SPA.HEMS.110 Equipment requirements for HEMS operations

MOVING MAP DISPLAYS The moving map display should show the relative altitude of the surrounding terrain and obstacles to that of the helicopter, and may be any of the following:

(a)an HTAWS that is airworthiness approved;

(b)a display that is integrated in the cockpit environment and is airworthiness approved;

(c)a type B EFB software application. The database should cover the area where the helicopter usually performs HEMS operations.

MOVING MAPS — TRAINING ORO.FC.125 requires differences training or familiarisation when introducing new equipment and procedures. For EFB applications, AMC4 SPA.EFB.100(b)(3) defines the related training. In either case, the training focuses not only on the usage of the equipment or EFB application, but also on its limitations, including the following limitations of moving maps:

(a)Not all terrain and obstacles will be included in the database.

(b)In VFR, the proper selection of altitude and efficient visual scanning of the environment remain the primary means of obstacle and terrain avoidance.

(c)A type B EFB software application can only be used for increased situational awareness.

SHORT EXCURSIONS ABOVE 13 000 ft WITHOUT OXYGEN

(a)SPA.HEMS.110(d)(3) limits the duration of excursions above 10 000 ft without oxygen to 30 minutes within a HEMS mission, this being the maximum limit. However, the operator should consider further limiting the duration of the excursion depending on the concrete maximum flight altitude. For that purpose, the operator should meet either of the following:

(1)The operator should comply with the maximum flight altitude and the maximum duration of the excursion above 10 000 ft without oxygen as defined in Table 1; or

(2)If the operator expects flight durations above 10 000 ft greater than 15 minutes but no greater than 30 minutes, combined with a maximum altitude between 14 000 and 16 000 ft, the operator should define its own limitations within these boundaries based on scientific evidence of no risk of hypoxia. Table 1 — Maximum duration of the excursion above 10 000 ft, based on the maximum altitude reached

SHORT EXCURSIONS ABOVE 13 000 ft WITHOUT OXYGEN

(a)The duration of the excursion includes all time spent above 10 000 ft during the HEMS mission. This includes:

(1)all time spent on ground above 10 000 ft;

(2)all time spent in flight above 10 000 ft within a single HEMS mission.

(b)The HEMS mission ends on return to base. Temporarily flying below 10 000 ft without returning to base does not reset the duration of the excursion.

AMC1 SPA.HEMS.110(d)(6)&(d)(7) Equipment requirements for HEMS operations SHORT EXCURSIONS ABOVE 13 000 FT WITHOUT OXYGEN If the operator or an individual crew member has no experience in flying without oxygen above 13 000 ft, then the operator should set operating conditions or individual limitations for crew members to progressively gain experience and adapt to altitude, based on a risk assessment. The limitations may restrict the maximum duration spent above 10 000 ft, or the maximum altitude, and should be removed when no longer relevant. The altitude of the HEMS operating base should be taken into account to assess the physiological adaptation of the crew member to high altitudes.

HYPOXIA TRAINING

(a)Required crew members planning to fly above 13 000 ft without oxygen should have training aimed at the following:

(1)knowing themselves and identifying early signs of hypoxia; and

(2)recognising early signs of hypoxia in other crew members.

(b)The crews should undergo both theoretical and practical training.

(c)The theoretical training should take place every 3 years and should include the learning objectives of module 050 of the CPL/ATPL theoretical knowledge that are relevant to hypoxia, as defined in Annex I (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011.

(d)The initial and recurrent practical training of (a)(1) should take place every 6 years and should take place in one of the following:

(1)a hypobaric chamber that simulates an altitude for a sufficient duration for hypoxia to occur in an oxygen-deprivation scenario that is representative of a helicopter mission;

(2)a device that ensures that the gas the trainee breathes has the same partial pressure of oxygen as at the desired altitude, for a sufficient duration for hypoxia to occur in an oxygen-deprivation scenario that is representative of a helicopter mission. (e.g. reduced oxygen breathing device);

(3)a helicopter at the altitude required for the individual trainee to experience hypoxia, for the recurrent training only, provided that the trainee is in the cabin with medical assistance and an instructor using oxygen is able to ensure the safety of the training.

(e)The initial and recurrent practical training of (a)(2) should take place every 6 years and should comply with one of the following:

(1)The trainee should not be deprived of oxygen and should observe another crew member that undergoes the training described in (d) and that becomes hypoxic;

(2)The training takes place in a helicopter / FSTD where the instructor plays the role of a hypoxic crew member. The instructor should have attended at least 6 training sessions described under (d) as an observer or instructor or active crew member. In this case, neither the trainee nor the instructor need to be deprived of oxygen.

(f)In the context of hypoxia training, the validity period of flight and technical crew recurrent training should be as specified in AMC1 ORO.FC.145(g).

SUITABLE STABILITY AUGMENTATION SYSTEM (SAS) OR AUTOPILOT The SAS or autopilot should have at least the following functions:

(a)Pitch rate damping and attitude / attitude rate stabilisation;

(b)Roll rate damping and attitude / attitude rate stabilisation; and

(c)Yaw damping. [applicable from 25 May 2028 — ED Decision 2023/007/R]

AUTOPILOT The autopilot should have at least the following functions:

(a)Attitude hold;

(b)Altitude hold mode; and

(c)Heading hold mode. [applicable from 25 May 2028 — ED Decision 2023/007/R]