Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009)RegulationsCivil Aviation Regulations, 2011Part 93 : Corporate Aviation Operations and High Performance AircraftSubpart 7 : Flight OperationsDivision Two : Dispatch and flight release rules93.07.25 Helicopter offshore operations |
| (1) | A CAO shall ensure that, in case of a flight over water by a helicopter— |
| (a) | a helicopter is equipped for flights over water in terms of these Regulations; |
| (b) | a shore base or other flight-monitoring station shall maintain means of flight monitoring with a helicopter as approved by the Director; and |
| (c) | a full complement of crew to operate a helicopter and its safety equipment under normal, abnormal or emergency conditions is carried on board. |
| (2) | A PIC shall ensure that if a flight is undertaken in accordance with provisions of subregulation (1) with a single-reciprocating-engine helicopter— |
| (a) | such flight shall only be undertaken by daylight and under VMC; |
| (b) | a flight may not be commenced if it cannot be completed at least one hour before night; |
| (c) | flight shall be limited to five nautical miles seaward from base unless if a flight is undertaken by an amphibian helicopter or a helicopter with approved flotation gear. |
| (3) | A PIC shall ensure that if a flight is undertaken in accordance with the provisions of subregulation (1) with a single-turbine-engine helicopter— |
| (a) | a flights shall be undertaken only by daylight and under VMC; |
| (b) | flight shall be limited to 50 nautical miles seaward from base unless if a flight is undertaken by an amphibian helicopter or a helicopter with approved flotation gear; and |
| (c) | for a flight from 5 nautical miles over water, sufficient survival dinghies are carried in such a manner that they will be instantly accessible at a time of ditching. |
| (4) | A CAO shall ensure that if a flight is to be undertaken by night or under IMC using a multi-engine helicopter, such helicopter is equipped for IFR operations and functioning area or on-board navigation aids are available. |
| (5) | A CAO may not, when planning flight for over-water operation, consider offshore alternates when it is possible to carry enough fuel to plan for an on-shore alternate landing site: Provided that an off-shore alternate landing site may be considered in exceptional circumstances, other than for landing for purposes of payload enhancement in adverse weather conditions. |
| (6) | For the purposes of this Part, "shore base" means a site from which a flight over water is commenced or supported. |