The Air Navigation Order 2005

Exits and break-in markings

72.—(1) This article shall apply to every public transport aeroplane or helicopter registered in the United Kingdom.

(2) Whenever an aeroplane or helicopter to which this article applies is carrying passengers, every exit therefrom 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 such exit and door shall be kept free of 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 CAA 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, the exit 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 commander 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 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 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.

(6) The markings required by paragraph (5) shall be placed on or near the inside surface of the door or other closure of the exit and, if it is openable from the outside of the aeroplane or helicopter, on or near the exterior surface.

(7) An operator of an aeroplane or helicopter shall ensure that if areas of the fuselage suitable for break-in by rescue crews in emergency are marked on aeroplanes and helicopters, such areas shall be marked upon the exterior surface of the fuselage with markings to show the areas which can, for purposes of rescue in an emergency, be most readily and effectively broken into by persons outside the aeroplane or helicopter.

(8) The markings required by paragraph (7) shall—

(a) be red or yellow, and if necessary shall be outlined in white to contrast with the background;

(b) if the corner markings are more than 2 metres apart, have intermediate lines 9 centimetres x 3 centimetres inserted so that there is no more than 2 metres between adjacent marks.

(9) 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.

(10) Subject to compliance with paragraph (11), 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.

(11) 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 CAA 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.