26.430 Resistance of an emergency flotation system to damage

(a)Operators of small helicopters or large helicopters that have their first individual certificate of airworthiness issued on or after 9 August 2025 and that are required, in accordance with point CAT.IDE.H.320(a) of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, to be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching, shall ensure that if the helicopter includes a stowed emergency flotation system, the effects on the successful deployment and retention of the emergency flotation system as a result of possible damage from a water impact are minimised as far as practicable in the design.

(b)Operators of small helicopters or large helicopters with stowed emergency flotation systems that are installed for the first time on or after 9 August 2025 that are required, in accordance with CAT.IDE.H.320(a) of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, to be certified for ditching, shall ensure that the effects on the successful deployment and retention of the emergency flotation systems as a result of possible damage from a water impact are minimised as far as practicable in the design.