CASA 12/95 - Exemption for helicopters used in certain off-shore operations (Cth)

EXEMPTION NUMBER: CASA 12/95

CIVIL AVIATION ACT 1988

CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS

EXEMPTION FOR HELICOPTERS USED IN CERTAIN

OFF-SHORE OPERATIONS

I, JOHN EDWIN INNES PIKE, Deputy Director (Operations):

(a)  having taken into account all relevant considerations relating to the interests of safety, issue the following exemption under regulation 308 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (the Regulations); and

(b)  in the interests of safety, having regard to those interests and the exemption, issue the exemption subject to the condition that the requirements set out in the Schedule are complied with.

2.       The exemption applies to helicopters:

(a)  operated by Bristow Helicopters Australia Pty Ltd; and

(b)  used to carry persons or cargo:

(i)  between the shore and an off-shore facility used by the petroleum industry; or

(ii)  between such facilities.

3.       Each helicopter is exempt from compliance with subregulations 178 (3) and (4) of the Regulations during:

(a)  an instrument approach procedure to an off-shore facility; or

(b)  an instrument departure procedure from an off-shore facility.

4.       In this instrument:

off-shore facility means a facility that is located 30 nautical miles or more from the shoreline.

SCHEDULE

REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET WHEN OPERATING UNDER THE EXEMPTION

A.      REQUIREMENTS FOR OFF-SHORE NDB PROCEDURE

If the offshore NDB procedures depicted by the attached approach plate (ATTACHMENT A) are utilised in IMC, the following requirements must be met:

(a)  the NDB must be located on the off-shore facility; and

(b)  the NDB:

(i)  must be approved; and

        (ii)  must have a demonstrated suitable signal strength at 500 feet to a range of 11 nautical miles from the off-shore facility throughout 360 degrees of azimuth; and

(c)  in the case of a free-floating off-shore facility—the MDA must be adjusted by an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(d)  in the case of a subsurface fixed off-shore facility—the MDH must be adjusted by            an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(e)  the operator’s operations manual must include flight crew techniques applicable    to the NDB approach.

B.      REQUIREMENTS FOR AIRBORNE RADAR APPROACH

The airborne radar approach (ARA) procedures depicted by the attached approach plate (ATTACHMENT B) are based on radar position lines and, if the procedures are utilised in IMC, the following requirements must be met:

(a)  the helicopter must have more than 1 pilot; and

(b)  the range displays must not be greater than 25 nautical miles; and

(c)  the primary return must be displayed throughout the entire procedure; and

(d)  in the case of a free-floating off-shore facility—the MDA must be adjusted by an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(e)  in the case of a subsurface fixed off-shore facility—the MDH must be adjusted by            an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(f)  the operator’s operations manual must include:

         (i)  flight crew techniques applicable to the ARA; and

      (ii)  approved ARA obstacle clearance check procedures.

C.      REQUIREMENTS FOR NDB-ARA

The ARA procedures depicted by the attached approach plate (ATTACHMENT C) are based on radar position lines and radio navaid azimuthal guidance and, if the procedures are utilised in IMC, the following requirements must be met:

(a)  the helicopter must have more than 1 pilot; and

(b)  the range displays must not be greater than 25 nautical miles; and

(c)  the primary return must be displayed throughout the entire procedure; and

(d)  in the case of a free-floating off-shore facility—the MDA must be adjusted by an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(e)  in the case of a subsurface fixed off-shore facility—the MDH must be adjusted by            an amount equal to any tidal range in excess of 10 feet; and

(f)  the operator’s operations manual must include:

         (i)  flight crew techniques applicable to the ARA; and

      (ii)  approved ARA obstacle clearance check procedures.

JOHN PIKE

Deputy Director (Operations)

15 November 1995