Instrument number CASA EX153/15
I, roger jon weeks, Acting Executive Manager, Operations Division, a delegate of CASA, make this instrument under regulation 11.160 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, and subregulations 150 (2) and 151 (3), and paragraph 157 (4) (b), of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (CAR 1988).
[Signed R.J. Weeks]
Roger Jon Weeks
Acting Executive Manager
Operations Division
31 August 2015
Exemption, permission, direction and authorisation — helicopter search and rescue operations and training for such operations (CHC Helicopters)
1          Duration
                 This instrument:
(a)   commences on 1 September 2015; and
(b)   expires at the end of August 2018, as if it had been repealed by another instrument.
2          Application
                 This instrument applies to the operation of a Sikorsky S76A++ helicopter (the helicopter) operated by Lloyd Helicopters Pty Ltd, trading as CHC Helicopters (Australia), Aviation Reference Number 222688 (the operator), and engaged in:
(a)       over water search and rescue operations; or
(b)      training for such operations.
3          Exemption and permission
        (1)     The operator, and the pilot in command of the helicopter, are exempt from compliance with the following provisions of CAR 1988:
(a)       subregulation 175 (2);
(b)      subregulation 178 (1);
(c)       subregulation 178 (2).
        (2)     The operator, and the pilot in command of the helicopter, are permitted under paragraph 157 (4) (b) of CAR 1988 to operate the helicopter at a height lower than a height specified in paragraph 157 (1) (b) when engaged in training for a search and rescue operation.
4          Direction
                 Under subregulation 150 (2) of CAR 1988, a package, article or other substance may be dropped from a helicopter engaged in a search and rescue operation, or training for a search and rescue operation, conducted in accordance with this instrument.
5          Authorisation
                 The pilot in command of the helicopter is authorised under subregulation 151 (3) of CAR 1988 to pick up a person in the course of a search and rescue operation or in training for such an operation.
6          Operating crew
        (1)     The operating crew of the helicopter for a search and rescue operation under this exemption must consist of 2 pilots and at least 1 additional crew member, all of whom are qualified to conduct search and rescue operations using auto-hover.
        (2)     To be qualified for subsection (1), all crew members must have successfully completed a course of training for a pilot or crew member, as the case may be, that is set out in the operator’s operations manual.
        (3)     Pilots and other crew members engaged in a search and rescue operation must meet the operator’s recency requirements that are in the training manual.
        (4)     For the conduct of training operations, the operating crew of the helicopter must consist of:
(a)   1 qualified training pilot, 1 pilot under training and at least 1 qualified additional crew member; or
(b)   2 qualified pilots, a student crew member under instruction and a qualified training crew member.
7          Carriage of persons on helicopter
        (1)     Only qualified crew members and a person rescued in the course of an operation may be carried on the helicopter when an authorised weather forecast for the flight is for conditions during the flight to be less than V.M.C. or likely to become less than V.M.C.
        (2)     Subsection (1) does not apply to a search and rescue flight that commences when an authorised weather forecast for the flight is that conditions are not less than V.M.C. and are not likely to become less than V.M.C.
8          Auto-hover capability
        (1)     The helicopter must have auto-hover capability in accordance with subsection (2) for an operation under this exemption.
        (2)     For auto-hover capability, the helicopter must have:
(a)   dual 4-axis auto-pilots with operable auto-hover capability; and
(b)   a flight director system referred to in Schedule 2 that is coupled to the auto‑pilot and responds to instructions from a qualified crew member.
9          Navigation and flight equipment
                 The helicopter must carry the navigation and flight equipment specified in Schedule 2.
10        Equipment requirements
                 Unless otherwise permitted by a minimum equipment list in respect of the equipment specified in Appendix VII to Civil Aviation Order 20.18, that is issued for search and rescue operations to which this instrument refers, all equipment specified in Schedule 2 must be serviceable.
11        Conditions
                 This instrument takes effect subject to compliance with the conditions mentioned in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1          Conditions
        1     In this Schedule:
low search height means the minimum height above water at which the helicopter may be flown in the search area before engagement of auto-hover for recovery of a survivor after descent from the applicable lowest safe altitude (LSALT).
        2     The helicopter must have auto-hover capability in accordance with this instrument.
        3     The operating crew must be qualified in accordance with the operator’s training manual to operate the helicopter while it is in auto-hover.
        4     Descent from an LSALT in a search and rescue area must only begin following a position fix using UNS-1 FMS.
        5     In the course of descent from LSALT to search height, the pilot in command of the helicopter must ensure the letdown track remains clear of obstacles and radar contacts by a minimum radar range of 5 nautical miles.
        6     All operations below LSALT require use of the integrated flight control system fitted to the helicopter (the auto-pilot coupled to the Flight Director (FD)).
        7     The FD must be able to institute all procedures necessary for the successful completion of the operation (including go-around and discontinuance where necessary).
        8     The active FD must be on the side of the pilot flying. FD commands displayed to the non-flying pilot must be those selected by the pilot flying.
        9     The operation must only be conducted in accordance with the operator’s Over Water SAR Auto-Hover Operations Standard Operating Procedures as set out in the operator’s operations manual:
(a)   at the date of this instrument; or
(b)   as varied with the written agreement of CASA.
      10     This instrument does not affect any of the obligations of the operator and the pilot in command to comply with the Regulations, and instruments made under the Regulations, subject only to the exemptions, permissions and authorisations in this instrument.
      11     The low safe height in the search area is 200 feet above water as derived from a radio altimeter.
      12     The minimum height for auto-hovering for recovery purposes is 50 feet above water.
      13     The minimum height for auto-hovering for training purposes is 75 feet above water.
      14     The operation must be discontinued if there is a malfunction in the Digital Automatic Flight Control System.
      15     The helicopter and crew must be equipped with lifesaving and survival equipment applicable to the environment in which they are operating.
Schedule 2          Equipment for helicopter
        1     I.F.R. equipment in accordance with Appendix VII of CAO 20.18.
        2     2 radio altimeters.
        3     1 Honeywell Primus 700 series surface mapping, beacon and colour weather radar.
        4     1 serviceable Universal Avionics UNS-1 Series FMS GNSS-based FMS.
        5     Dual Honeywell SPZ-7600 integrated flight control systems with auto-hover capability and the ability to couple to either Flight Director.
        6     A radar altitude warning system (RAWS).
        7     A RACAL 91 Doppler system.
        8     A helicopter emergency flotation system.