1Civil Aviation Order 29.6 - Air service operations - Helicopter external sling load operations (02/12/2004)

Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R26) 2004

as amended

made under subregulation 207 (1) and regulation 303A of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.

This compilation was prepared on 22 December 2014 taking into account amendments up to Civil Aviation Order (Flight Crew Licensing) Repeal and Amendment Instrument 2014 (No. 1).

Prepared by the Legislative Drafting Section, Legal Branch, Legal Services Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Canberra.

1 Name of Order

This Order is the Civil Aviation Amendment Order (No. R26) 2004.

2 Commencement

This Order commences on gazettal.

3 Replacement of section 29.6 of the Civil Aviation Orders

Section 29.6 of the Civil Aviation Orders is omitted and a new section substituted as set out in Schedule 1.

Schedule 1 Substitution of section 29.6 of the Civil Aviation Orders

Section 29.6

Air service operations — helicopter external sling load operations

1 Application

This section applies to the conduct of operations by helicopters engaged in the pick up, carriage and release of objects suspended from external sling load attachments.

2 Approval of aircraft type

2.1Sling load operations shall only be carried out in a helicopter type for which a supplement to the aircraft flight manual, specifying the appropriate operating criteria, has been approved.

2.2Sling load operations shall be carried out in accordance with the limitations and procedures contained in the approved helicopter flight manual.

3 Pilot qualifications

A pilot must not conduct a sling load operation unless the pilot is authorised under Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 to conduct the operation.

4 Carriage of persons

The pilot in command of a helicopter engaged in sling load operations shall not permit any person to be carried in the helicopter except:

(a) a flight crew member; or

(b) a flight crew member under training; or

(c) a person who performs an essential function in connection with sling load operations.

5 Conduct of operations

5.1The pilot in command of a helicopter engaged in sling load operations shall be responsible for ensuring that:

(a) all personnel involved in the operation are suitably briefed prior to commencement; and

(b) adequate precautions are taken to ensure that safety of persons on the ground during sling load operations.

5.2The pilot in command of a helicopter engaged in sling load operations shall not fly over a city, town or populous area except where a specific route is available which will ensure that in the event of load jettisoning or a forced landing, hazard will not be caused to persons or property on the ground.