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[F1ANNEX VIII U.K. SPECIALISED OPERATIONS [PART-SPO]

SUBPART C AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE AND OPERATING LIMITATIONS U.K.

SPO.POL.100 Operating limitations — all aircraft U.K.

[F2(a) During any phase of operation, the loading, the mass and the centre of gravity (CG) position of the aircraft shall comply with any limitation specified in the appropriate manual.] U.K.
(b) Placards, listings, instrument markings, or combinations thereof, containing those operating limitations prescribed by the AFM for visual presentation, shall be displayed in the aircraft. U.K.

[F2SPO.POL.105 Mass and balance U.K.

(a)

The operator shall ensure that the mass and the CG of the aircraft have been established by actual weighing prior to the initial entry into service of the aircraft. The accumulated effects of modifications and repairs on the mass and balance shall be accounted for and properly documented. Such information shall be made available to the pilot-in-command. The aircraft shall be reweighed if the effect of modifications on the mass and balance is not accurately known.

(b)

[F3The weighing shall be accomplished by the manufacturer of the aircraft or by an approved maintenance organisation.]]

SPO.POL.110 Mass and balance system — commercial operations with aeroplanes and helicopters and non-commercial operations with complex motor-powered aircraft U.K.

[F4(a) The operator shall establish a mass and balance system in order to determine for each flight or series of flights the following: U.K.
(1)

aircraft dry operating mass;

(2)

mass of the traffic load;

(3)

mass of the fuel load;

(4)

aircraft load and load distribution;

(5)

take-off mass, landing mass and zero fuel mass;

(6)

applicable aircraft CG positions.]

(b) The flight crew shall be provided with a means of replicating and verifying any mass and balance computation based on electronic calculations. U.K.
(c) The operator shall establish procedures to enable the pilot-in-command to determine the mass of the fuel load by using the actual density or, if not known, the density calculated in accordance with a method specified in the operations manual. U.K.
(d) The pilot-in-command shall ensure that the loading of: U.K.
(1)

the aircraft is performed under the supervision of qualified personnel; and

(2)

traffic load is consistent with the data used for the calculation of the aircraft mass and balance.

(e) The operator shall specify, in the operations manual, the principles and methods involved in the loading and in the mass and balance system that meet the requirements contained in (a) to (d). This system shall cover all types of intended operations. U.K.

SPO.POL.115 Mass and balance data and documentation — commercial operations with aeroplanes and helicopters and non-commercial operations with complex motor-powered aircraft U.K.

(a) The operator shall establish mass and balance data and produce mass and balance documentation prior to each flight, or series of flights, specifying the load and its distribution in such a way that the mass and balance limits of the aircraft are not exceeded. The mass and balance documentation shall contain the following information: U.K.
(1)

aircraft registration and type;

(2)

flight identification, number and date, as applicable;

(3)

name of the pilot-in-command;

(4)

name of the person who prepared the document;

(5)

dry operating mass and the corresponding CG of the aircraft;

(6)

mass of the fuel at take-off and the mass of trip fuel;

(7)

mass of consumables other than fuel, if applicable;

(8)

load components;

(9)

take-off mass, landing mass and zero fuel mass;

(10)

applicable aircraft CG positions; and

(11)

the limiting mass and CG values.

(b) Where mass and balance data and documentation is generated by a computerised mass and balance system, the operator shall verify the integrity of the output data. U.K.

SPO.POL.116 Mass and balance data and documentation — alleviations U.K.

Notwithstanding SPO.POL.115(a)(5), the CG position may not need not be on the mass and balance documentation, if the load distribution is in accordance with a pre-calculated balance table or if it can be shown that for the planned operations a correct balance can be ensured, whatever the real load is.

SPO.POL.120 Performance — general U.K.

The pilot-in-command shall only operate the aircraft if the performance is adequate to comply with the applicable rules of the air and any other restrictions applicable to the flight, the airspace or the aerodromes or operating sites used, taking into account the charting accuracy of any charts and maps used.

SPO.POL.125 Take-off mass limitations — complex motor-powered aeroplanes U.K.

