SPA.HEMS.120 HEMS operating minima

(a)The ability to reduce the visibility for short periods will allow the commander to assess the risk of flying temporarily into reduced visibility against the need to provide emergency medical service, taking into account the advisory speeds included in Table 1. Since every situation is different it was not felt appropriate to define the short period in terms of absolute figures. It is for the commander to assess the aviation risk to third parties, the crew and the aircraft such that it is proportionate to the task, using the principles of GM1 SPA.HEMS.100(a).

(b)When flight with a visibility of less than 5 km is permitted, the forward visibility should not be less than the distance travelled by the helicopter in 30 seconds so as to allow adequate opportunity to see and avoid obstacles (see table below). Table 1 Operating minima – reduced visibility

HEMS TRAINING MINIMA When conducting a HEMS training flight, the HEMS operating minima are applicable.

HEMS VFR MINIMA: CEILING, CLOUD BASE AND VISIBILITY

(a)The operator should define minimum ceiling, cloud base and visibility no lower than those defined in Table 1. Table 1 — HEMS operating minima

(*) During the en-route phase, visibility may be reduced to 800 m for short periods when in sight of land if the helicopter is manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe other traffic or any obstacles in time to avoid a collision. (**) During the en-route phase, ceiling or cloud base may be reduced to 1 000 ft for short periods. (***) For the dispatch phase, ceiling can be used instead of cloud base if the clouds below the ceiling are not relevant to the planned flight path.

REDUCED VFR MINIMA TO BE USED WHEN INSTRUCTED TO ‘PROCEED VFR’

(b)The operator may define lower HEMS operating minima than those defined in Table 1 above, when an IFR departure or approach chart instructs the pilot to ‘proceed VFR’ prior to an IFR departure or following an IFR approach procedure, both for day and night. If the corresponding HEMS operating minima for the VFR segment of this flight are lower than those defined in Table 1, they should not be lower than those defined in Tables 2 and 3 below. The applicable minima should be published in the operations manual. Table 2 — Reduced HEMS operating minima when instructed to ‘proceed VFR’ following an IFR approach

x is the distance between the missed approach point (MAPt) and the heliport or operating site (*) whichever is higher

Table 3 — Reduced HEMS operating minima when instructed to ‘proceed VFR’ prior to an IFR departure

x is the distance between the heliport or operating site and the initial departure fix (IDF)

HEMS VFR OPERATING MINIMA: VERTICAL DISTANCE TO OBSTACLES

(c)When operating VFR in HEMS below minimum flight altitudes prescribed by the rules of the air or with visibility lower than prescribed in the rules of the air, the operator should define in the operations manual:

(1)the minimum safe cruising height(s) for the area(s) overflown, the minimum distance to obstacles and, when necessary, the appropriate maximum helicopter speed(s);

(2)the minimum safe height (safety height) over relevant obstacles in the flight path during the cruise phase for VFR operations, which should not be less than 200 ft during the day and 500 ft during the night.

HEMS VFR OPERATING MINIMA: MISCELLANEOUS Requirements in the rules of the air to remain out of clouds or in sight of the surface are unaffected by the HEMS VFR operating minima. Minimum horizontal distances to obstacles are also unchanged.

TASKS AND QUALIFICATION OF THE HEMS TECHNICAL CREW MEMBER The HEMS technical crew member should be considered to be suitably qualified for the purpose of using the HEMS minima if he or she has completed the training for all the following tasks and is effectively tasked with them, as defined in AMC1 SPA.HEMS.130(e):

(a)training for the primary tasks of the technical crew member;

(b)navigation training;

(c)communications training;

(d)monitoring training.