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CAP 999

Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) in the UK

National Approval Guidance

www.caa.co.uk

Safety Regulation Group

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CAP 999

Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) in the UK -National Approval Guidance

Safety Regulation Group

May 2010

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CAP 999 Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) in the UK - National Approval Guidance

Civil Aviation Authority 2010

All rights reserved. Copies of this publication may be reproduced for personal use, or for use within a

company or organisation, but may not otherwise be reproduced for publication.

To use or reference CAA publications for any other purpose, for example within training material for

students, please contact the CAA at the address below for formal agreement.

ISBN 978 0 11792 416 1

First Edition May 2010

Enquiries regarding the content of this publication should be addressed to:

Flight Operations Inspectorate (Helicopters), Safety Regulation Group, Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation

House, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR.

CAA publications are available in electronic and printed formats. To obtain complete copies and

amendments, refer to www.caa.co.uk/publications, where you may also register for e-mail notification

of amendments.

Published by TSO (The Stationery Office) on behalf of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Printed copy available from:

TSO, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN www.tsoshop.co.ukTelephone orders/General enquiries: 0844 477 7300 E-mail: [email protected]

Fax orders: 0870 600 5533 Textphone: 0870 240 3701

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Chapter Page Date Chapter Page Date

Page iii

iii May 2010

Contents 1 May 2010Foreword 1 May 2010

Glossary 1 May 2010

Chapter 1 1 May 2010










Appendix 1 1 May 2010



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Contents Page 1

List of Effective Pages

Foreword

Glossary

Chapter 1 General Information

Chapter 2 Legal Requirements

Chapter 3 Operating Requirements

Chapter 4 Additional Requirements

Chapter 5 Training and Checking

Appendix 1 Exemptions from Regulations

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Foreword Page 1

Foreword

1 Introduction

This CAP has been published to assist organisations in determining procedures andOperations Manual guidance to operate civil search and rescue helicopters in the UK.

2 Gender

References to the masculine gender used for convenience in this document apply

equally to the feminine gender, where appropriate.

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Glossary Page 1

Glossary

ANO Air Navigation Order

AOC Air Operator's Certificate

ATPL Airline Transport Pilot's Licence

ATS Air Traffic Services

CAA Civil Aviation Authority

CAT Commercial Air Transport

CPL Commercial Pilot's Licence

CRM Crew Resource Management

DfT Department for Transport

EASA European Aviation Safety Agency

FTL Flight Time Limitations

HEMS Helicopter Emergency Medical Services

HHO Helicopter Hoist Operations

IFR Instrument Flight Rules

LPC Licence Proficiency Check

MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency

MEL Minimum Equipment ListMRT Mountain Rescue Team

NAA National Aviation Authority

NVIS Night Vision Imaging Systems

OPC Operator Proficiency Check

PIC Pilot-In-Command

QMS Quality Management System

RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution

SAR Search and Rescue

SMS Safety Management System

SOLAS Safety of Life at Sea

TGL Temporary Guidance Leaflet

UKSRR UK SAR Region

UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

VMC Visual Meteorological Conditions

WAT Weight Altitude Temperature

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Chapter 1 Page 1

Chapter 1 General Information

1 Introduction

1.1 The UK organisation for civil maritime and civil aviation SAR is derived from the UKGovernment's adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS), the Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS, 1974), the Maritime

Search and Rescue Convention (1979) and the Convention on International Civil

Aviation (Chicago 1944, Annex 12).

1.2 The UK SAR responsibility for ships, aircraft and persons, whether civilian or military,

covers the UK SAR Region (UKSRR). Responsibility for civil aeronautical and maritime

SAR policy rests with the Department for Transport (DfT). As such, the DfT is

responsible, through the UK SAR Strategic Committee, for assessing the adequacy

of UK civil aeronautical and maritime SAR resources, response and co-ordination.

1.3 The UK SAR organisation is a combination of separate government departments, the

emergency services and other organisations. Voluntary and commercial ventures thatare not nationally declared assets but may be called upon by national authorities also

play a significant role.

1.4 The functions of declared SAR units are:

to provide assistance to persons, vessels and aircraft in distress; and

to deliver survivors to a place of safety or where further assistance can be

rendered.

1.5 References:

UK AIP GEN 3.6 http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php.html.

Department for

Transport http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/uksar.

IAMSAR http://www.imo.org/safety/mainframe.asp?topic_id=994.

