SUBPART A
Certification and Operations of International and National
Heliports
(a) This Part prescribes rules governing the
certification and operation of heliports intended to be either wholly or in
part used for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopter
operations. Coordination between the airports and the ECAA is required for
the implementation of this regulation. The requirements of ECAR Part 139 shall apply, where
appropriate, to these heliports as well. This revised Part shall be effective as of the date of issue outlined
in the footer of each Subpart.
Note. —The dimensions
discussed in this part are based on consideration of single main rotor
helicopters. For tandem rotor helicopters the heliport design will be based on
a case-by-case review of the specific models using the basic requirement for a
safety area and protection areas specified in this part.
(b) The interpretation of some of the
requirements in the ECAR expressly requires the exercising of discretion, the
taking of a decision or the performance of a function by operator. In other
requirements, the expression operator does not actually appear although its
inclusion is implied. In both cases, the decision for whatever determination or
action is necessary shall be approved from ECAA.
(c) The requirements in ECAR 138, shall apply
to all heliports intended to be used by helicopters . They shall apply equally
to areas for the exclusive use of helicopters at an aerodrome primarily meant
for the use of aeroplanes. Where relevant, the provisions of ECAR 139, shall apply to the helicopter
operations being conducted at such an aerodrome.
This Part contains requirements that prescribe the
physical characteristics and obstacle limitation surfaces to be provided for at
heliports, and certain facilities and technical services normally provided at a
heliport. It is not intended that these requirements limit or regulate the
operation of an aircraft.When designing a heliport, the critical design
helicopter, having the largest set of dimensions and the greatest maximum
take-off mass (MTOM) the heliport is intended to serve, would need to be
considered. It is to be noted that provisions for helicopter flight operations
are contained in ECAR Parts 121, 145, and 91.
When the following terms are used in this Part
they have the meanings given below. ECAR Part 139 contains definitions for
those terms which are used in both Parts. The following are definitions of
terms as used in this Part:
·
Accuracy:
A degree of conformance between the estimated or measured value and the true
value.
Note: For measured positional data the accuracy is
normally expressed in terms of a distance from a stated position within which
there is a defined confidence of the true position falling.
·
Air transit route: A defined route for the air transiting of helicopters.
·
Calendar: Discrete temporal reference system that provides the basis for
defining temporal position to a resolution of one day (ISO 19108*)., Geographic
information — Temporal schema).
·
Cyclic redundancy check (CRC): A mathematical
algorithm applied to the digital expression of data that provides a level of
assurance against loss or alteration of data.
·
Data quality: A degree or level of confidence
that the data provided meet the requirements of the data user in terms of
accuracy, resolution and integrity.
·
Datum: Any quantity or set of quantities that
may serve as a reference or basis for the calculation of other quantities (ISO
19104*). ,Geographic information — Terminology)
·
Declared distances - heliports:
(1) Take-off distance available (TODAH): The
length of the final approach and take-off area plus the length of helicopter clearway (if
provided) declared available and suitable for
helicopters to complete the take-off.
(2) Rejected take-off distance available
(RTODAH): The length of the final approach and take-off area declared available
and suitable for helicopters operated in
performance class 1 to complete a rejected take-off.
(3) Landing distance available (LDAH): The
length of the final approach and take-off area plus any additional area
declared available and suitable for helicopters to complete the landing
manoeuvre from a defined height.
·
Dynamic
load bearing surface: A surface capable of supporting the loads generated by a
helicopter conducting an emergency touch down on it.
·
Elevated
heliport: A heliport located on a raised structure on land.
·
Ellipsoid
height (Geodetic height): The height related to the reference ellipsoid, measured
along the ellipsoidal outer normal through the point in question.
·
Final
approach and take-off area (FATO).:A defined area over which the final phase of
the approach manoeuvre to hover or landing is completed and from which the
take-off manoeuvre is commenced. Where the FATO is to be used by helicopters
operated in performance class 1, the defined area includes the rejected
take-off area available.
·
Geodetic
datum: A minimum set of parameters required to define location and orientation
of the local reference system with respect to the global reference
system/frame.
·
Geoid:
The equipotential surface in the gravity field of the Earth which coincides
with the undisturbed mean sea level (MSL) extended continuously through the
continents.
Note.— The geoid is irregular in shape because of local gravitational
disturbances (wind tides, salinity, current, etc.) and the direction of gravity
is perpendicular to the geoid at every point.
·
Geoid
undulation: The distance of the geoid above (positive) or below(negative) the mathematical reference
ellipsoid.
Note.— In respect to the World Geodetic System — 1984
(WGS-84) defined ellipsoid, the difference between the WGS-84 ellipsoidal
height and orthometric height represents WGS-84 geoid undulation.
·
Gregorian calendar: Calendar in general use; first introduced in 1582 to
define a year that more closely approximates the tropical year than the Julian
calendar (ISO 19108, Geographic information — Temporal schema).
Note.— In the
Gregorian calendar, common years have 365 days and leap years 366 days divided
into twelve sequential months.
·
Helicopter
air taxiway: A defined path on the surface established for the air taxiing of
helicopters.
