CAT.POL.H.110 Obstacle accountability

(a)For the purpose of obstacle clearance requirements, an obstacle located beyond the FATO, in the take-off flight path, or the missed approach flight path shall be considered if its lateral distance from the nearest point on the surface below the intended flight path is not further than the following:

(1)For operations under VFR:

(i)half of the minimum width defined in the AFM — or, when no width is defined, ‘0,75 × D’, where D is the largest dimension of the helicopter when the rotors are turning;

(ii)plus, the greater of ‘0,25 × D’ or ‘3 m’;

(iii)plus:

(A)0,10 × distance DR for operations under VFR by day; or

(B)0,15 × distance DR for operations under VFR at night.

(2)For operations under IFR:

(i)‘1,5 D’ or 30 m, whichever is greater, plus:

(A)0,10 × distance DR, for operations under IFR with accurate course guidance;

(B)0,15 × distance DR, for operations under IFR with standard course guidance; or

(C)0,30 × distance DR for operations under IFR without course guidance.

(ii)When considering the missed approach flight path, the divergence of the obstacle accountability area only applies after the end of the take-off distance available.

(3)For operations with initial take-off conducted visually and converted to IFR/IMC at a transition point, the criteria required in (1) apply up to the transition point, and the criteria required in (2) apply after the transition point. The transition point cannot be located before the end of the take-off distance required for helicopters (TODRH) operating in performance class 1 or before the defined point after take-off (DPATO) for helicopters operating in performance class 2.

(b)For take-off using a back-up or a lateral transition procedure, for the purpose of obstacle clearance requirements, an obstacle located in the back-up or lateral transition area shall be considered if its lateral distance from the nearest point on the surface below the intended flight path is not further than:

(1)half of the minimum width defined in the AFM or, when no width is defined, ‘0,75 × D’;

(2)plus the greater of ‘0,25 × D’ or ‘3 m’;

(3)plus:

(i)for operations under VFR by day 0,10 × the distance travelled from the back of the FATO, or

(ii)for operations under VFR at night 0,15 × the distance travelled from the back of the FATO.

(c)Obstacles may be disregarded if they are situated beyond:

(1)7 × rotor radius (R) for day operations, if it is assured that navigational accuracy can be achieved by reference to suitable visual cues during the climb;

(2)10 × R for night operations, if it is assured that navigational accuracy can be achieved by reference to suitable visual cues during the climb;

(3)300 m if navigational accuracy can be achieved by appropriate navigation aids; or

(4)900 m in all other cases.