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http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php.htmlhttp://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/uksarhttp://www.imo.org/safety/mainframe.asp?topic_id=994http://www.imo.org/safety/mainframe.asp?topic_id=994http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/uksarhttp://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php.html

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Chapter 2 Page 1

Chapter 2 Legal Requirements

1 Status of Helicopter SAR operations

1.1 The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has deemed SAR to be a State activityand therefore one to be regulated by National Aviation Authorities (NAAs). In the UK,

operation of civil helicopters for SAR is considered to be for the purposes of public

transport and therefore subject to Article 12 of the Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2009

requiring a national Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).

1.2 The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has oversight of the State activity of SAR within the

UK.

1.3 An AOC issued for the sole purpose of SAR (SAR AOC) will be based on the

requirements contained in the ANO, JAR-OPS 3 and the information contained in this

CAP and CAP 789 Requirements and Guidance Material for Operators.

1.4 The future European aviation regulations will reflect closely the requirements ofJAR-OPS 3 for Commercial Air Transport (CAT) (Helicopters) and this CAP will be

amended in due course to ensure alignment with the new requirements when they

are known.

2 Search and Rescue Air Operator's Certificate (SAR AOC)

2.1 The holder of a SAR AOC will only be approved to undertake SAR activities. Similar

CAT operations, e.g. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and air

ambulance, will comply with JAR-OPS 3, or future Operations Implementing Rules,

and will only be permitted under a CAT AOC. Therefore, to operate SAR and CAT, two

AOCs will be required.

2.2 The operator is to ensure that its organisation and management are suitable and

properly matched to the scale and scope of national and local operations. Procedures

for the supervision of the operation must be established in the Operations Manual.

2.3 In complying with the requirements detailed in paragraph 1.3:

a) SAR Helicopter Hoist Operations (SAR HHO) are to be conducted in accordance

with the requirements contained in JAR-OPS 3 except for the variations contained

in Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS 3.005(h) and this CAP for which a specific approval will

be required within the SAR AOC.

b) Night Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) operations with the aid of Night

Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS), for which a specific approval will be required

within the SAR AOC, are to be conducted in accordance with JAR-OPS 3 and any

supporting Temporary Guidance Leaflet (TGL) and/or CAP.

2.4 The operator is to establish and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) and a

Quality Management System (QMS) acceptable to the CAA.

2.5 The operator is to establish and maintain a Flight Time Limitation (FTL) Scheme

approved by the CAA.

2.6 SAR operations outside the UKSRR are subject to bilateral agreements with the

relevant states.

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Chapter 2 Page 2

3 Terminology

3.1 SAR

3.1.1 SAR is the activity of responding to tasking, locating and recovering persons either in

distress, potential distress or missing, delivering them to a place of safety and under

controlled circumstances recovering to an operational base.

3.1.2 Search An operation normally managed by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination

Centre or rescue sub-centres using available personnel, facilities and equipment to

locate persons in distress.

3.1.3 Rescue An operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical

or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety.

3.2 SAR Tasking Agency

3.2.1 A place where the launch and co-ordination or control of the SAR flight takes place,

e.g. Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

3.3 SAR Operating Base

3.3.1 A heliport at which the SAR crew members and the SAR helicopter are normally on

stand-by for SAR operations.

3.4 SAR Operating Site (on scene)

3.4.1 The position of the survivor(s) or a site selected by the commander for the purpose

of conducting a rescue.

3.5 SAR Operational Flight

3.5.1 A flight by a helicopter operating under a SAR AOC when tasked by the SAR Tasking

Agency, the purpose of which is to locate and deliver to a place of safety persons in

distress and recover to base. The procedures for this are to be defined by the operatorand approved by the CAA.

3.6 SAR Training Flight

3.6.1 A flight conducted for the purpose of training a SAR crew. This includes initial,

recurrent and advanced SAR training as defined by the operator and approved by the

CAA.

3.7 SAR Crew

3.7.1 The crew required to operate a helicopter on a SAR operational flight (flight crew

pilot/co-pilot; technical crewmember winch operator/winchman).

3.8 SAR Technical Crewmember3.8.1 A member of the crew (e.g. winch operator, winchman) other than flight crew who is

assigned to a helicopter SAR flight (operational or training) for the purpose of

operating specific aircraft and role equipment, assisting the flight crew during the

mission and attending to any person in need of life-saving assistance.

