S.I. No. 568/2001 - Irish Aviation Authority (Rules of the Air) Order, 2001

Type Statutory Instrument
Publication 2001-12-14
Last updated 2004-02-20
State Repealed superseded text
Text As published
articles 1

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

2 amending acts · 2004-02-20, S.I. No. 72/2004 - Irish Aviation Authority (Rules of the Air) Order, 2004

Reform history JSON API

The Irish Aviation Authority, in pursuance of sections 58 and 60 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (No. 29 of 1993) as amended by the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998 (No. 24 of 1998), hereby orders as follows -

1.

1.

(1) This Order may be cited as the Irish Aviation Authority (Rules of the Air) Order, 2001.

“the Act” means the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993 (No. 29 of 1993) as amended;

“aircraft” means any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth's surface;

“direction” means a direction issued by the Authority;

“the Authority” means the Irish Aviation Authority;

“prescribed” means prescribed by a direction given by the Authority under this Order or under any other Order or by a direction or Order issued pursuant to a provision of the Act.

3.

Directions under this Order may be published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (Ireland) including its amendments and supplements or given in the form of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), Aeronautical Information Circulars or Aeronautical Notices [to Aircraft Owners, Operators and Engineers] or by notice sent by registered post or other means directly to the person affected.

4.

This Order shall, save where the contrary intention appears, apply to all aircraft when in or over the State and to aircraft registered in the State wherever they may be but, in relation to aircraft registered in the State, when in or over the territory of another state, this Order shall apply only insofar as its provisions do not conflict with any rules made by that other state relating to flights over its territory.

5.

The operation of an aircraft, whether in flight or on the manoeuvering area of an aerodrome or heliport, shall be in compliance with Articles 2 to 18 of this Order and the Rules in Part II of the Schedule to this Order and, when in flight, with the Visual Flight Rules in Part III of the Schedule to this Order or the Instrument Flight Rules in part IV of the Schedule to this Order, as may be appropriate.

6.

(1) The pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall, whether manipulating the controls or not, be responsible for the operation of the aircraft in compliance with this Order except that he may depart from a provision of this Order in circumstances where such departure is necessary in the interests of safety.

7.

It shall be the responsibility of a pilot-in-command to determine whether the weather conditions expected or encountered during a flight are such as to enable him to conduct or continue the flight in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules, or will require him to comply with the Instrument Flight Rules.

8.

(1) If it appears to the Authority or an authorised officer that an aircraft has been or is intended or is likely to be flown from any place within the State in such circumstances that the flight was or would be in contravention of the Act or any of the Orders or Directions thereunder, including this Order, or was or would be a cause of danger to persons or property, the Authority or the authorised officer, may investigate any incident or circumstances concerned and may direct the operator of the aircraft or the person designated by the operator to act as pilot-in-command of the aircraft not to make the flight (where not already undertaken) and the Authority or authorised officer may take such steps as are necessary to detain that aircraft.

“authorised officer” has the meaning ascribed to it by the Act and “operator” means any person, organisation or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation and, in relation to any particular aircraft, having at the relevant time the management of that aircraft.

9.

Control zones, control areas, controlled airspace (and associated classifications) and flight information regions shall be such as may be prescribed from time to time.

10.

The Authority may prescribe points in the State between or over which aircraft arriving in the State from outside the State or leaving the State shall pass.

11.

Navigation of aircraft in the State shall be subject to such provisions as may be prescribed by the Authority in a direction under this Order or, more generally by an Order or a direction under the Act, and any such provisions shall have effect notwithstanding anything in the Rules in the Schedule to this Order.

12.

Where the Authority grants permission to an aircraft to fly at a lower height than that required by Rule 3 (1) and 3 (2) in Part II of the Schedule to this Order, such conditions and limitations as are specified in the permission shall be complied with in respect of that aircraft.

13.

The pilot-in-command shall have final authority as to the disposition of the aircraft.

14.

No person whose function is critical to the safety of aviation, i.e. safety-sensitive personnel, shall undertake that function while under the influence of any pyschoactive substance, by reason of which human performance is impaired. No such person shall engage in any kind of problematic use of substances.

15.

Nothing in this Order shall operate or have effect to -

16.

The Authority may give directions for carrying out the purposes of this Order and may exempt a person or an aircraft from any provision of this Order subject to any conditions specified which shall be complied with by that person or the pilot in command of that aircraft.

17.

Nothing in this Order shall be construed as preventing a departure from a provision of this Order including the Rules in the Schedule to this Order to such extent as may be necessary to avoid immediate danger.

18.

The Rules of the Air set out in the Schedule to this Order shall have effect subject to the foregoing Articles of this Order.

19.

(1) The Air Navigation (Rules of the Air) Order, 1999 ( S.I. No. 20 of 1999 ) is hereby revoked;

SCHEDULE ARRANGEMENT OF RULES

PART I Definitions

Rule Page Number
1. Definitions. 10

PART II General Flight Rules

Protection of Persons and Property

2. Negligent or Reckless Operation. 21
3. Minimum Heights. 21
4. Cruising Levels. 23
5. Dropping of Persons and Articles and Aerial Application. 28
6. Towing, Picking up and Raising of Persons, Articles and Materials. 29
7. Descent of Persons by Parachute. 30
8. Acrobatic Flight and Formation Flights. 30
9. Airspace Restrictions. 31

Avoidance of Collisions

10. Proximity. 32
11. Right of Way. 32
12. Lights. 34
13. Simulated Instrument Flight. 36
14. Flight Instruction. 36
15. Operation on and in the vicinity of an Airport. 36

Water Operations

16. Risk of Collision. 37
17. Converging. 37
18. Approaching head-on. 37
19. Overtaking. 38
20. Landing or Taking-off. 38
21. Lights to be displayed by aircraft on the water. 38
22. Aircraft on the water: compliance with appropriate other regulations. 38