The operator shall ensure that:

(a)

the mass of the aeroplane at the start of take-off shall not exceed the mass limitations:

(1)

at take-off, as required in SPO.POL.130;

(2)

en-route with one engine inoperative (OEI), as required in SPO.POL.135; and

(3)

at landing, as required in SPO.POL.140,

allowing for expected reductions in mass as the flight proceeds, and for fuel jettisoning;

(b)

the mass at the start of take-off shall never exceed the maximum take-off mass specified in the AFM for the pressure altitude appropriate to the elevation of the aerodrome or operating site, and if used as a parameter to determine the maximum take-off mass, any other local atmospheric condition; and

(c)

the estimated mass for the expected time of landing at the aerodrome or operating site of intended landing and at any destination alternate aerodrome shall never exceed the maximum landing mass specified in the AFM for the pressure altitude appropriate to the elevation of those aerodromes or operating sites and if used as a parameter to determine the maximum landing mass, any other local atmospheric condition.

SPO.POL.130 Take-off — complex motor-powered aeroplanes U.K.

(a) When determining the maximum take-off mass, the pilot-in-command shall take the following into account: U.K.
(1)

the calculated take-off distance shall not exceed the take-off distance available with a clearway distance not exceeding half of the take-off run available;

(2)

the calculated take-off run shall not exceed the take-off run available;

(3)

a single value of V1 shall be used for the rejected and continued take-off, where a V1 is specified in the AFM; and

(4)

on a wet or contaminated runway, the take-off mass shall not exceed that permitted for a take-off on a dry runway under the same conditions.

(b) Except for an aeroplane equipped with turboprop engines and a maximum take-off mass at or below 5 700 kg, in the event of an engine failure during take-off, the pilot-in-command shall ensure that the aeroplane is able: U.K.
(1)

to discontinue the take-off and stop within the accelerate-stop distance available or the runway available; or

(2)

to continue the take-off and clear all obstacles along the flight path by an adequate margin until the aeroplane is in a position to comply with SPO.POL.135.

SPO.POL.135 En-route — one engine inoperative — complex motor-powered aeroplanes U.K.

The pilot-in-command shall ensure that in the event of an engine becoming inoperative at any point along the route, a multi-engined aeroplane shall be able to continue the flight to an adequate aerodrome or operating site without flying below the minimum obstacle clearance altitude at any point.

SPO.POL.140 Landing — complex motor-powered aeroplanes U.K.

The pilot-in-command shall ensure that at any aerodrome or operating site, after clearing all obstacles in the approach path by a safe margin, the aeroplane shall be able to land and stop, or a seaplane to come to a satisfactory low speed, within the landing distance available. Allowance shall be made for expected variations in the approach and landing techniques, if such allowance has not been made in the scheduling of performance data.

SPO.POL.145 Performance and operating criteria — aeroplanes U.K.

When operating an aeroplane at a height of less than 150 m (500 ft) above a non-congested area, for operations of aeroplanes that are not able to sustain level flight in the event of a critical engine failure, the operator shall:

(a)

establish operational procedures to minimise the consequences of an engine failure;

(b)

establish a training programme for crew members; and

(c)

ensure that all crew members and task specialists on board are briefed on the procedures to be carried out in the event of a forced landing.

SPO.POL.146 Performance and operating criteria — helicopters U.K.

(a) The pilot-in-command may operate an aircraft over congested areas provided that: U.K.
(1)

the helicopter is certified in category A or B; and

(2)

safety measures are established to prevent undue hazard to persons or property on the ground and the operation and its SOP is authorised.

(b) The operator shall: U.K.
(1)

establish operational procedures to minimise the consequences of an engine failure;

(2)

establish a training programme for crew members; and

(3)

ensure that all crew members and task specialists on board are briefed on the procedures to be carried out in the event of a forced landing.

(c) The operator shall ensure that the mass at take-off, landing or hover shall not exceed the maximum mass specified for: U.K.
(1)

a hover out of ground effect (HOGE) with all engines operating at the appropriate power rating; or

(2)

if conditions prevail that a HOGE is not likely to be established, the helicopter mass shall not exceed the maximum mass specified for a hover in ground effect (HIGE) with all engines operating at the appropriate power rating, provided prevailing conditions allow a hover in ground effect at the maximum specified mass. ]