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

[F1 SECTION 2 U.K. Helicopters

NCC.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 NCC.IDE.H.245;

(3)

used to comply with NCC.IDE.H.250; 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;

(6)

sea anchor and equipment for mooring; and

(7)

child restraint device.

[F2 (c) Instruments and equipment or accessories not required under this Annex, as well as any other equipment which is not required under this Regulation, but carried on a flight, shall comply with the following requirements: U.K.

(1)

the information provided by those instruments, equipment or accessories shall not be used by the flight crew members to comply with Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 or points NCC.IDE.H.245 and NCC.IDE.H.250 of this Annex;

(2)

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

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1384 of 24 July 2019 amending Regulations (EU) No 965/2012 and (EU) No 1321/2014 as regards the use of aircraft listed on an air operator certificate for non-commercial operations and specialised operations, the establishment of operational requirements for the conduct of maintenance check flights, the establishment of rules on non-commercial operations with reduced cabin crew on board and introducing editorial updates concerning air operations requirements (Text with EEA relevance).

(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.

NCC.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 operator’s minimum equipment list (MEL);

(b)

[F2 the operator is approved by the [F3 CAA] to operate the helicopter within the constraints of the master minimum equipment list ( ‘ MMEL ’ ) in accordance with point ORO.MLR.105(j) of Annex III; or]

(c)

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

Textual Amendments

F3 Word in Annex 6 point NCC.IDE.H.105(b) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 368(4) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

NCC.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 passenger 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.

NCC.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)

[F2 barometric altitude;]

(4)

indicated airspeed; and

(5)

slip.

(b) Helicopters operated under VMC over water and out of sight of the land, or under VMC at night, or when the visibility is less than 1 500 m, or in conditions where the helicopter cannot be maintained in a desired flight path without reference to one or more additional instruments, shall be equipped, in addition to (a), with: U.K.

(1)

a means of measuring and displaying the following:

(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)

a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required in (a)(4) due to condensation or icing.

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

(1)

[F2 barometric altitude;]

(2)

indicated airspeed;

(3)

slip;

(4)

attitude, if applicable;

(5)

vertical speed, if applicable; and

(6)

stabilised heading, if applicable.

NCC.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 the following:

(1)

magnetic heading;

(2)

time in hours, minutes and seconds;

(3)

[F2 barometric 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 the following:

(1)

[F2 barometric 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 systems required in (a)(4) and (c)(2) due to condensation or icing;

(e)

an alternate source of static pressure;

(f)

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

(g)

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

NCC.IDE.H.130 Additional equipment for single-pilot operations 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.

NCC.IDE.H.145 Airborne weather detecting equipment U.K.

Helicopters with an MOPSC of more than nine and 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.

NCC.IDE.H.150 Additional equipment for operations in icing conditions at night 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.

NCC.IDE.H.155 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.

NCC.IDE.H.160 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.

[F4 (f) If the CVR is not deployable, it shall have a device to assist in locating it under water. By 1 January 2020 at the latest, this device shall have a minimum underwater transmission time of 90 days. If the CVR is deployable, it shall have an automatic emergency locator transmitter.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F4 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/2338 of 11 December 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards requirements for flight recorders, underwater locating devices and aircraft tracking systems.

NCC.IDE.H.165 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.

[F4 (e) If the FDR is not deployable, it shall have a device to assist in locating it under water. By 1 January 2020 at the latest, this device shall have a minimum underwater transmission time of 90 days. If the FDR is deployable, it shall have an automatic emergency locator transmitter.] U.K.

NCC.IDE.H.170 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 NCC.IDE.H.160. U.K.

[F4 (d) If the recorder is not deployable, it shall have a device to assist in locating it under water. By 1 January 2020 at the latest, this device shall have a minimum underwater transmission time of 90 days. If the recorder is deployable, it shall have an automatic emergency locator transmitter.] 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 NCC.IDE.H.160(d) and (e). U.K.

NCC.IDE.H.175 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.

NCC.IDE.H.180 Seats, seat safety belts, restraint systems and child restraint devices U.K.

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

(1)

a seat or berth for each person on board who is aged 24 months or more;

(2)

a seat belt on each passenger seat and restraining belts for each berth;

(3)

for helicopters first issued with an individual CofA after 31 December 2012 , a seat belt with an upper torso restraint system for each passenger who is aged 24 months or more;

(4)

a child restraint device (CRD) for each person on board younger than 24 months;

(5)

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; and

(6)

a seat belt with upper torso restraint system on the seats for the minimum required cabin crew, in the case of helicopters first issued with an individual CofA after 31 December 1980 .

(b) A seat belt with upper torso restraint system shall: U.K.

