| (1) | A person shall not operate an aeroplane over any route or airway in IMC unless— |
| (a) | in case of a single-engine aeroplane, a cloud ceiling at any point along a route of flight is not lower than that which would permit descent in VMC below a minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway; |
| (b) | in case of a twin-engine aeroplane, and in the event of failure of a critical enqine— |
| (i) | such aeroplane is capable of maintaining a minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway; or |
| (ii) | if such aeroplane is not capable of maintaining a minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway and- |
| (aa) | such aeroplane is able to maintain flight to a suitable landing area, a cloud base at any point along a route of flight is not lower than that which would permit descent in VMC below the minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway and flight in VMC to a suitable landing area; or |
| (bb) | such aeroplane is unable to maintain flight to a suitable landing area, a cloud base at any point along a route of flight is not lower than that which would permit descent in VMC below a minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway; |
| (c) | in a case of an aeroplane having three or more engines, and in an event of failure of any two engines, such aeroplane is capable of maintaining a minimum en-route altitude published or established by an operator for such route or airway; and |
| (d) | in addition to the requirements specified in paragraphs (b)(i), (b)(ii)(aa) and (c), an aeroplane shall be capable of landing at intended destination or alternate aerodrome in accordance with related landing performance criteria for such aeroplane. |
| (2) | An operator of an aeroplane shall select at least one destination alternate aerodrome for each IFR flight unless— |
| (a) | for an aerodrome other than an isolated aerodrome— |
| (i) | two separate runways, arranged such that ta closure of one cannot affect the operations of the other and each with an operational straight-in approach procedure, are available and usable by a flight crew at a destination aerodrome; and |
| (ii) | the duration of a flight from a departure aerodrome, or from a point of in-flight re-planning, to a destination aerodrome is such that, taking into account all operational information relevant to a flight, for a period of at least one hour before and one hour after an estimated time of arrival, a reasonable certainty exists that an approach and landing may be made under VMC; or |
| (b) | for a destination aerodrome that is isolated and for which no adequate destination alternate aerodrome exists— |
| (i) | a standard instrument approach procedure is prescribed for an aerodrome of intended landing and the associated navigation aids will be functional from two hours before time of arrival; and |
| (ii) | available current meteorological information indicates that the following meteorological conditions will exist from two hours before time of arrival: |
| (aa) | a cloud base of at least 1 000 ft above the minimum associated with the instrument approach procedure; and |
| (bb) | visibility of at least 5.5 km or of 4 km more than the minimum associated with the procedure, whichever is greater. |
| (3) | An operator of an aeroplane shall select at least two destination alternate aerodromes for each IFR flight when— |
| (a) | appropriate weather reports or forecasts for a destination aerodrome, or any combination thereof, indicate that during a period commencing one hour before and ending one hour after an estimated time of arrival, the weather conditions will be below applicable planning minima; or |
| (b) | meteorological information is not available at a destination aerodrome. |
| (4) | An air service operator shall not permit, nor shall a PIC 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 an aerodrome meteorological forecast indicates that conditions for a period of at least one hour before until one hour after an estimated time of arrival at a destination alternate aerodrome will meet or exceed those specified in Document SA-CATS 135. |
| (5) | An operator of an aeroplane shall operate all flights i n accordance with such route, aerodrome or other approvals and conditions pertaining to flight operations as are contained in such operator's AOC. |
| (6) | An operator of an aeroplane shall specify i n its operations manual the procedures used to determine the minimum altitudes to be flown in order to meet the obstacle clearance requirements stipulated in regulation 135.07.24 and, for an operation in an uncontrolled airspace, the means for ensuring a navigational capability is maintained while operating on any route used therein. |
| (7) | An operator of an aeroplane shall ensure that— |
| (a) | equipment of an aeroplane intended to be used, complies with the minimum requirements for a planned operation; and |
| (b) | except as approved by the Director in accordance with Document SA-CATS 135, a person shall not operate a twin-engine aeroplane under this Part over a route which contains a point further from an adequate and suitable aerodrome than a distance that can be flown, under standard conditions in still air, in 120 minutes at one-engine inoperative cruise speed. |
| (8) | An operator of an aeroplane shall not commence a flight unless it has been ascertained by every reasonable means available that the g round facilities and services, including meteorological and rescue fire fighting services— |
| (a) | are available as required for a safe operation of an aeroplane and protection of the passengers; |
| (b) | are adequate for a type of operation being conducted; and |
| (c) | are functioning normally for their intended purpose. |
| (9) | An operator of an aeroplane shall establish procedures in its operations manual that will ensure an operation can be safely conducted in the event that the rescue firefighting services at an aerodrome that may be used are or may be below that for which such aerodrome is certified, and such procedures shall include a risk assessment. |
| (10) | An operator of an aeroplane shall report without delay to a responsible authority any observed operational inadequacy of facilities referred to in subregulation (8). |
[Regulation 135.07.1 substituted by regulation 36(f) of Notice No. R.1503, GG45491, dated 15 November 2021 (Twenty-First Amendment of the Civil Aviation Regulations, 2021)]
