| (a) |
shall operate an aeroplane other than an aeroplane referred to in paragraph (b)— |
| (i) |
when flying over water and beyond gliding distance of land in the case of the aeroplane not capable of continuing the flight to an aerodrome with the critical power-unit becoming inoperative at any point along the route or any planned diversion; |
| (ii) |
when taking off or landing at an aerodrome where the take-off or approach path is so disposed over water that in the event of an incident, there would be a likelihood of a ditching, |
unless such aeroplane is equipped with a flotation device or a life jacket containing a survivor locator light, for each person on board, stowed in a position easily accessible, with safety belt fastened, from the seat or berth of the person for whose use it is provided, and an individual infant flotation device, containing a locator survival light for use by each infant on board;
| (b) |
shall operate a seaplane or amphibious aeroplane unless such seaplane or amphibious aeroplane is equipped with— |
| (i) |
a flotation device or a life jacket containing a survivor locator light, for each person on board, stowed in a position easily accessible, with safety belt fastened, from the seat or berth of the person for whose use it is provided, and an individual infant flotation device, containing a survivor locator light, for use by each infant on board; and |
| (ii) |
life jackets, other than the life jackets referred to in subparagraph (i), for 20 per cent of the number of persons on board such seaplane or amphibious aeroplane, located in the passenger compartment near the emergency exits and readily accessible; |
| (c) |
shall operate a helicopter over water beyond autorotative distance from land, other than only for take-off and initial climb, or final approach and landing, unless— |
| (i) |
each person on board is wearing a life jacket containing a survivor locator light; and |
| (ii) |
an individual infant flotation device containing a locator survival light for use by each infant on board, stowed in a position easily accessible for the person in which care the infant is; and |
| (d) |
shall operate a free balloon or airship over a body of water that may pose a risk of drowning to any person on board such free balloon or airship unless the operator has put in place appropriate floatation devices or alternative drowning preventative measures. |
| (2) |
No person shall operate the following helicopters over water unless such helicopter is certificated as an amphibian helicopter or for ditching or is equipped with permanent or rapidly deployable emergency flotation equipment— |
| (a) |
a performance Class 3 helicopter operating below a height that would permit the helicopter to complete an autorotation to a landing on land in the event of an engine failure; |
| (b) |
a performance Class 1 or 2 helicopter operating in a hostile environment more than 10 minutes from land that would be unable to maintain flight to a suitable landing site in the event of an engine failure; or |
| (c) |
a performance Class 1 helicopter operating in a non-hostile environment at a distance from land equivalent to 30 minutes at normal cruising speed or 50 nautical miles, whichever is the lesser: |
Provided that in the case of aerial spraying operations over water, the owner or operator may apply to the Director for an exemption in terms of Part 11.
| (3) |
Sea state shall be an integral part of ditching information. |
Older Persons Act, 2006