(1)

have a single point release; and

(2)

on flight crew seats, on any seat alongside a pilot’s seat and on the seats for the minimum required cabin crew, include two shoulder straps and a seat belt that may be used independently.

NCC.IDE.H.185 Fasten seat belt and no smoking signs U.K.

Helicopters in which not all passenger seats are visible from the flight crew seat(s) shall be equipped with a means of indicating to all passengers and cabin crew when seat belts shall be fastened and when smoking is not allowed.

NCC.IDE.H.190 First-aid kit U.K.

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

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

(1)

readily accessible for use; and

(2)

kept up-to-date.

NCC.IDE.H.200 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 passenger compartments is above 10 000 ft shall carry enough breathing oxygen to supply: U.K.

(1)

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

(2)

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

NCC.IDE.H.205 Hand fire extinguishers U.K.

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

(1)

in the flight crew compartment; and

(2)

in each passenger 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.

NCC.IDE.H.210 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

NCC.IDE.H.215 Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with at least one automatic ELT. U.K.

F5 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

Textual Amendments

F5 Deleted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1199 of 22 July 2016 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards operational approval of performance-based navigation, certification and oversight of data services providers and helicopter offshore operations, and correcting that Regulation.

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

NCC.IDE.H.225 Life-jackets U.K.

(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a life-jacket for each person on board or equivalent individual floatation device for each person on board younger than 24 months, which shall be worn or stowed in a position that is readily accessible from the seat or berth 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 autorotational distance from the land, where in the case of 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 over water.

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

[F6 NCC.IDE.H.226 Crew survival suits U.K.

Each crew member shall wear a survival suit when so determined by the pilot-in-command based on a risk assessment taking into account the following conditions:

(a)

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

(b)

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

Textual Amendments

F6 Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1199 of 22 July 2016 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards operational approval of performance-based navigation, certification and oversight of data services providers and helicopter offshore operations, and correcting that Regulation.

NCC.IDE.H.227 Life-rafts, survival ELTs and survival equipment on extended overwater flights 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)

in the case of a helicopter carrying less than 12 persons, 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)

in the case of a helicopter carrying more than 11 persons, at least two life-rafts, stowed so as to facilitate their ready use in an emergency, sufficient together to accommodate all persons capable of being carried on board and, if one is lost the remaining life-raft(s) having the overload capacity sufficient to accommodate all persons on the helicopter;

(3)

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

(4)

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

NCC.IDE.H.230 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.

F5 NCC.IDE.H.231 Additional requirements for helicopters conducting offshore operations in a hostile sea area U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NCC.IDE.H.232 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.

[F2 NCC.IDE.H.235 All helicopters on flights over water — ditching U.K.

Helicopters shall be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant certification specifications or fitted with emergency flotation equipment when 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.]

NCC.IDE.H.240 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 and/or crew member at his/her assigned station.

NCC.IDE.H.245 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 NCC.IDE.H.155, 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.

NCC.IDE.H.250 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.

[F7 (d) When PBN is required the aircraft shall meet the airworthiness certification requirements for the appropriate navigation specification.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F7 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1199 of 22 July 2016 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards operational approval of performance-based navigation, certification and oversight of data services providers and helicopter offshore operations, and correcting that Regulation.

[F8 (e) Helicopters shall be equipped with surveillance equipment in accordance with the applicable airspace requirements.] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F8 Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1384 of 24 July 2019 amending Regulations (EU) No 965/2012 and (EU) No 1321/2014 as regards the use of aircraft listed on an air operator certificate for non-commercial operations and specialised operations, the establishment of operational requirements for the conduct of maintenance check flights, the establishment of rules on non-commercial operations with reduced cabin crew on board and introducing editorial updates concerning air operations requirements (Text with EEA relevance).

NCC.IDE.H.255 Transponder U.K.

Helicopters shall be equipped with a pressure altitude reporting secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder and any other SSR transponder capability required for the route being flown.

[F7 NCC.IDE.H.260 Management of aeronautical databases U.K.

(a)

Aeronautical databases used on certified aircraft system applications shall meet data quality requirements that are adequate for the intended use of the data.

(b)

The operator shall ensure the timely distribution and insertion of current and unaltered aeronautical databases to all aircraft that require them.

(c)

Notwithstanding any other occurrence reporting requirements as defined in Regulation (EU) No 376/2014, the operator shall report to the database provider instances of erroneous, inconsistent or missing data that might be reasonably expected to constitute a hazard to flight.

In such cases, the operator shall inform flight crew and other personnel concerned, and shall ensure that the affected data is not used.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 800/2013 of 14 August 2013 amending 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 (Text with EEA relevance).