3.9 SAR Passenger

3.9.1 A person carried in a helicopter during a SAR flight (operational or training), who will

be one of the following:

specialist rescue or life-saving personnel;

medical personnel; ill or injured persons and other persons directly involved;

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Chapter 2 Page 3

survivors; and

other persons as approved by the CAA.

3.10 Survivor

3.10.1 Person in potential or actual distress, to whom the SAR operational flight is intended

to render assistance.3.11 Ground/Maritime Emergency Service Personnel

3.11.1 Any ground emergency service personnel (such as Maritime and Coastguard Agency

(MCA), Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), police, fire, ambulance, Mountain

Rescue Team (MRT), Armed Forces personnel, etc.) involved with SAR and whose

tasks are to any extent pertinent to helicopter SAR operations.

3.12 Place of Safety

3.12.1 A place where a survivor or SAR passenger may be delivered after rescue or recovery

at which there are additional services or where the prevailing circumstances are not

perceived to be life-threatening.

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Chapter 3 Page 1

Chapter 3 Operating Requirements

1 Operations Manual

1.1 The Operations Manual is to contain all instructions and information necessary for

operational personnel to perform their SAR duties.

1.2 The manual will describe the management and supervision of SAR operational and

training flights and the procedures used to launch a SAR operational flight.

Supervision of a SAR operational flight, and procedures for the control and oversight

of the tasking process, are to be established.

1.3 The CAA will approve the manual.

1.4 Appendix 1 lists regulations for which instructions and procedures for operating under

exemptions should be included in the Operations Manual.

2 Performance Requirements

2.1 Wherever possible, SAR operational flights should operate to the highest possible

performance standard.

2.2 When on a SAR operational flight, helicopter performance need not be considered

until rescue has been effected.

2.3 Once rescue has been effected, operations should be carried out in accordance with

defined Performance Classes, such as:

a) Helicopters conducting operations to/from a heliport at a hospital that is located in

a hostile congested environment are to be operated in accordance with JAR-OPS 3Subpart G Performance Class 1.

b) Helicopters conducting operations to/from a SAR operating site located in a hostile

environment shall as far as possible be operated in accordance with JAR-OPS 3

Subpart G Performance Class 1. The commander is to make every reasonable

effort to minimise the period during which there would be danger to helicopter

occupants and persons on the surface in the event of failure of a power unit.

c) The SAR operating site must be big enough to provide adequate clearance from all

obstructions. For night operations, the site must be illuminated (from the ground

or from the helicopter) to enable the site and any obstructions to be identified.

Equivalent procedures must be laid down for NVIS operations.

d) Guidance on take-off and landing procedures at previously unsurveyed SAR

operating sites are to be contained in the Operations Manual.

3 The SAR Crew

3.1 In addition to the requirements of JAR-OPS 3 Subparts N and O, the following apply

to SAR operations:

a) Selection

The Operations Manual is to contain specific criteria for the selection of SAR crew

members for the SAR task, taking previous experience into account.

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Chapter 3 Page 2

b) Crew qualifications and experience

i) Qualification. Each member of the flight crew should have an applicable and

valid licence (Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot's

Licence (ATPL) as appropriate to national requirements) and Instrument Rating.

ii) Experience. The minimum experience level for commanders conducting SAR

flights shall not be less than:

1,000 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) of aircraft of which 500 hours is as

PIC on helicopters; and

500 hours operating experience in helicopters gained in an operational

environment similar to the intended operation.

iii) Minimum winching experience should be based on HHO experience in

accordance with Appendix 1 to JAR-OPS 3.005(h).

iv) Pilots engaged in night operations should have 20 hours' VMC at night as PIC.

v) The crew should have successfully completed the operator's approved training

programme.

vi) Operators are to establish in the Operations Manual minimum experience and

recency levels for all SAR technical crew members.

c) Crew composition

The operator will ensure that the composition of the SAR crew is in compliance

with the Helicopter Flight Manual and that the Operations Manual reflects the

requirements for SAR as agreed by the CAA.

4 SAR Operating Minima

4.1 The operator is to specify the minima appropriate to SAR operational flights, SAR

training and any other categories of flight (e.g. air tests, positioning, demonstration

flights).

4.2 Operating minima for the dispatch and continuation of a SAR operational flight are at

the discretion of the aircraft commander. However, he must consider the urgency of

the task, crew and aircraft capability and the requirement to recover the aircraft safely.

