EASA launches Part-SPO for specialised operations

Flying activities currently known as ‘Aerial Work’ will fall under a new EASA regulation called Part-SPO (SPO = Specialised Operations) from next April. It includes activities such as agriculture, construction, photography, surveying, observation, patrol and aerial advertisements.

The CAA held a workshop recently for operators who might be affected by Part-SPO where it quickly became clear that EASA’s definition of what is ‘commercial’ and ‘non-commercial’ is causing confusion.

When EASA says ‘commercial’, it means Commercial Air Transport – airlines. This is what is currently known as ‘Public Transport’ in the UK.

When EASA uses the phrase ‘non-commercial’, it means everything else, whether it is a business activity or personal flying. Most General Aviation falls into the ‘non-commercial’ category. The current terms ‘Aerial Work’ and ‘Private’ will disappear from next April.

Part-SPO does not apply to personal flights by individual pilots unless they are engaged in one or more of the activities listed as a specialised operation for money. Aerobatics is listed but at the moment it’s not entirely clear whether this applies to private pilots as well as businesses offering aerobatic flights.

Specialised Operations include:

1. Helicopter external loads operations
2. Helicopter survey operations
3. Human external cargo operations
4. Parachute operations and skydiving
5. Agricultural flights
6. Aerial photography flights
7. Glider towing
8. Aerial advertising flights
9. Calibration flights
10. Construction work flights, including stringing power line operations, clearing saw operations
11. Oil spill work
12. Avalanche mining operations
13. Survey operations, including aerial mapping operations, pollution control activity
14. News media flights, television and movie flights;
15. Special events flights, including such as flying display and competition flights
16. Aerobatic flights
17. Animal herding, animal rescue flights and veterinary dropping flights
18. Maritime funeral operations
19. Scientific research flights (other than those under Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008)
20. Cloud seeding
21. Sensational flights: flights involving extreme aerobatic manoeuvres carried out for the purpose of allowing the persons on board to experience zero gravity, high G-forces or similar sensations.

What operators have to do

Operators engaged in commercial specialised operations or engaged in non-commercial specialised operations using a complex motor-powered aircraft must submit a declaration to the CAA about their operation. In addition, a commercial operator conducting a high-risk specialised operation must also apply for and obtain an authorisation.

“One thing that will come out of the declaration process is that it will inform the CAA of the size and type of SPO tasks – and thus inform the oversight and enforcement approach,” said Geoff Parker, who is Flight Operations Policy Lead at the CAA.

Mr Palmer was at pains to insist the CAA would offer a ‘light and proportional touch’ and that certain areas of Part-SPO were still being worked through as to exactly how they will be applied. The declaration process will be online and cost ú112 per aircraft for an initial declaration (ú80 to amend). The online form has yet to go live – that’s expected early in 2017.

Operators who complete the online form should print the declaration and carry a copy in the aircraft. They do not have to wait for a response from the CAA. The CAA will only respond if it thinks there is an issue with the declaration.

All operators established or residing in an EASA State who are conducting specialised operations need to make the declaration, regardless of the State of Registry of the aircraft.

Operators should refer to the EASA regulation and to the Acceptable Means of Compliance material developed by EASA. The CAA is also devoting a part of its website to Part-SPO and will be publishing updates there. Until Part-SPO becomes effective from 21 April 2017, current rules for Aerial Work under the ANO apply.

LINKS
EASA regulations
EASA Part-SPO Acceptable Means of Compliance
CAA Part-SPO website