PART 5

Operations
CHAPTER 7

Additional requirements for public transport operations
SECTION 7

Performance requirements and operating minima

Helicopters registered in the United Kingdom carrying out Performance Class 3 operations
129
1
Without prejudice to article 128(6), a helicopter registered in the United Kingdom carrying out a Performance Class 3 operation must comply with paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5).
2
The helicopter must not fly over water for the purpose of public transport in the specified circumstances unless it is equipped with the required apparatus.
3
If the helicopter is equipped with the required apparatus and is flying under and in accordance with the terms of a national air operator's certificate, it must not fly in the specified circumstances on any flight for more than three minutes except with the permission in writing of the CAA.
4
If the helicopter is equipped with the required apparatus and is flying on a flight under and in accordance with the terms of a police air operator's certificate on which—
a
is carried any passenger who is not a permitted passenger, it must not fly in the specified circumstances on any flight for more than 20 minutes; or
b
no passenger is carried other than a permitted passenger, it must not fly over water on any flight for more than 10 minutes while more than five minutes from a point from which it can make an autorotative descent to land suitable for an emergency landing.
5
The helicopter must not fly for the purpose of public transport over that part of the bed of the River Thames which lies between the following points—
a
Hammersmith Bridge (512918N) (0001351W); and
b
Greenwich Reach (512906N) (0000043W),
between the ordinary high water marks on each of its banks unless it is equipped with the required apparatus.
6
A helicopter registered in the United Kingdom which is specified in its flight manual as being in either Group A or Category A may fly for the purpose of public transport in accordance with the weight and related performance requirements prescribed for helicopters carrying out Performance Class 3 operations if—
a
the maximum take-off mass for the helicopter is less than 3,175kg; and
b
not more than nine passengers are carried.
7
For the purposes of this article, flying time must be calculated on the assumption that a helicopter is flying in still air at the speed specified in the flight manual for the helicopter as the speed for compliance with regulations governing flights over water.
8
In this article—
- “permitted passenger” means—
  1. a police officer;
  2. an employee of a police authority in the course of their duty;
  3. a medical attendant;
  4. the holder of a valid pilot's licence who intends to act as a member of the flight crew of an aircraft flying under and in accordance with the terms of a police air operator's certificate and who is being carried for the purpose of training or familiarisation;
  5. a CAA Flight Operations Inspector;
  6. a Home Office police aviation adviser;
  7. an employee of a fire and rescue authority under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 ;
  8. an Officer of Revenue and Customs;
  9. an employee of the Ministry of Defence in the course of their duty; or
  10. such other person being carried for purposes connected with police operations as may be permitted by the CAA;
- “required apparatus” means apparatus approved by the CAA enabling the helicopter to which it is fitted to land safely on water; and
- “specified circumstances” means, in respect of a helicopter, circumstances in which it is more than 20 seconds flying time from a point from which it can make an autorotative descent to land suitable for an emergency landing.
2004 c.21.