Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009)RegulationsCivil Aviation Regulations, 2011Part 127 : Commercial Helicopter Operations: Passengers Cargo and MailSubpart 8 : Helicopter Performance Operating LimitationsDivision One : General127.08.2 General provisions for all classes of helicopters |
| (1) | The operator shall ensure that— |
| (a) | the mass of the helicopter, at the start of the take-off, is not greater than the mass at which the requirements prescribed in the appropriate Division can be complied with for the flight to be undertaken, allowing for expected reductions in mass as the flight proceeds; and |
| (b) | the approved performance data contained in the aircraft flight manual referred to in regulation 91.03.2, is used to determine compliance in the appropriate Division. |
| (2) | In complying with any of the provisions in this Subpart, all factors that significantly affect the performance of the helicopter, as applicable to the phase of flight, shall be taken into account and which shall include as a minimum— |
| (a) | the mass of the helicopter; |
| (b) | the operating procedures employed by the operator; |
| (c) | the pressure-altitude appropriate to the elevation of the aerodrome; |
| (d) | the ambient temperature; |
| (e) | the wind; and |
| (f) | the condition of the surface. |
| (3) | The factors specified in subregulation (2) shall be taken into account either directly as operational parameters or indirectly by means of allowances or margins, which may be provided in the scheduling of performance data or in the comprehensive and detailed code of performance in accordance with which the helicopter is being operated. |
| (4) | The operator shall ensure helicopter operations are conducted in a manner that gives appropriate consideration for achieving a safe forced landing in the event the safe continuation of flight is not assured following a critical power-unit failure. |
| (5) | The operator of helicopters operating to or from aerodromes in a congested hostile environment shall be approved by the Director to do so and shall publish procedures in the operations manual referred to in regulation 127.04.2 that ensure, to the extent possible, the safety of the helicopter, its occupants and persons and property on the ground. |
| (6) | A helicopter shall be operated in compliance with the terms of its certificate of airworthiness and within the approved operating limitations contained in its flight manual. |
| (7) | A flight shall not be commenced unless the performance information provided in the flight manual, supplemented as necessary with other data acceptable to the Director, indicates that the standards prescribed in this Subpart can be complied with for the flight to be undertaken. |
| (8) | An operator shall adopt obstacle data sufficient to make accurate and safe performance calculations. |