4.3 SAR operations will require alleviations from the ANO. Examples of such alleviations

are contained in Appendix 1. The operator is to ensure that the Operations Manual

contains appropriate procedures.

5 Fuel Policy

5.1 The operator is to establish a fuel policy acceptable to the CAA.

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Chapter 4 Page 1

Chapter 4 Additional Requirements

1 Helicopter SAR Role and Medical Equipment

1.1 The installation of all helicopter dedicated SAR role and medical equipment and,where appropriate, its operation including any subsequent modifications are to besubject to airworthiness approval.

1.2 An operator shall ensure that procedures are established for the use of portableequipment on board.

2 Helicopter Communication Equipment

2.1 Helicopters conducting SAR operational flights are to be provided withcommunications equipment (in addition to that required by the ANO 2009Schedule 5 and JAR-OPS 3, Subpart L) capable of conducting two-waycommunication with the organisation for which SAR is being provided and, wherepossible, communicating with emergency service personnel. Any such additionalequipment will require airworthiness approval.

3 SAR Operating Base Facilities

3.1 If crew members are required to be on stand-by with a reaction time of less than 45minutes, dedicated suitable accommodation is to be provided close to each operatingbase.

3.2 At each operating base, the crew are to be provided with:

cloud base and visibility indicating and recording systems;

facilities for obtaining current and forecast weather information; and

satisfactory communications with the appropriate Air Traffic Services (ATS) unit.

Satisfactory facilities are to be available for the planning of all tasks.

4 Refuelling with Passengers on Board

4.1 Procedures are to be established for refuelling and de-fuelling with SAR passengerson board.

5 Passenger Safety

5.1 The operator is to establish procedures to ensure passenger safety.

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Chapter 5 Page 1

Chapter 5 Training and Checking

1 Training and Checking Programme

1.1 The operator is to establish a training and checking programme. This programmeshould establish procedures that are appropriate and relevant to the operating

environment.

1.2 The operator is to ensure that all SAR crews complete an initial SAR Crew Resource

Management (CRM) training course before flying operational SAR missions. The

operator will comply with JAR-OPS 3.943(b) and 3.943(c).

2 SAR Flight Crew Members

2.1 The operator is to ensure that SAR flight crews are trained in all specialisations of the

SAR role. This should include use of suitable simulator training.

2.2 The flight crew should satisfy JAR-OPS 3 Subpart N training requirements and the

following additional items:

a) meteorological training concentrating on the understanding and interpretation of

available weather information;

b) preparing the helicopter and specialist medical equipment for subsequent SAR

departure;

c) practice of SAR departures;

d) the assessment from the air of the suitability of SAR operating sites;

e) the medical effects air transport may have on the patient/survivor; and

f) liaison and training with other emergency services.

2.3 The flight crew should satisfy JAR-OPS 3 Subpart N checking requirements with the

following additional items:

a) VMC proficiency day and/or night checks as appropriate including the landing and

take-off profiles likely to be used at SAR operating sites.

b) Line checks, recurrent training and recency with special emphasis on the

following:

local area meteorology;

SAR flight planning;

SAR departures;

search patterns;

winching normal and emergency procedures;

the selection from the air of SAR operating sites to include land-based and

water-based rescue situations including vessels, offshore installations,

mountain and cliff situations etc.;

low-level flight in poor weather;

operations into local hospital sites;

poor weather recovery procedures; and mountain flying techniques where appropriate.

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Chapter 5 Page 2

3 SAR Technical Crew Member

3.1 The SAR technical crew member is to be trained in accordance with the requirements

of JAR-OPS 3 Subpart O with the following additional items:

a) duties in the SAR role;

b) navigation (map reading, navigation aid principles and use);

c) operation of radio equipment;

d) operation of specialist SAR equipment;

e) use of on-board medical equipment;

f) preparing the helicopter and specialist medical equipment for subsequent SAR

departure;

g) instrument reading, warnings, and use of normal and emergency check lists in

assistance of the pilots as required;

h) basic understanding of the helicopter type in terms of location and design ofnormal and emergency systems and equipment;

i) crew co-ordination;

j) practice of response to SAR call-out;

k) conducting refuelling and rotors-running refuelling;

l) SAR operating site selection and use;

m)techniques for handling patients/survivors, the medical consequences of air

transport and some knowledge of hospital casualty reception;

n) marshalling signals;

o) under-slung load operations as appropriate;

p) winch operations;

q) the dangers to self and others of rotors-running helicopters including loading of

patients/survivors; and

r) the use of the helicopter intercommunications system.

