Illustration of the authorisation regime related to helicopter flight.

The fundamental document regulating commercial helicopter services is the so-called “Air OPS Regulation”, i.e. Commission Regulation (EU) No. The fundamental document regulating commercial helicopter services is the so-called “Air OPS Regulation”, i.e. Commission Regulation (EU) No.965/2012 of 5 October 2012, which establishes the technical requirements and administrative procedures for air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The rules and technical requirements applicable to civil helicopter operations for commercial passenger services are contained in detail in the Easy Access Rules for Air Operations (“EAR for Air OPS”) issued by the EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). These rules regulate, from a technical standpoint, the performance of operations, minimum operating conditions, instrumentation, equipment, on-board documents, aeronautical communications, navigation, crew and aircraft maintenance.

As far as helicopters are concerned, there are three different categories identified on the basis of the weather conditions in which operations are carried out, the area in which operations are carried out, the number of passengers transported and the certification of the helicopter. These categories coincide with the performance classes (performance class 1, 2 and 3).

From the point of view of the subjective requirements of the operator, the reference directive is contained in the
Regulation (EC) No. 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community.
Operators holding AOCs are required to carry out commercial air operations in accordance with, among other things, Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency.

As far as Flight School activity is concerned, it is subject to the prior issue by ENAC of the Approved Training Organisation Certificate, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EU) no. 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011, which establishes the technical requirements and administrative procedures for civil aviation aircrew.

Eurotech S.r.l. is a certified training organisation under the EASA Easy Access Rules for Organisation Requirements for Aircrew (Part-ORA), with the privilege to provide training courses according to Part FCL (Easy Access Rules for Flight Crew Licencing), including the use of FSTDs (Flight Simulation Training Devices).