Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009)RegulationsCivil Aviation Regulations, 2011Part 133 : Helicopter External-Load OperationsSubpart 2 : Operating Rules and Related Requirements133.02.1 Operating rules |
| (1) | No owner, operator or PIC of a helicopter engaged in an external-load operation shall operate the helicopter without, or contrary to, the helicopter-load combination flight manual referred to in regulation 133.03.4. |
| (2) | The owner, operator or PIC shall not operate the helicopter unless— |
| (a) | a standard category type certificate or a restricted category type certificate has been issued in respect of such helicopter in terms of Part 21; |
| (b) | a valid certificate of airworthiness has been issued in respect of such helicopter in terms of Part 21 ; and |
| (c) | such helicopter complies with the certification provisions of Subpart 3 that apply to the applicable class of helicopter-toad combination. |
| (3) | The PIC of the helicopter shall, before such PIC operates such helicopter with an externalload configuration which differs substantially from any external load configuration previously carried with such type of helicopter, irrespective of whether the helicopter-load combination is of the same class, conduct, in a manner that will not endanger persons or property on the surface, the following applicable flight-operational checks: |
| (a) | A determination that— |
| (i) | the mass of the helicopter-load combination and the location of its centre of gravity are within approved limits; |
| (ii) | the external load is securely fastened; and |
| (iii) | the external load does not interfere with devices provided for its emergency release; |
| (b) | make an initial lift-off and verify that controllability is satisfactory; |
| (c) | while hovering, verify that directional control is adequate; |
| (d) | accelerate into forward flight to verify that no attitude of the helicopter or of the external load is encountered, in which the helicopter is uncontrollable or which is otherwise hazardous; |
| (e) | in forward flight, check for hazardous oscillations of the external load: Provided that if the external load is not visible to such PIC, other flight crew members or ground personnel may make this check and signal the PIC; and |
| (f) | increase the forward airspeed and determine an operational airspeed at which no hazardous oscillation or hazardous aerodynamic turbulence is encountered. |
| (4) | Notwithstanding the provisions of Part 91, the owner or operator of a helicopter in respect of which a restricted category type certificate has been issued in terms of Part 21, may conduct an external-load operation over densely inhabited areas, if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface and complies with the following: |
| (a) | The operator shall compile an approved plan for each complete operation, which shall include— |
| (i) | an agreement with the appropriate local government that local officials will exclude unauthorised persons from the area in which the operation will be conducted; |
| (ii) | coordination with the appropriate ATSU, if necessary; and |
| (iii) | a detailed chart depicting the flight routes and altitudes; and |
| (b) | each flight shall be conducted at an altitude, and on a route, which will allow— |
| (i) | an external load for purposes of release, to be jettisoned; and |
| (ii) | the helicopter to land in an emergency without hazard to persons or property on the surface. |
| (5) | Notwithstanding the provisions of Part 91 and except as prescribed in regulation 133.03.3 the owner or operator of a helicopter engaged in an external-load operation may conduct the operation, including an approach, departure, and load positioning manoeuvre necessary for the operation, below 500 feet above the surface and closer than 500 feet to persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures, if such operation is conducted without creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface. |
| (6) | No owner, operator or PIC of a helicopter engaged in an external-load operation shall— |
| (a) | conduct the operation under IMC, or |
| (b) | carry passengers during the external-load operation, unless flight under IMC, or external-load/passenger combination flights, or both, have been approved by the Director on the conditions contained in the operations manual referred to in regulation 127.04.2; or unless prior written permission has been granted by the Director for a specific flight or series of flights on conditions prescribed by him or her: Provided that passengers shall never be carried outside the helicopter in an undersling operation under IMC. |