SUBPART E

Approval of Routes: Air Carriers and Air Taxis

 

121.91 Applicability

This subpart prescribes rules for obtaining approval of routes by air carriers and air taxis.

 

121.93 Route requirements: General

(a)  Each air carrier seeking a route approval must show:

(1) That it is able to conduct satisfactorily scheduled operations between each airport over that route or route segment; and

(2) That the facilities and services, required by this Part, are available and adequate for the proposed operation. The ECAA may approve a route outside of controlled airspace if it determines that traffic density is such that an adequate level of safety can be assured.

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not require actual flight over a route or route segment if the air carrier shows that the flight is not essential to safety, considering the availability and adequacy of airports, lighting, maintenance, communication, navigation, fueling, ground, and aircraft radio facilities, and the ability of the personnel to be used in the proposed operation.

 

121.95 Route width

Approved routes and route segments over Egyptian airways or foreign airways (and advisory routes in the case of air carriers) have a width equal to the designated width of those airways or routes. Whenever the ECAA finds it necessary to determine the width of other approved routes, the following will be considered:

(a)    Terrain clearance;

(b)   Minimum en route altitudes;

(c)    Ground and airborne navigation aids;

(d)   Air traffic density;

(e)    ATS procedures; and

(f)     Any route widths of other approved routes determined by the ECAA will be specified in the air carrier's operations specifications.

 

121.97 Airports: Required data

(a)  Each air carrier and air taxi must show that each route it submits for approval has enough airports that are properly equipped and adequate for the proposed operation, considering such items as size, surface, obstructions, facilities, public protection, lighting, navigational and communication aids, and ATS.

(b) Each air carrier and air taxi must show that it has an approved system for obtaining, maintaining, and distributing to appropriate personnel current aeronautical data for each airport it uses to ensure a safe operation at that airport. The aeronautical data must include the following;

(1)   Airports:

(i)    Facilities;

(ii)   Public protection;

(iii)  Navigational and communications aids;

(iv)  Construction affecting takeoff, landing or ground operations; and

(v)   Air traffic facilities.

(2)   Runways, clearways and stopways:

(i)    Dimensions;

(ii)   Surface;

(iii)  Marking and lighting systems;

(iv)  Elevation; and

(v)   Gradient.

(3)   Displaced thresholds:

(i)    Location;

(ii)   Dimensions; and

(iii)  Takeoff or landing or both.

(4)   Obstacles:

(i)    Those affecting takeoff and landing performance computations in accordance with subpart I of this Part; and

(ii)   Controlling obstacles.

(5)   Instrument flight procedures:

(i)    Departure procedure;

(ii)   Approach procedure; and

(iii)  Missed approach procedure.

(6)   Special information:

(i)    Runway visual range measurement equipment; and

(ii)   Prevailing winds under low-visibility conditions.

(c) If the ECAA finds that changes are necessary for the continued adequacy of the certificate holder’s system for collection, dissemination, and usage of aeronautical data that has been granted approval, the certificate holder shall, after notification by the ECAA, make those changes in the system. Within 30 days after the certificate holder receives such notice, the certificate holder may file a petition to reconsider the notice with the ECAA. This filing of a petition to reconsider stays the notice pending a decision by the ECAA. However, if the ECAA finds that there is an urgency that requires immediate action in the interest of safety in air transportation, the ECAA may, upon statement of the reasons, require a change effective without stay.

 

121.99 Communication facilities

Each air carrier and air taxi must show that a two-way air/ground radio communication system is available at points that will ensure reliable and rapid communications, under normal operating conditions over the entire route (either direct or via approved points) between each aircraft and the appropriate dispatch office, and between each aircraft and the appropriate air traffic service unit.    

 

121.101 Weather reporting facilities

(a) Each air carrier and air taxi must show that enough weather reporting services are available along each route to ensure weather reports and forecasts necessary for the operation.

(b) Each air carrier and air taxi shall adopt and put into use an approved system for obtaining forecasts and reports of adverse weather phenomena, such as clear air turbulence, thunderstorms, and low altitude wind shear, that may affect safety of flight on each route to be flown and at each airport to be used.

 

121.103 En route navigational facilities

(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, each air carrier and air taxi must show, for each proposed route, that non-visual ground aids are:

(1) Available over the route for navigating aircraft within the degree of accuracy required for ATS; and

(2) Located to allow navigation to any airport, within the degree of accuracy necessary for the operation involved. Except for those aids required for routes to alternate airports, non-visual ground aids required for approval of routes outside of controlled airspace are listed in the air carriers operations specifications.

(b) Non-visual ground aids are not required for:

(1)   Day VFR operations that the air carrier shows can be conducted safely by pilotage because of the characteristics of the terrain;

(2)   Night VFR operations on routes that the air carrier shows have reliably lighted landmarks adequate for safe operation; and

(3) Operations on route segments where the use of celestial or other specialized means of navigation or any time it is deemed necessary for the safe conduct of the flight, a Flight Navigator licensed under the provision of Part 63 or equivalent must be approved for use by the ECAA.

 

121.105 Servicing and maintenance facilities

Each air carrier and air taxi must show that competent personnel and adequate facilities and equipment (including spare parts, supplies, and materials) are available at such points along the air carrier route as are necessary for the proper servicing, maintenance, and preventive maintenance of aircraft and auxiliary equipment.

 

121.107 Dispatch centers

(a)    Each air carrier must show that it has enough dispatch center staff, adequate for the operations to be conducted, that are located at points necessary to ensure proper operations control of each flight.

(b)    Dispatch centers shall be supported by an adequate number of dispatchers, holding a current dispatcher license without type rating and approved by the AOC holder on the applicable aircraft (after successfully achieving the appropriate approved training and skill demonstration tests).

 

121.111Through 121.123 Reserved

 

121.125 Flight following system

(a) Each certificate holder must show that it has:

(1) An approved flight following or flight locating system established in accordance with subpart U of this Part and adequate for the proper monitoring of each flight, considering the operations to be conducted; and

(2) Flight following centers located at those points necessary:

(i)        To ensure the proper monitoring of the progress of each flight with respect to its departure at the point of origin and arrival at its destination, including intermediate stops and diversions therefrom, and maintenance or mechanical delays encountered at those points or stops; and

(ii)      To ensure that the pilot in command is provided with all information necessary for the safety of the flight.

(b) A certificate holder may arrange to have flight following facilities provided by persons other that its employees, but the certificate holder continues to be responsible for operational control of each flight.  Such a third party arrangement must be approved in the certificate holder’s operations specification.

(c) A flight following system need not provide for in-flight monitoring by a flight following center.

(d) The certificate holder’s operations specifications specify the flight following system it is authorized to use and the location of the centers.

 

121.127 Flight following system: Requirements

 (a) Each air carrier or air taxi operator using an operations control or flight following system must show that:

(1) The system has adequate facilities and personnel to provide the information necessary for the initiation and safe conduct of each flight to:

(i)    The cockpit crew of each aircraft; and

(ii) The persons designated by the air carrier or air taxi operator to perform the function of operational control of the aircraft.

(2) The system has a means of communication by private or available public facilities (such as telephone, telegraph, or radio) to monitor the progress of each flight with respect to its departure at the point of origin and arrival at its destination, including intermediate stops and diversions therefrom, and maintenance or mechanical delays encountered at those points or stops.

(b) The certificate holder must show that the personnel specified in paragraph(a) of this section, and those it designates to perform the function  of  operational  control  of the aircraft are holding a current dispatcher license without type rating and approved by the AOC holder on the applicable aircraft (after successfully achieving the appropriate approved training and skill demonstration tests).

 

121.129 Reserved