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Civil Aviation Act, 2009 (Act No. 13 of 2009)

Regulations

Civil Aviation Regulations, 2011

Part 133 : Helicopter External-Load Operations

Subpart 3 : Airworthiness Requirements

133.03.1 Flight characteristics requirements

 

(1) The owner or operator of a helicopter engaged in an external-load operation shall demonstrate to the Director, by performing the operational night checks prescribed in subregulation (3), (4) or (5), as the case may be, that the helicopter-load combination to be used in the operations has satisfactory flight characteristics.

 

(2) For the purposes of the demonstration, the external-load mass, including the external-load attaching means, is the maximum mass for which authorisation is requested.

 

(3) In the case of a Class A helicopter-load combination the operational flight check shall consist of at least the following manoeuvres:
(a) Take-off and landing;
(b) demonstration of adequate directional control while hovering;
(c) acceleration from a hover; and
(d) horizontal flight at airspeeds up to the maximum airspeed for which authorisation is requested.

 

(4) In the case of a Class B and a Class D helicopter-load combination the operational flight check shall consist of at least the following manoeuvres:
(a) Pick up of the external load;
(b) demonstration of adequate directional control while hovering;
(c) acceleration from a hover;
(d) horizontal flight at airspeeds up to the maximum airspeed for which authorisation is requested;
(e) demonstrating appropriate lifting device operation; and
(f) manoeuvring of the external load into release position and its release, under probable flight operation conditions, by means of each of the quick-release controls installed on the helicopter.

 

(5) In the case of a Class C helicopter-load combination used in wire-stringing, cable-laying, or similar operations, the operational flight check shall consist of the appropriate manoeuvres prescribed in subregulation (4).