[F1ANNEX VIII U.K. SPECIALISED OPERATIONS [PART-SPO]
Textual Amendments
SUBPART D INSTRUMENTS, DATA AND EQUIPMENT U.K.
SECTION 2 U.K. Helicopters
SPO.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.
used by the flight crew to control the flight path;
used to comply with SPO.IDE.H.215;
used to comply with SPO.IDE.H.220; or
installed in the helicopter.
[F2(b) The following items, when required by this Subpart, do not need an equipment approval: U.K.
independent portable lights;
an accurate time piece;
first-aid kit;
survival and signalling equipment;
sea anchor and equipment for mooring;
child restraint device;
a simple PCDS used by a task specialist as a restraint device.]
Textual Amendments
F2Substituted 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).
[F2(c) Instruments, equipment or accessories not required under this Annex (Part-SPO), as well as any other equipment that is not required under this Regulation, but carried on a flight, shall comply with the following requirements: U.K.
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 SPO.IDE.H.215 and SPO.IDE.H.220 of this Annex;
the instruments, equipment or accessories shall not affect the airworthiness of the helicopter, even in the case of failures or malfunction.]
(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.
[F2SPO.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 is inoperative or missing, unless either of the following conditions is fulfilled:
the helicopter is operated in accordance with the minimum equipment list (MEL);
for complex motor-powered helicopters, and for any helicopter used in commercial operations, the operator is approved by the [F3CAA] 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;
the helicopter is subject to a permit to fly issued in accordance with the applicable airworthiness requirements.]
Textual Amendments
F3Word in Annex 8 point SPO.IDE.H.105 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), regs. 1, 370(5) (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
SPO.IDE.H.115 Operating lights U.K.
Helicopters operated at night shall be equipped with:
an anti-collision light system;
navigation/position lights;
a landing light;
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;
lighting supplied from the helicopter’s electrical system to provide illumination in all cabin compartments;
an independent portable light for each crew member station; and
lights to conform with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea if the helicopter is amphibious.
SPO.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.
magnetic heading,
time in hours, minutes and seconds,
[F2barometric altitude,]
indicated airspeed, and
slip.
(b) Helicopters operated under VMC overwater and out of sight of the land or under VMC at night, shall be, in addition to (a), equipped with: U.K.
a means of measuring and displaying:
attitude,
vertical speed, and
stabilised heading;
a means of indicating when the supply of power to the gyroscopic instruments is not adequate; and
for complex motor-powered helicopters, a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required in (a)(4) due to condensation or icing.
(c) Helicopters operated when the visibility is less than 1 500 m, or in conditions where they cannot be maintained in a desired flight path without reference to one or more additional instruments, shall be, in addition to (a) and (b), equipped with a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required in (a)(4) due to condensation or icing. U.K.
(d) Whenever two pilots are required for the operation, helicopters shall be equipped with an additional separate means of displaying: U.K.
[F2barometric altitude,]
indicated airspeed,
slip,
attitude, if applicable,
vertical speed, if applicable, and
stabilised heading, if applicable.
SPO.IDE.H.125 Operations under IFR — flight and navigational instruments and associated equipment U.K.
Helicopters operated under IFR shall be equipped with:
a means of measuring and displaying:
magnetic heading,
time in hours, minutes and seconds,
[F2barometric altitude,]
indicated airspeed,
vertical speed,
slip,
attitude,
stabilised heading, and
outside air temperature;
a means of indicating when the supply of power to the gyroscopic instruments is not adequate;
whenever two pilots are required for the operation, an additional separate means of displaying:
[F2barometric altitude,]
indicated airspeed,
vertical speed,
slip,
attitude, and
stabilised heading;
a means of preventing malfunction of the airspeed indicating system required by (a)(4) and (c)(2) due to condensation or icing;
an additional means of measuring and displaying attitude as a standby instrument; and
the following for complex motor-powered helicopters:
an alternate source of static pressure; and
a chart holder in an easily readable position that can be illuminated for night operations.
SPO.IDE.H.126 Additional equipment for single-pilot operation 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.
SPO.IDE.H.132 Airborne weather detecting equipment — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.
Helicopters 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.
SPO.IDE.H.133 Additional equipment for operations in icing conditions at night — complex motor-powered helicopters 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.
SPO.IDE.H.135 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.
SPO.IDE.H.140 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.
voice communications transmitted from or received in the flight crew compartment by radio;
flight crew members’ voice communications using the interphone system and the public address system, if installed;
the aural environment of the cockpit, including, without interruption, the audio signals received from each crew microphone; and
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
SPO.IDE.H.145 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.
