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NCO.OP.115 Departure and approach procedures – aeroplanes and helicopters

ANNEX VII (Part-NCO) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

IRImplementing rule

NCO.OP.115Departure and approach procedures – aeroplanes and helicopters

(a)The pilot-in-command shall use the departure and approach procedures established by the State of the aerodrome, if such procedures have been published for the runway or FATO to be used.

(b)The pilot-in-command may deviate from a published departure route, arrival route or approach procedure:

(1)provided obstacle clearance criteria can be observed, full account is taken of the operating conditions and any ATC clearance is adhered to; or

(2)when being radar-vectored by an ATC unit.

IR · NCO.OP.115 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) No 800/2013 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMCAcceptable means of compliance

AMC1 NCO.OP.115Departure and approach procedures — aeroplanes and helicopters

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ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES UNDER IFR WHERE NO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PROCEDURES ARE PUBLISHED When arriving or departing under IFR to/from an aerodrome or operating site with no published instrument flight procedure, the pilot-in-command should ensure that sufficient obstacle clearance is available for safe operation. This may be achieved, for example, by climbing or descending visually when below a minimum altitude at which obstacle clearance is known to exist. When operating IFR in uncontrolled airspace, separation from other aircraft remains the responsibility of the pilot-in-command. The pilot-in-command should also comply with any flight planning and communication requirements designated by the competent authority under SERA.4001(b)(3) and SERA.5025(b). Any ATC clearance required to enter controlled airspace must be obtained prior to entry.

AMC · AMC1 NCO.OP.115 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2022/012/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

All rules in SUBPART B: OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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