital letters, which shall be located on a background that provides adequate contrast.

(6) Every exit from the aeroplane or helicopter shall be marked on interior surfaces on or near the inside surface of the door or other closure of the exit with instructions in English and with diagrams to indicate the correct method of opening the exit, which shall be red in colour and located on a background which provides adequate contrast.

(7) Every exit from the aeroplane or helicopter which may be opened from the outside shall be marked on or near the exterior surface of the door or other closure of the exit with instructions in English and with diagrams to indicate the correct method of opening the exit, which shall be located on a background which provides adequate contrast.

(8) The markings required by this article shall—

(a) be painted, or affixed by other equally permanent means; and

(b) be kept at all times clean and unobscured.

(9) Subject to compliance with paragraph (10), if one, but not more than one, exit from an aeroplane or helicopter becomes inoperative at a place where it is not reasonably practicable for it to be repaired or replaced, nothing in this article shall prevent that aeroplane or helicopter from carrying passengers until it next lands at a place where the exit can be repaired or replaced.

(10) On any flight on which this paragraph must be complied with—

(a) the number of passengers carried and the position of the seats which they occupy shall be in accordance with arrangements approved by the Governor either in relation to the particular aeroplane or helicopter or to a class of aeroplane or helicopter; and

(b) in accordance with arrangements so approved, the exit shall be fastened by locking or otherwise, the words ‘Exit’ or ‘Emergency Exit’ shall be covered, and the exit shall be marked by a red disc at least 23 centimetres in diameter with a horizontal white bar across it bearing the words ‘No Exit’ in red letters.