ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Civil Aviation (Operation of Aircraft-Helicopter) Regulations, 2018
47. All helicopters on flights over water: Means of flotation, Emergency equipment
Edition: 2018-05-11 · Repealed
47. All helicopters on flights over water: Means of flotation, Emergency equipment
(1)All helicopters intended to be flown over water shall be fitted with a permanent or rapidly deployable means of flotation so as to ensure a safe ditching of the helicopter when—(a)engaged in offshore operations, or other overwater operations as prescribed by the State of the Operator;(b)flying over water in a hostile environment at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes at normal cruise speed when operating in performance Class 1 or 2; or(c)flying over water in a non-hostile environment at a distance from land specified by the appropriate authority of the responsible State when operating in performance Class 1.(2)Flying over water beyond auto rotational or safe forced landing distance from land when operating in performance Class 3 Helicopters operating in performance Class 1 or 2 and operating in accordance with the provisions of subregulation (1) shall be equipped with-(a)one life jacket or equivalent individual flotation device, for each person on board, stowed in a position easily accessible from the seat or berth of the person for whose use it is provided and for offshore operations the life jacket shall be worn constantly unless the occupant is wearing an integrated survival suit that includes the functionality of the life jacket;(b)life-saving rafts in sufficient numbers to carry all persons on board, stowed so as to facilitate their ready use in emergency, provided with such life-saving equipment including means of sustaining life as is appropriate to the flight to be undertaken; and(c)equipment for making the pyrotechnical distress signals described in the Civil Aviation (Rules of the Air) Regulations.(3)When two life rafts are fitted, each shall be able to carry all occupants in the overload state.(4)Helicopters operating in performance Class 3 when operating beyond auto rotational distance from land but within a distance from land specified by the appropriate authority of the responsible State shall be equipped with one life jacket or equivalent individual flotation device, for each person on board, stowed in a position easily accessible from the seat or berth of the person for whose use it is provided.(5)For offshore operations, when operating beyond auto rotational distance from land, the life jacket shall be worn unless the occupant is wearing an integrated survival suit that includes the functionality of the life jacket.(6)Helicopters operating in performance Class 3 when operating beyond the distance specified in subregulation (4) shall be equipped as in subregulation (2).(7)In the case of helicopters operating in performance Class 2 or 3, when taking off or landing at a heliport where, in the opinion of the State of the Operator, the take-off or approach path is so disposed over water that in the event of a mishap there would be likelihood of a ditching, at least the equipment required in subregulation (2) shall be carried.(8)Each life jacket and equivalent individual flotation device, when carried in accordance with regulation 48, shall be equipped with a means of electric illumination for the purpose of facilitating the location of persons.