Comparison between Performance Requirements for Certification and Performance Requirements for Operation of Transport Category Rotorcraft

Abstract

In order to achieve aviation safety, integrity of two pillars is essential: product and operations. Regarding product integrity of transport category rotorcraft, its requirements are established in USA by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 29, as Categories A and B. Regarding rotorcraft operations, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has established Performance Classes 1, 2 and 3 in its Annex 6 Part III, determining they shall occur under a Code of Performance established by the State of the Operator. Should operations neglect certification requirements, particularly certification performance operating limitations, the intended protection (i.e., aviation safety) remains, therefore, unassured. This is possibly the case with offshore operations, pushed by a supposed commercial viability (increased payload) for oil and gas industry. Aiming to clarify it, the authors critically peruse through an exploratory and qualitative research of historical and bibliographic documentation of both rotorcraft certification and operation issued by ICAO and FAA and, in doing so, enhance understanding of the overlaps and complementarity (or otherwise) of certification and operational performance requirements for transport category rotorcraft.