81. Performance applicability — helicopters

An AOC holder must ensure that any helicopter that corresponds to one of the following descriptions is operated in accordance with the specified Performance Class:

a helicopter with an MAPSC exceeding 19 must be operated in Performance Class 1;

a helicopter operating to or from a heliport in a congested hostile environment must be operated in Performance Class 1;

a helicopter with an MAPSC exceeding 9 but not exceeding 19 may be operated in Performance Class 1 or 2;

a helicopter with an MAPSC not exceeding 9 may be operated in Performance Class 1, 2 or 3.

Before operating a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(a) in Performance Class 1, the AOC holder must ensure that the helicopter is certificated in Category A.

Where a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(c) or (d) is to be operated in Performance Class 2, the AOC holder must ensure that —

the helicopter is certificated in Category A; and

if the helicopter is to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, the surface below the intended flight path is conducive for a safe forced landing.

Where a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(d) is to be operated in Performance Class 3, the AOC holder must ensure that —

the helicopter is certificated in Category B;

the helicopter is not operated under the following circumstances:

when the surface is not in sight;

at night;

when the cloud ceiling is less than 180 m (600 ft) or the visibility is less than 1,500 m;

over an open sea area —

North of 45ºN or South of 45ºS;

between 45ºN or 45ºS, when it is a hostile environment; or

between 45ºN or 45ºS for more than 10 minutes on any one flight; and

if the helicopter is to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, the surface below the intended flight path is conducive for a safe forced landing.

Despite paragraph (4)(b)(iv), an AOC holder may operate a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(d) in Performance Class 3 over an open sea area if its Operations Manual contains procedures addressing such overwater flights.

Despite paragraphs (3)(b) and (4)(c), the Director-General of Civil Aviation may (based on the results of a safety risk assessment conducted by an AOC holder) allow a helicopter to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, even if the surface below the intended flight path is not conducive for a safe forced landing.

The safety risk assessment mentioned in paragraph (6) must include an assessment of at least the following matters:

the type and circumstances of the operation;

the area or terrain over which the operation is to be conducted;

the probability of, and length of exposure to, a critical engine failure and the tolerability of such an event;

the procedures and systems for monitoring and maintaining the reliability of the engine or engines;

the training and operational procedures to mitigate the consequences of a critical engine failure;

the helicopter equipment.

An AOC holder must ensure that any helicopter that corresponds to one of the following descriptions is operated in accordance with the specified Performance Class:

a helicopter with an MAPSC exceeding 19 must be operated in Performance Class 1;

a helicopter operating to or from a heliport in a congested hostile environment must be operated in Performance Class 1;

a helicopter with an MAPSC exceeding 9 but not exceeding 19 may be operated in Performance Class 1 or 2;

a helicopter with an MAPSC not exceeding 9 may be operated in Performance Class 1, 2 or 3.

Before operating a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(a) in Performance Class 1, the AOC holder must ensure that the helicopter is certificated in Category A.

Where a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(c) or (d) is to be operated in Performance Class 2, the AOC holder must ensure that —

the helicopter is certificated in Category A; and

if the helicopter is to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, the surface below the intended flight path is conducive for a safe forced landing.

Where a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(d) is to be operated in Performance Class 3, the AOC holder must ensure that —

the helicopter is certificated in Category B;

the helicopter is not operated under the following circumstances:

when the surface is not in sight;

at night;

when the cloud ceiling is less than 180 m (600 ft) or the visibility is less than 1,500 m;

over an open sea area —

North of 45ºN or South of 45ºS;

between 45ºN or 45ºS, when it is a hostile environment; or

between 45ºN or 45ºS for more than 10 minutes on any one flight; and

if the helicopter is to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, the surface below the intended flight path is conducive for a safe forced landing.

Despite paragraph (4)(b)(iv), an AOC holder may operate a helicopter described in paragraph (1)(d) in Performance Class 3 over an open sea area if its Operations Manual contains procedures addressing such overwater flights.

Despite paragraphs (3)(b) and (4)(c), the Director-General of Civil Aviation may (based on the results of a safety risk assessment conducted by an AOC holder) allow a helicopter to be operated in a flight phase when an engine failure may cause the helicopter to make a forced landing, even if the surface below the intended flight path is not conducive for a safe forced landing.

The safety risk assessment mentioned in paragraph (6) must include an assessment of at least the following matters:

the type and circumstances of the operation;

the area or terrain over which the operation is to be conducted;

the probability of, and length of exposure to, a critical engine failure and the tolerability of such an event;

the procedures and systems for monitoring and maintaining the reliability of the engine or engines;

the training and operational procedures to mitigate the consequences of a critical engine failure;

the helicopter equipment.