[F5SPO.IDE.H.146 Lightweight flight recorder U.K.
Turbine-engined helicopters with an MCTOM of 2 250 kg or more shall be equipped with a flight recorder if all the following conditions are met:
they are within the scope of point SPO.IDE.H.145(a);
they are used for commercial operations;
they are first issued with an individual CofA on or after 5 September 2022 .
The flight recorder shall record, by means of flight data or images, information that is sufficient to determine the flight path and aircraft speed.
The flight recorder shall be capable of retaining the flight data and the images recorded during at least the preceding 5 hours.
The flight recorder shall automatically start to record prior to the helicopter being capable of moving under its own power and shall stop automatically after the helicopter is no longer capable of moving under its own power.
If the flight recorder records images or audio of the flight crew compartment, then a function shall be provided which can be operated by the pilot-in-command and which modifies image and audio recordings made before the operation of that function, so that those recordings cannot be retrieved using normal replay or copying techniques.]
Textual Amendments
F5Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1387 of 1 August 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 as regards requirements for aeroplane landing performance calculations and the standards for assessing the runway surface conditions, update on certain aircraft safety equipment and requirements and operations without holding an extended range operational approval.
SPO.IDE.H.150 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.
data link communication messages related to ATS communications to and from the helicopter, including messages applying to the following applications:
data link initiation;
controller-pilot communication;
addressed surveillance;
flight information;
as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, aircraft broadcast surveillance;
as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, aircraft operational control data; and
as far as is practicable, given the architecture of the system, graphics;
information that enables correlation to any associated records related to data link communications and stored separately from the helicopter; and
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 SPO.IDE.H.140. 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 SPO.IDE.H.140 (d) and (e). U.K.
SPO.IDE.H.155 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.
SPO.IDE.H.160 Seats, seat safety belts and restraint systems U.K.
(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with: U.K.
a seat or station for each crew member or task specialist on board;
a seat belt on each seat, and restraint devices for each station;
for helicopters first issued with an individual CofA after 31 December 2012 , a seat belt with an upper torso restraint system for each seat; and
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.
(b) A seat belt with upper torso restraint system shall have a single point release. U.K.
SPO.IDE.H.165 First-aid kit U.K.
(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a first-aid kit. U.K.
(b) The first-aid kit shall be: U.K.
readily accessible for use; and
kept up-to-date.
SPO.IDE.H.175 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 cabin compartments is above 10 000 ft shall carry enough breathing oxygen to supply: U.K.
all crew members for any period in excess of 30 minutes when the pressure altitude in the cabin compartment will be between 10 000 ft and 13 000 ft; and
all crew members and task specialists for any period that the pressure altitude in the cabin compartment will be above 13 000 ft.
(c) Notwithstanding (b), excursions of a specified duration between 13 000 ft and 16 000 ft may be undertaken without oxygen supplies, -in accordance with SPO.OP.195(b). U.K.
SPO.IDE.H.180 Hand fire extinguishers U.K.
(a) Helicopters, except ELA2 helicopters, shall be equipped with at least one hand fire extinguisher: U.K.
in the flight crew compartment; and
in each cabin 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.
SPO.IDE.H.185 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.
SPO.IDE.H.190 Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) U.K.
(a) Helicopters certified for a maximum seating configuration above six shall be equipped with: U.K.
an automatic ELT; and
one survival ELT (ELT(S)) in a life-raft or life-jacket when the helicopter is operated at a distance from land corresponding to more than 3 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed.
(b) Helicopters certified for a maximum seating configuration of six or less shall be equipped with an ELT(S) or a personal locator beacon (PLB), carried by a crew member or a task specialist. U.K.
(c) ELTs of any type and PLBs shall be capable of transmitting simultaneously on 121,5 MHz and 406 MHz. U.K.
SPO.IDE.H.195 [F6Flight over water — other-than complex motor-powered helicopters] U.K.
(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a life-jacket for each person on board, that shall be worn or stowed in a position that is readily accessible from the seat or station of the person for whose use it is provided, when: U.K.
flying over water beyond autorotational distance from the land where in case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight; or
flying over water at a distance of land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying at normal cruising speed, where in case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is able to sustain level flight; or
taking off or landing at an aerodrome/operating site where the take-off or approach path is over water.
(b) Each life-jacket shall be equipped with a means of electric illumination for the purpose of facilitating the location of persons. U.K.
