EXEMPTION FROM PARAGRAPH 702.19 (b) OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION REGULATIONS

Pursuant to subsection 5.9(2) of the Aeronautics Act, and after taking into account that the exemption is in the public interest and is not likely to affect aviation safety, I hereby exempt helicopter pilots-in-command and helicopter air operators from the requirements as set out in Paragraph 702.19(b) of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), subject to the following conditions.

Paragraph 702.19(b) states that the pilot-in-command of a helicopter may permit a person to enter or leave the helicopter in flight where the helicopter is operated to enable hoisting or rappelling and the air operator complies with Section 702.21.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this exemption is to authorize helicopter pilots-in-command and helicopter air operators to conduct rappelling operations without having to comply with the standards for helicopter Class D external loads operations as per Section 722.21 of the Commercial Air Services Standards (CASS).

APPLICATION

This exemption applies to helicopter pilots-in-command and helicopter air operators when conducting rappelling operations pursuant to subpart 702 of the CARs.

CONDITIONS

This exemption is granted subject to the following conditions:

1. Operations shall be conducted under day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions while the helicopter maintains a stabilized hover;

2. The longitudinal and lateral centre of gravity shall be calculated for disembarking operations and shall not exceed the limitations of the applicable flight manual;

3. The operating weight shall be calculated and shall not exceed the applicable weight/altitude/temperature (WAT) hover performance charts for the helicopter type and configuration at the operating altitude;

4. A spotter, fully trained in rappelling operations, shall be carried at all times during rappelling operations. This spotter shall carry equipment that will allow the rappelling ropes(s) to be cut rapidly or released under tension in the event of emergency;

5. After persons rappelling have disembarked, the aircraft shall remain in the hover and the spotter will remove the rappel rope(s) and drop it (them) to the ground before the helicopter departs the area;

6. Communication protocols for normal and emergency procedures will be established between the pilot-in-command and the spotter. This will include procedures to be followed in the event of an electrical communications failure;

7. Persons to be disembarked shall have been instructed on related hazards and techniques;

8. Crew members shall be trained in accordance with section 722.76 of the CARs;

9. Any equipment or cargo to be unloaded shall be secured to prevent shifting in flight except during unloading;

10. The rappelling procedures referred to in this exemption are not to be used or adapted for worksite positioning of personnel while they are suspended beneath a helicopter;

11. Rappelling operations shall not be conducted for any purpose other than law enforcement operations, forest fire suppression operations, urban fire fighting operations, or rescue operations and;

12. The air operator's Company Operations Manual shall include disembarking operational procedures involved in rappelling, briefing procedures and crew member training requirements.

VALIDITY

This exemption is in effect until the earliest of the following:

1. 24:00 EST on 31 May, 2006;
2. The date on which amendments to the appropriate provisions of the CARs come into effect;
3. The date on which any of the conditions set out in this exemption are breached; or
4. The date on which this exemption is cancelled in writing by the Minister where he is of the opinion it is no longer in the public interest or that it is likely to effect aviation safety.

Dated at Ottawa, Canada, this 3^rd day of June, 2003 on behalf of the Minister of Transport.

Original Signed by Franz Reinhardt for

Merlin Preuss
Director General Civil Aviation

Date de modification :

2006-10-0