·
Helicopter
clearway: A defined area on the ground or water selected and/or prepared as a
suitable area over which a helicopter operated in performance class 1 may
accelerate and achieve a specific height.
·
Helicopter ground taxiway: A ground taxiway
intended for the ground movement of wheeled undercarriage
helicopters
·
Helicopter
stand : An aircraft stand which provides for parking a helicopter
and, where ground taxi operations are completed, or where the helicopter
touches down and lifts-off for air taxi operations)
·
Helideck:
A
heliport located on an off-shore structure such as an exploration or production
platform used for the exploitation of oil or gas.
·
Heliport:
An
aerodrome or a defined area on a structure intended to be used wholly or in
part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters.
·
Integrity
(aeronautical data) : A degree of assurance that an
aeronautical data and its value has not been lost nor altered since the data
origination or authorized amendment.
·
Obstacle : All fixed (whether
temporary or permanent) and mobile objects, or parts thereof, that:
(a) are located
on an area intended for the surface movement of aircraft; or
(b) extend
above a defined surface intended to protect aircraft in flight; or
(c) stand
outside those defined surfaces and that have been assessed as being a hazard to
air navigation.
·
Orthometric
height: Height of a point related to the geoid, generally presented
as an MSL elevation.
·
Protection
area: An area within a taxi-route and around a helicopter stand which provides
separation from objects, the FATO, other taxi-routes and helicopter stands, for
safe manoeuvring of helicopters.
·
Rejected take-off area: A defined area on a
heliport suitable for helicopters operating in performance class 1 to complete
a rejected take-off.
· Safety area: A defined area on a heliport
surrounding the FATO which is free of obstacles, other than those required for
air navigation purposes, and intended to reduce the risk of damage to
helicopters accidentally diverging from the FATO.
·
Shipboard
heliport: A heliport located on a ship that may be purpose or non-purpose
built. A purpose…built shipboard heliport is one designed specifically for
helicopter operations.Anon- purpose built
shipboard heliport is one that
utilizes an area of the ship that is capable of supporting a helicopter but not designed specifically for that task.
·
Static
load-bearing surface: A surface capable of supporting the mass of a helicopter
situated upon it.
·
Station declination : An alignment variation
between the zero degree radial of a VOR and true north, determined at the time
the VOR station is calibrated .
·
Surface level heliport: A heliport located on
the ground or on the water.
·
Taxi-route: A defined path established for the
movement of helicopters from one part of a heliport to another. A taxi-route
includes a helicopter air or ground taxiway which is centred on the taxi-route.
·
Touchdown
and lift-off area (TLOF): An area on which a helicopter may touchdown or lift
off.
·
Winching
area: An area provided for the transfer by helicopter of personnel or stores to
or from a ship .
138.5 Standards
and procedures for compliance with the certification and operations
requirements of this Part
(a) The requirements prescribed in this Part shall apply to all heliports
and must be complied with
in a manner acceptable to the ECAA. Egyptian Civil Aviation Advisory Circulars
contain standards and procedures that are acceptable to the ECAA for compliance
with this Part. Some of these advisory circulars are referenced in specific
sections of this Part. The standards and procedures in them, or other standards
and procedures approved by the ECAA, may be used to comply with those sections.
Heliports used for military operations only are excluded from complying with
the provisions contained in Part 138. Heliports must comply with the provisions
contained in this Part and other related documents, and such provisions must be
contained in the heliport certification manual.
(b) Wherever a colour is referred to in this Part, the
requirements for that colour given in Appendix 1 of ECAR Part 139 shall apply.
(c) The requirements of this revised Part that include the operative verb “shall” or “must’ are considered mandatory as of the date of
effectiveness of this revised Part.
(d) In the event of non compliance with
a requirement of this revised Part that include the operative verb "should”, the
heliport operators shall submit a relevant compliance plan with those
requirements at the date of effectiveness of this revised Part to be reviewed and approved by ECAA prior to
certification.
138.7 Common reference systems
(a) Horizontal reference system:
(1) World Geodetic System - 1984 (WGS-84) shall
be used as the horizontal (geodetic) reference system. Reported aeronautical
geographical coordinates (indicating latitude and longitude) shall be expressed
in terms of the WGS-84 geodetic reference datum.
Note: Comprehensive guidance material concerning WGS-84 is contained in ECAR Part 173.
(b) Vertical reference system:
(1) Mean
sea level (MSL) datum, which gives the relationship of gravity-related height
(elevation) to a surface known as the geoid, shall be used as the vertical
reference system.
Note 1: The geoid globally most
closely approximates MSL. It is defined as the equipotential surface in the
gravity field of the Earth which coincides with the undisturbed MSL extended
continuously through the continents.
Note 2: Gravity-related heights
(elevations) are also referred to as orthometric heights while distances of
points above the ellipsoid are referred to as ellipsoidal heights.
(c) Temporal reference system:
(1) The
Gregorian calendar and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) shall be used as the
temporal reference system.
(2) When a different temporal reference system
is used, this shall be indicated in GEN 2.1.2 of the Aeronautical Information
Publication (AIP).
138.9 through 138.99 Reserved