(c) The pilot-in-command of a helicopter operated on a flight over water at a distance from land corresponding to more than 30 minutes flying time at normal cruising speed or 50 NM, whichever is less, shall determine the risks to survival of the occupants of the helicopter in the event of a ditching, based on which he/she shall determine the carriage of: U.K.
equipment for making the distress signals;
life-rafts in sufficient numbers to carry all persons on board, stowed so as to facilitate their ready use in emergency; and
life-saving equipment to provide the means of sustaining life, as appropriate to the flight to be undertaken.
(d) The pilot-in-command shall determine the risks to survival of the occupants of the helicopter in the event of a ditching, when deciding if the life-jackets required in (a) shall be worn by all occupants. U.K.
Textual Amendments
SPO.IDE.H.197 Life-jackets — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.
(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with a life-jacket for each person on board, that shall be worn or stowed in a position that is readily accessible from the seat or station of the person for whose use it is provided, when: U.K.
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;
operated on a flight over water beyond auto-rotational distance from the land, where in the case of the critical engine failure, the helicopter is not able to sustain level flight; or
taking off or landing at an aerodrome or operating site where the take-off or approach path is so disposed over water that in the event of a mishap there would be the likelihood of a ditching.
(b) Each life-jacket shall be equipped with a means of electric illumination for the purpose of facilitating the location of persons. U.K.
[F7SPO.IDE.H.198 Survival suits — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.
Each person on board shall wear a survival suit when so determined by the pilot-in-command based on a risk assessment taking into account the following conditions:
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
the weather report or forecasts available to the pilot-in-command indicate that the sea temperature will be less than plus 10 °C during the flight.]
Textual Amendments
SPO.IDE.H.199 Life-rafts, survival ELTs and survival equipment on extended overwater flights — complex motor-powered helicopters U.K.
Helicopters 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; or
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:
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;
at least one survival ELT (ELT(S)) for each required life-raft; and
life-saving equipment, including means of sustaining life, as appropriate to the flight to be undertaken.
SPO.IDE.H.200 Survival equipment U.K.
Helicopters operated over areas in which search and rescue would be especially difficult shall be equipped with:
signalling equipment to make distress signals;
at least one survival ELT (ELT(S)); and
additional survival equipment for the route to be flown taking account of the number of persons on board.
F8SPO.IDE.H.201Additional requirements for helicopters conducting offshore operations in a hostile sea area — complex motor-powered helicoptersU.K.
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Textual Amendments
SPO.IDE.H.202 Helicopters certified for operating on water — miscellaneous equipment U.K.
Helicopters certified for operating on water shall be equipped with:
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
equipment for making the sound signals prescribed in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, where applicable.
SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water — ditching U.K.
[F6Complex motor-powered helicopters 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 and other-than complex motor-powered helicopters flying over water in a hostile environment beyond a distance of 50 NM from land shall be:]
designed for landing on water in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code;
certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code; or
fitted with emergency flotation equipment.
SPO.IDE.H.205 Individual protective equipment U.K.
Each person on board shall wear individual protective equipment that is adequate for the type of operation being undertaken.
SPO.IDE.H.210 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, crew member and/or task specialist at his/her assigned station.
SPO.IDE.H.215 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.
conducting two-way communication for aerodrome control purposes;
receiving meteorological information;
conducting two-way communication at any time during flight with those aeronautical stations and on those frequencies prescribed by the appropriate authority; and
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 SPO.IDE.H.135, 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.
SPO.IDE.H.220 Navigation equipment U.K.
(a) Helicopters shall be equipped with navigation equipment that will enable them to proceed in accordance with: U.K.
the ATS flight plan, if applicable; and
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.
[F9(d) For PBN operations the aircraft shall meet the airworthiness certification requirements for the appropriate navigation specification.] U.K.
Textual Amendments
[F10(e) Helicopters shall be equipped with surveillance equipment in accordance with the applicable airspace requirements.] U.K.
Textual Amendments
F10Inserted 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).
SPO.IDE.H.225 Transponder U.K.
Where required by the airspace being flown, helicopters shall be equipped with a secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder with all the required capabilities.
[F9SPO.IDE.H.230 Management of aeronautical databases U.K.
Aeronautical databases used on certified aircraft system applications shall meet data quality requirements that are adequate for the intended use of the data.
The operator shall ensure the timely distribution and insertion of current and unaltered aeronautical databases to all aircraft that require them.
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.]]