LOG NOTICES READ MORE Pilots’ Advisory Group The latest information and safety notices SN-2019/008 Helicopter Operations – Guidance on Aerodrome Operating Minima for IFR Departures This provides guidance on aerodrome operating minima and the aircraft commander/ PIC’s responsibilities for helicopter flights, particularly other than CAT/PT, departing IFR from aerodromes not equipped for instrument departures. This SN supersedes SN 2016/001 SN-2019/007 Helicopter Operations Flight Planning and Safe Flight Execution Several helicopter events, including the accidents to Agusta A109E G-CRST in 2013, AgustaWestland AW139 G-LBAL in 2014 and AS355F1 G-OHCP in 2017, have highlighted the potential for the conduct of pre-flight planning to have a major impact on the safe outcome of a flight. Similar situations in the USA resulted in specific planning and pre-flight risk assessment requirements being introduced for Emergency Medical Service flights there. These were captured in changes to Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part-135 including new sections 615 and 617. The purpose of this safety notice is to reinforce to operators, trainers and pilots the essential need for detailed and appropriate pre-flight planning and risk assessment before conducting any flight, but in particular those intended to be conducted under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The plan then needs to be executed accordingly. This updates and supersedes SN-2017/003 SW2019/210 Drone and model aircraft registration The UK’s new Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Scheme is now live at register-drones.caa.co.uk The requirements for registration and education became law on 30th November 2019. The new drones reunited service for lost drones also launched at dronesreunited.uk SW2019/207 Call for evidence on assistance dogs The CAA is seeking evidence to help our understanding of the issues faced by assistance dog users when travelling by air. It is also requesting evidence from airlines and airports, which are required by law to facilitate the carriage of recognised assistance dogs. The call is open until 10th January 2020 at consultations.caa. co.uk/corporate-communications/assistance-dogs-call-for-evidence SW2019/205 Night Rating completion time FCL.810 All training providers and applicants need to be aware that Amendment (EU) 2019/1747 to Commission Regulation (EU) 1178/2011, has been published, and came into force on 11th November 2019. The Night Rating (FCL.810) has been amended: “Applicants shall have completed a training course within a period of up to six months.” This starts from the first training flight. Course providers need to review their courses operated after 11th November 2019, to reflect this and ensure this timescale is met. Courses started before that date will continue to be accepted prior to 31st March 2020. READ MORE EU exit TECH LOG READ MORE Pilots’ Advisory Group Heather Bennett, Surrey 07939 202294 Hayley Brewis, Suffolk 01284 386004 Amanda Calnan, Staffs 07812 151512 Russ Jones, Scotland 01337 858026 or 07713 621507 David Marshall, Leics 01164 299213 Sean Walters, Surrey 07850 077055 PilotsAdvisoryGroup @balpa.org READ MORE EU exit Please note that, in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a negotiated agreement, some CAA website content and application forms may continue to carry the EASA logo or reference the EU or EASA rather than the UK CAA in the short term. These will be updated in due course following the UK’s departure from the EU. In the meantime, the guidance provided and the application forms accessed via the CAA website portal will continue to be valid.
