SPA.VEMS.140 Information, procedures and documentation

OPERATIONS MANUAL The operations manual should include all the following:

(a)the on-board use of portable equipment;

(b)guidance on take-off and landing procedures at non-pre-surveyed VEMS operating sites;

(c)the final reserve fuel/energy, in accordance with point UAM.OP.VCA.191;

(d)operating minima;

(e)recommended routes for regular flights to pre-surveyed VEMS operating sites, including the minimum flight altitude;

(f)guidance on the selection of a VEMS operating site in the case of a VEMS flight to a non-pre-surveyed VEMS operating site;

(g)the safety altitude for the area overflown;

(h)abnormal procedures, including procedures to be followed in case of inadvertent entry into cloud;

(i)operational dispatch criteria;

(j)a description of the crew composition for all phases of flight and conditions, standard operating procedures for the described crew composition, including any procedures to ensure the continuity of the crew concept;

(k)flight crew and technical crew training and checking syllabi, as required by point SPA.VEMS.130.

VEMS RISK ASSESSMENT The operator’s VEMS risk assessment should take into account, but should not be limited to, all the following:

(a)adequate ground reference;

(b)reliability of weather reporting facilities;

(c)crew composition, minimum crew qualification, initial and recurrent training;

(d)flight time limitations and crew fatigue;

(e)operating procedures, including crew coordination;

(f)weather minima;

(g)VCA equipment;

(h)additional considerations due to specific local conditions;

(i)location and availability of diversion locations;

(j)CSFL compliance, both for pre-flight planning and in-flight replanning.

VEMS TACTICAL RISK ASSESSMENT The tactical risk assessment of a VEMS flight by the PIC may be included in the daily briefing and amended as necessary. The following may be considered:

(a)operating environment, including airspace, local geography and availability of diversion locations;

(b)weather;

(c)NOTAMs;

(d)VCA performance;

(e)VCA equipment and defects, MEL, and medical equipment;

(f)fuel/energy planning;

(g)crew fatigue, recency and qualifications;

(h)dispatch criteria;

(i)tasking, roles and responsibilities;

(j)in-flight replanning;

(k)relevant threats.