S.I. No. 50/1996 - Air Navigation (Personnel Licensing) (Amendment) Order, 1996.

1. The purpose of this Amendment Order is as follows:—

(

a

) to update, clarify, and where appropriate prescribe, the technical requirements of Schedule I for the grant and renewal of the following:—

—the student pilot licence — aeroplane and helicopter;

—the private pilot licence — aeroplane and helicopter;

—the commercial pilot licence — aeroplane and helicopter;

—the airline transport pilot licence — aeroplane and helicopter;

—the flight instructor rating;

—the instrument rating — aeroplane and helicopter; and

—type and class ratings — aeroplane and helicopter.

(

b

) to update, clarify, and where appropriate prescribe, the technical requirements of Schedule VI for the logging and crediting of flight time;

(

c

) to abolish the requirement for the senior commercial pilot licence;

(

d

) to extend the duration of the validity of the airline transport pilot licence, for licence holders under 40 years of age, to 12 months; and

(

e

) to set out the transitional arrangements for the abolition of the senior commercial pilot licence;

2. The information contained in this Amendment Order is in conformance with the international standards for Personnel Licensing of the eighth edition of Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

3. Instrument Rating Requirements — Helicopter

The requirements for an instrument rating (helicopter) shall be as follows:—

(1)

Pre-Requisite

The applicant shall hold at least a private pilot licence (helicopter).

(2)

Knowledge

The applicant shall have demonstrated a level of knowledge appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of an instrument rating (helicopter), in at least the following subjects:—

(

a

)

Air Law

rules and regulations relevant to flight under IFR; related air traffic services practices and procedures;

(

b

)

Helicopters — General Knowledge

(i) use, limitation and serviceability of avionics and instruments necessary for the control and navigation of helicopters under IFR and in instrument meteorological conditions; use and limitations of autopilot;

(ii) compasses, turning and acceleration errors; gyroscopic instruments, operational limits and precision effects; practices and procedures in the event of malfunctions of various flight instruments;

(

c

)

Flight Performance and Planning

(i) pre-flight preparation and checks appropriate to flight under IFR;

(ii) operational flight planning; preparation and filing of air traffic services flight plans under IFR; altimeter setting procedures;

(

d

)

Human Performance and Limitations

human performance and limitations relevant to instrument flight in helicopters;

(

e

)

Meteorology

(i) application of aeronautical meteorology; interpretation and use of reports, charts and forecasts; codes and abbreviations; use of, and procedures for obtaining, meteorological information; altimetry;

(ii) causes, recognition and effects of engine, airframe and rotor icing; frontal zone penetration procedures; hazardous weather avoidance;

(

f

)

Navigation

(i) practical air navigation using radio navigation aids;

(ii) use, accuracy and reliability of navigation systems used in departure, en-route, approach and landing phases of flight; identification of radio navigation aids;

(

g

)

Operational Procedures

(i) interpretation and use of aeronautical documentation such as AIP, NOTAM, aeronautical codes and abbreviations, and instrument procedure charts for departure, en-route, descent and approach;

(ii) precautionary and emergency procedures; safety practices associated with flight under IFR; and

(

h

)

Radiotelephony

Radiotelephony procedures and phraseology as applied to aircraft operations under IFR: action to be taken in case of communication failure.

(3)

Examination

The oral examination shall be based on a syllabus determined by the Authority, and shall have particular reference to the classes and types of helicopter for which the rating is sought.

(4)

Experience

(

a

) The applicant shall hold a private, commercial pilot or airline transport pilot licence (helicopter) and have not less than 50 hours cross-country flight time as pilot-in-command in helicopters or aeroplanes of which not less than 10 hours shall be in helicopters and have undergone satisfactorily a course of approved flight training for the issue of the instrument rating comprised of at least the following:—

(i) not less than 50 hours by sole reference to instruments in aeroplanes or helicopters under the supervision of a duly authorised instrument flight instructor of which up to 20 hours may be instrument ground time in an approved flight procedures trainer, or up to 35 hours in an approved flight simulator. The remaining instrument flight instruction time shall include at least 15 hours in helicopters certificated or approved by the Authority for flight by sole reference to instruments and, of which not less than 5 hours shall be in the helicopter type in respect of which the applicant wishes to qualify.

(

b

) The holder of a commercial pilot licence (helicopter) may apply to the Authority to have the experience requirements of sub-paragraph (

a

) (i) reduced by not more than 5 hours.

(

c

) Flight time shall be credited in accordance with the requirements of Schedule VI to this Order.

(5)

Flight Instruction

The applicant shall have received training from a duly authorised instrument flight instructor who shall ensure that the applicant has experience in at least the following:—

(i) pre-flight procedures for IFR flight, including the use of the flight manual, appropriate air traffic services documents and other relevant publications in the preparation of a flight plan;

(ii) pre-flight inspection, use of checklists, taxiing and pre-take-off checks;

(iii) procedures and manoeuvres for IFR operation under normal, abnormal and emergency conditions covering at least:—

—transition from visual to instrument flight on take-off;

—standard instrument departures and arrivals;

—en-route IFR procedures;

—holding procedures;

—missed approach procedure;

—landings from instrument approaches; and

—circle to land — if appropriate.

(iv) in-flight manoeuvres and particular flight characteristics; and

(v) as appropriate, operation of a multi-engine helicopter in the above exercises, including operation of the helicopter by sole reference to instruments with one engine simulated inoperative.

(6)

Skill-Helicopters

The applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Authority the ability to perform the procedures and manoeuvres described in paragraph 3 (5) with a degree of competency appropriate to the privileges granted to the holder of an instrument rating (helicopter); and to

(i) operate the helicopter within its limitations;

(ii) complete all manoeuvres with smoothness and accuracy;

(iii) exercise good judgement and airmanship;

(iv) apply aeronautical knowledge; and

(v) maintain control of the helicopter at all times in a manner such that the successful outcome of a manoeuvre or procedure is never seriously in doubt.

(7)

Renewal of Rating

The applicant for the renewal of an instrument rating (helicopter) shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Authority the ability to perform the procedures and manoeuvres described in paragraph 3(5) in a helicopter with a degree of competency appropriate to the holder of an instrument rating (helicopter).

(8)

Medical Requirements

The applicant shall meet the medical requirements specified for the commercial pilot licence in Article 34 of the Principal Order.

4. Instrument Rating Privileges — Helicopter

The privileges of the holder of a valid Instrument Rating (Helicopter) and the limitations to be observed in exercising such privileges are as follows:—

(1) To pilot helicopters, under instrument flight rules.

(2) Before exercising the privileges of an instrument rating on multi-engined helicopters the holder of the rating shall have demonstrated the ability to operate multi-engined helicopters by sole reference to instruments, with one engine inoperative or simulated inoperative.

PART VII

TYPE AND CLASS RATINGS — AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS

S.I. No. 50 of 1996.

AIR NAVIGATION (PERSONNEL LICENSING) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1996.

The Irish Aviation Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by

Section 5

,

6

,

59

,

60

and

75

of the

Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993

(No. 29 of 1993), and having informed the Minister of Transport, Energy and Communications of its intention to make the Order and of its purpose under Section 5 subsection 8 of the Act hereby orders as follows:—

PART I PRELIMINARY