ARO.OPS.224 Approval of fuel/energy schemes for IAM operations

APPROVAL OF INDIVIDUAL FUEL/ENERGY SCHEMES — QUALIFICATION OF PERSONNEL

(a)The competent authority should have qualified inspectors for the approval of individual fuel/energy schemes for IAM operations.

(b)The competent authority’s inspectors should have the necessary knowledge and expertise to understand, monitor and validate the applicable criteria of points UAM.OP.VCA.190, UAM.OP.VCA.191, UAM.OP.VCA.195 and UAM.OP.MVCA.192 of Annex IX (Part-IAM).

(c)The competent authority should develop guidance to be used by its inspectors when approving and verifying individual fuel/energy schemes for IAM operations.

APPROVAL OF INDIVIDUAL FUEL/ENERGY SCHEMES — VERIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

(a)For the purpose of approving the individual fuel/energy scheme of a VCA operator, the competent authority should assess and verify the following:

(1)the documentation and procedures relevant to the VCA operator’s fuel/energy planning and in-flight replanning policy, and the in-flight fuel/energy management policy;

(2)the method for the selection of vertiports, diversion locations and/or VEMS operating sites, as applicable, and relevant documentation;

(3)VCA-fleet-specific and route-/area-specific items:

(i)averaged consumption data as per type of VCA and specific consumption data as per route/area;

(ii)performance characteristics and performance required under the proposed fuel/energy scheme;

(iii)the impact of weather on the usable fuel/energy and reserves;

(iv)the efficiency and capacity of energy storage devices for the planned operating conditions and degradation of those devices during normal, abnormal and emergency procedures;

(v)the reliability of the fuel/energy system, including the accuracy of the fuel/energy measurement and displaying equipment;

(vi)the route(s) and/or area(s) of operation where the individual fuel/energy scheme will be used;

(4)the VCA operator’s management system, particularly with regard to safety risk management, and the VCA operator’s processes for performance monitoring and measurement;

(5)pilot training and experience as relevant to the use of SOPs and systems that support the individual fuel/energy scheme.

(b)When collecting statistically relevant data, the competent authority’s inspectors should consider the specificities of the operations of each VCA operator. The data should be collected for a period of at least 6 months, or for a period agreed with the competent authority.

AMENDMENT OR REVOCATION OF AN INDIVIDUAL FUEL/ENERGY SCHEME When the competent authority detects non-compliance of an individual fuel/energy scheme with the applicable requirements, the fuel/energy scheme should be amended to restore its compliance or the approval should be revoked in accordance with point ARO.GEN.350, as the case may be.

INDIVIDUAL FUEL/ENERGY SCHEME — MEANING The individual fuel/energy scheme may be route-specific and/or VCA-fleet-specific.