4 SAR Passengers

4.1 SAR passengers are to be briefed on the following, wherever possible and relevant:

a) familiarisation with the helicopter type(s) operated;

b) entry and exit under normal and emergency conditions;

c) use of the relevant on-board specialist medical equipment;

d) the need for the commander's approval prior to use of specialised equipment;

e) method of supervision of other medical staff;

f) the use of helicopter intercommunication systems;

g) location and use of on-board fire extinguishers; and

h) use of personal safety equipment.

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Chapter 5 Page 3

5 Ground Emergency Service Personnel

5.1 An operator will take all reasonable measures to ensure that ground emergency

service personnel are familiar with the following:

a) two-way radio communication procedures with helicopters;

b) the selection of suitable SAR operating sites for SAR flights;

c) the physical danger areas of helicopters;

d) crowd control in respect of helicopter operations; and

e) the evacuation of helicopter occupants following an on-site helicopter accident.

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Appendix1

Page1

Appendix 1 Exemptions from Regulations

The Operations Manual is to provide specific instructions and procedures for SAR crews to operate under th

following ANO regulations:

Item Subject Alleviation from Requirements

1 Certificate of Airworthiness To operate without passenger seats contrary to condition in

Helicopter Flight Manual.

2 Aerodrome/Heliport Operating Minima To permit take-off, approach to land and landing, but only in

respect of flights made for the purpose of SAR, without

complying with the aerodrome operating minima established.

3 Minimum Flight Altitudes To permit flights made for the purpose of SAR below an altitude

which would enable the said helicopter, in the event of the failure

of an engine, to reach a place at which it could safely land.

4 Selection of Heliports To permit lower minima than normally expected.

5 Routes and Areas of Operations Necessary alleviations to permit wide area and out of area

operations.

6 Departure and Approach Procedures To permit non-standard and unpublished procedures to be

conducted at airfield of departure or arrival.

7 All Weather Operations To permit Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) self-let-down procedures

over the sea.

8 Low Flying To fly below such a height as would enable an aircraft, in the

event of a power unit failure, to make an emergency landing

without causing danger to persons or property on the surface forthe purpose of SAR operations.

9 Low Flying To fly within 500 feet of any person, vessel, vehicle or structure;

for the purpose of identifying the vessel, animal, article or person,

or training any person authorised by the appropriate NAA.

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Appendix1

Page2

10 Low Flying To fly over a congested area of a city, town or settlement below a

height of 1,000 feet above the highest fixed obstacle within a

horizontal radius of 600 metres of the helicopter.

11 Fuel Policy To permit fuel states below those normally permitted.Conventional alternate fuel may not be required if a suitable place

to land with a suitable procedure is available.

12 Fuel Procedures To permit unorthodox fuel uplift as necessary.

13 Loading The person supervising the loading and engaged in the

preparation of the load sheet and the Commander of the said

helicopters are hereby exempt from the necessary provisions so

as to permit the load sheet to contain the particulars relating only

to the weight of the disposable load when the aircraft is operated

for the purpose of SAR.

14 Passenger Briefing The Commander may not be in a position to ensure that allpassengers are adequately briefed.

15 Passenger Passengers not secured in seats. Alternative procedures must be

established where there are insufficient seats available.

16 Performance To permit operating at any weight necessary to conduct SAR

operational flight.

17 Performance To operate to the highest Performance Class possible in the

circumstances.

18 Performance To permit operations to congested hostile areas/sites subject to

public interest site approval.

19 Performance To permit realistic training operations.

20 Performance Aircraft may not be able to demonstrate compliance with an

appropriate performance standard on SAR operational flights (en-

route or take-off Weight Altitude Temperature (WAT)).


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Appendix1

Page3

21 Dangerous Goods To permit carriage of Dangerous Goods used for SAR.

22 Minimum Equipment List (MEL) To allow continuation of SAR mission.

23 Training To permit realistic crew training in SAR techniques.

24 Training To permit SAR technical crew members to be carried during pilot

Licence Proficiency Check (LPC) / Operator Proficiency Check

(OPC).


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