Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009)RegulationsCivil Aviation Regulations, 2011Part 127 : Commercial Helicopter Operations: Passengers Cargo and MailSubpart 7 : Flight OperationsDivision One : General127.07.1 Routes and areas of operation and aerodrome facilities |
| (1) | An operator operating in terms of regulation 127.01.1, shall ensure that operations are only conducted along such routes for which— |
| (a) | it has been ascertained by every reasonable means available that the ground facilities and services, including meteorological services, are available as required for the safe operation of the helicopter and the protection of the passengers, are adequate for the type of operation being conducted and are functioning normally for their intended purpose; |
| (b) | appropriate maps and charts are available; and |
| (2) | The operator shall ensure that operations are only conducted within such areas and along such routes for which approval or authorisation has been obtained, where required, from the appropriate authority concerned. |
| (3) | The operator shall ensure that— |
| (a) | the performance of the helicopter intended to be used, is adequate to comply with minimum flight altitude requirements; and |
| (b) | the equipment of the helicopter intended to be used, complies with the minimum requirements for the planned operation. |
| (4) | The operator shall operate all flights in accordance with such route, aerodrome or other approvals and conditions pertaining to flight operations as are contained in the air operator certificate. |
| (5) | The operator shall report without delay to the responsible authority any observed operational inadequacy of facilities referred to in subregulation (7). |
| (6) | Prior to conducting a passenger-carrying IFR or night VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace, the operator shall ensure that a navigational capability is able to be maintained while operating on any route used in such airspace. |
| (7) | The operator shall select a take-off alternate aerodrome and specify it in the operational flight plan (OFP) if the weather conditions at the aerodrome of departure are at or below the applicable aerodrome operating minima: Provided that for the take-off alternate, the available information shall indicate that, at the estimated time of use, the conditions will be at or above the aerodrome operating minima for that operation. |
| (8) | The operator shall select at least one destination alternate and specify it in the OFP for each IFR flight unless— |
| (a) | the duration of the flight and the meteorological conditions prevailing are such that there is reasonable certainty that, at the estimated time of arrival at the aerodrome of intended landing, and for a reasonable period before and after such time, the approach and landing may be made under visual meteorological conditions; or |
| (b) | the aerodrome of intended landing is isolated and no suitable alternate is available, in which case a point of no return (PNR) shall be determined. |
| (9) | The operator shall select at least two destination alternate aerodromes for each IFR flight and specify them in the OFP when— |
| (a) | the appropriate weather reports or forecasts for the destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after the estimated time of arrival, the weather conditions will be below the applicable planning minima; or |
| (b) | meteorological information is not available at the destination aerodrome. |
| (10) | For offshore operations as provided in regulation 127.07.8, the operator shall select suitable offshore alternates and specify each in the OFP for each IFR flight as provided in Document SA-CATS 127. |
| (11) | The operator shall not permit, nor may a pilot-in-command operate, a flight that is to be conducted in accordance with IFR for which one or more destination alternate aerodromes are required, to be commenced unless the aerodrome meteorological forecast indicates that conditions for a period of at least one hour before until one hour after the estimated time of arrival at the destination alternate aerodrome(s) will meet or exceed those specified in Document SA-CATS 127. |