UAM.OP.MVCA.107 Adequate vertiport and adequate diversion location

SELECTION OF ADEQUATE VERTIPORTS, DIVERSION LOCATIONS AND VEMS OPERATING SITES

(a)The policy and procedures for the selection of adequate vertiports, diversion locations and VEMS operating sites should be part of the operator’s fuel/energy scheme in accordance with point UAM.OP.VCA.190. The selected vertiports, diversion locations or VEMS operating sites should comply with point UAM.OP.MVCA.192.

(b)If the VCA is certified for operations on floating surfaces in accordance with point UAM.IDE.MVCA.300(d), the operator should include floating surfaces in the fuel/energy scheme.

ADEQUATE DIVERSION LOCATIONS To comply with point UAM.OP.MVCA.107(d), the operator’s policy and procedure for the selection of diversion locations should be based on at least the following:

(a)Data provided by the VCA manufacturer including:

(1)certified minimum performance (CMP) including wind limitations;

(2)the radial component of the downwash (outwash) around the VCA;

(3)type of VCA landing systems (e.g. wheels, skids).

(b)Information about the diversion location characteristics including:

(1)size of the landing area;

(2)surface characteristics;

(3)slope;

(4)obstacle clearance areas;

(5)firefighting information, if any.

(b)The operating conditions under which the flight is to be conducted including:

(1)anticipated masses;

(2)anticipated VCA fuel/energy consumption;

(3)anticipated meteorological conditions.

(c)Observations made during the process of pre-surveillance of diversion locations by a competent person. The operator should also take into account possible changes to the characteristics of diversion locations that may have taken place since last surveyed.

(d)The means to have an indication on wind speed and direction.

(e)Ground markings, if available.

(f)The means to achieve an acceptable level of rescue and firefighting services (RFFS) protection, including equipment, or agreement with the local firefighting brigade or any other appropriate arrangement.

(g)In the case of cross-border operations, the relevant requirements published by the competent authority of the place of operation stemming from air space management, air traffic management, national security, as well as environmental and administrative regulations.

DIVERSION LOCATIONS — DOCUMENTATION

(a)Any diversion location selected by the IAM operator and planned to be used, as well as any subsequent changes to selected diversion locations, should be notified to the competent authority in accordance with the procedure referred to in point ORO.GEN.115(b) and point ORO.GEN.130(c) along with the criteria applied for the selection.

(b)The operations manual or another manual of the IAM operator should contain diagrams or ground and aerial photographs, depiction (pictorial) and description of the selected diversion location including:

(1)its overall dimensions;

(2)its suitability with reference to VCA performance as well as the radial component of the downwash (outwash) around the VCA;

(3)the location and height of relevant obstacles in the approach and take-off flight paths and in the manoeuvring area of any diversion location;

(4)the approach and take-off flight paths;

(5)its surface condition (blowing dust/snow/sand);

(6)the provision of control of third parties on the ground, if applicable;

(7)current firefighting arrangements (equipment or agreement with the local firefighting brigade or any other appropriate arrangement);

(8)existing means indicating wind speed and direction;

(9)the procedure for its activation in accordance with national regulations, if applicable;

(10)other useful information; for example, details of the appropriate ATS agency and frequency;

(11)the evacuation paths for passengers, taking into account the VCA hazard areas; and

(12)the means to remove a VCA from a diversion location.

USE OF EN-ROUTE DIVERSION LOCATIONS

(a)En-route diversion locations should be so selected to enable:

(1)a CSFL of the VCA following a CFP or another abnormal condition or situation; and/or

(2)compliance with the final fuel/energy reserve requirements.

(b)En-route diversion locations should not be used for planned embarkation and/or disembarkation of passengers or for onloading and offloading cargo.

(c)After having landed at an en-route diversion location, the operator may resume the flight that has already started at a vertiport, perform a ferry flight or remove the VCA from the diversion location by other means, as the case may be.

(d)An en-route diversion location should not be understood as a vertiport used for diversion.

DIVERSION LOCATIONS IN CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS

(a)For the purpose of using one or more adequate diversion locations in another State (in a cross-border operation), the VCA operator should ensure that the local requirements and information relevant to the intended diversion locations have been considered. Cross-border operations should be understood as operations in a State other than the State of the operator.

(b)If satisfied that the intended diversion location(s) meets (meet) the applicable requirements, the operator should notify the competent authority of the State of the operator in accordance with point ORO.GEN.130.

(c)When notified by the operator in accordance with point ORO.GEN.130(c) of the intended use of one or more diversion locations in a cross-border operation, the competent authority of the State of the operator should review the operator’s policy and procedures for the selection of adequate diversion locations and associated documentation in coordination with the competent authority of the other State. Both competent authorities should be satisfied that the applicable requirements have been complied with before the operator starts the intended operations.

RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES (RFFS) The VCA operator should:

(a)as part of its safety management system, assess the level of RFFS protection available at the vertiport or diversion location intended to be used to confirm that it is acceptable for the intended operation; and

(b)include information relevant to the RFFS protection that is deemed acceptable by the operator in the operations manual.

ADEQUATE VERTIPORTS

(a)The operator may use the EASA ‘Prototype Technical Specifications for the Design of VFR Vertiports for Operation with Manned VTOL-Capable Aircraft Certified in the Enhanced Category’ (PTS-VPT-DSN) or equivalent for the purpose of assessing the adequacy of vertiports for normal operations and for diversion from the planned route.

(b)An aerodrome or heliport that meets point UAM.OP.MVCA.107(c) is considered an adequate vertiport for VCA operations.

(c)For practical reasons, no requirements are specified regarding the adequacy of a site used for emergency landing.

DIVERSION LOCATIONS — EXAMPLES A diversion location may be a football stadium, a parking lot, a grass field or else, to be used only to divert from the planned route as necessary. A diversion location is not an aerodrome (vertiport) and a diversion location always has to be adequate according to point UAM.OP.MVCA.107.

ABNORMAL CONDITION OR SITUATION AMC 25.1581 contains the following definition for ‘abnormal procedure’ in the context of AFM: ‘A procedure requiring flight crew action, due to failure of a system or component, to maintain an acceptable level of airworthiness for continued safe flight and landing.’ This definition is fully applicable to a CFP in the context of a VCA. In addition, in flight operations, other abnormal situations may arise, such as pilot incapacitation, ground proximity warning, windshear, etc., in which the flight crew should be using abnormal (i.e. non-normal) procedures to ensure that the safety of the aircraft or of persons on board or on the ground is not endangered.

RESCUE AND FIREFIGHTING SERVICES (RFFS) AND OTHER SERVICES AND FACILITIES

(a)A vertiport or a diversion location is considered adequate if it is provided, among others, with RFFS. This means that either the vertiport or the diversion location is equipped for RFFS (e.g. equipped with fire extinguishers, fire hoses, fire and welding blankets, etc.) or an agreement is established with a local firefighting unit for the provision of RFFS or there is another appropriate arrangement for RFFS purposes.

(b)Other services and facilities that may be necessary for the intended operations include but are not limited to air traffic services, lighting, communications, weather reporting, navigation aids, charging equipment and sound protection.