Information on Flights

23. Flight Plans. 38
24. Signals. 42
25. Time. 42

Classification of ATS Airspace

26. Airspace classifications and associated ATS Services provided. 42

Air Traffic Control Service

27. Air Traffic Control Clearance. 43
28. Adherence and Changes to Flight Plan. 44
29. Arrival and Departure of aircraft. 47
30. Communications. 47
31. Communications Failure. 48
32. Instrument Approach Procedure. 49
33. Unlawful Interference. 50

PART III Visual Flight Rules

34. General Rules for VFR Flights. 50
35. Change from VFR to IFR Flight. 53

PART IV Instrument Flight Rules

Rules Applicable to all IFR Flights

36. Aircraft Equipment. 53
37. Minimum Levels. 53
38. Change from IFR Flight to VFR Flight. 54
39. Rules Applicable to IFR flights within controlled airspace. 54
40. Rules applicable to IFR flights outside controlled airspace. 54
41. Communications. 55

PART V Signals

42. Distress, Urgency and Safety Signals. 55
43. Visual signals used to warn unauthorised aircraft flying in, or about to enter a Restricted, Prohibited or Danger Area. 56
44. Signals for the Control of Aerodrome Traffic. 57
45. Marshalling Signals. 58

PART VI Rules for Lights

46. Navigation lights to be displayed by aeroplanes and Helicopters. 58
47. Lights to be displayed by aircraft other than aeroplanes and helicopters. 61

PART VII Unmanned Free Balloons

48. Operation of Unmanned Free Balloons. 61

Explanatory note

(Not part of the order. Not a legal document)

SCHEDULE RULES OF THE AIR

PART I Definitions

1. In these Rules -

“acrobatic flight” means manoeuvres intentionally performed by an aircraft involving an abrupt change in its attitude, an abnormal attitude, or an abnormal variation in speed;

“ADS Agreement” means an Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) reporting plan which establishes the conditions of ADS data reporting;

“advisory airspace” means advisory areas or advisory routes;

“advisory area” means an area designated by the appropriate ATS authority within a flight information region where an Air Traffic Advisory Service is available;

“advisory route” means a route within a flight information region along which an air traffic advisory service is available;

“aerial application” means the dropping of material from an aerial work aircraft for the purpose of forestry, agriculture, horticulture or aquaculture;

“aerial work” means an aircraft operation in which an aircraft is used for such specified services such as agriculture, construction, photography, surveying, observation and patrol, search and rescue, aerial advertisement, among others;

“aerial work aircraft” means an aircraft, not being a commercial transport aircraft, which is being flown for payment required to be made, or promised, to the operator of the aircraft in respect of the flight or of the purpose for which the flight is made;

“aerodrome” means a defined area on land or water (including any buildings, installations and equipment) intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft and also includes an area, whether on land or water or on a building or other structure or elsewhere, intended for use for landing or taking off by aircraft capable of descending or climbing vertically;

“aerodrome control service” means air traffic control service for aerodrome traffic;

“aerodrome control tower” means a unit providing air traffic control service to aerodrome traffic;

“aerodrome traffic” means all traffic on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome and all aircraft entering, leaving or in an aerodrome traffic circuit;

“aerodrome traffic zone” means an airspace of dimensions defined by the appropriate ATS authority and established by such authority around an aerodrome for the protection of aerodrome traffic;

“aeronautical information publication” (AIP) means a publication issued by or with the authority of a state and containing aeronautical information essential for air navigation;

“aeronautical mobile telecommunications service” means a telecommunications service between aircraft stations and aeronautical stations or between aircraft stations;

“aeronautical station” means a station (including on board ship or on a platform at sea) in the aeronautical mobile service;

“aeroplane” means a power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft, deriving its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight;

“airship” means a power-driven lighter-than-air aircraft;

“air-ground communication” means a two-way communication between aircraft and stations or locations on the surface of the earth;

“air-ground control radio station” means an aeronautical telecommunication station having primary responsibility for handling communications pertaining to the operation and control of aircraft in a given area;

“air-taxing” means the movement of a helicopter above the surface of an aerodrome, normally in ground effect and at a speed normally less than 37 km/h (20 kt);

“air traffic” means all aircraft in flight or operating on the manoeuvring area of an aerodrome;

“air traffic advisory service” means a service provided by the appropriate ATS authority within advisory airspace to ensure separation, in so far as practical, between aircraft which are operating on IFR flight plans;

“air traffic control clearance” means authorisation for an aircraft to proceed under conditions specified by an air traffic control unit. The term may be abbreviated to “clearance” and may be prefixed by the word “taxi”, “take-off”, “departure”, “en-route”, “approach”, or “landing”, to indicate the particular portion of flight to which the air traffic control clearance relates;

“air traffic control service” means a service provided for the purpose of:

“air traffic control unit” includes area control centre, approach control office and aerodrome control tower;

“air traffic service” (ATS) includes the following service, namely, flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, air traffic control service, area control service, approach control service and aerodrome control service;

“air traffic services airspaces” means airspaces of dimensions defined and alphabetically designated by the appropriate ATS authority within which specific types of flights may operate and for which air traffic services and rules of operation are specified;

“air traffic services reporting office” means a unit provided by the appropriate authority either as a separate unit or combined with another unit, for the purpose of receiving reports concerning air traffic services and flight plans submitted before departure;

“air traffic services unit” includes air traffic control unit, flight information centre and air traffic services reporting office;

“airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS)” means an aircraft system based on secondary surveillance radar (SSR) transponder signals which operates independently of ground-based equipment to provide advice to the pilot on potential conflicting aircraft that are equipped with SSR transponders;

“airway” means a control area or portion thereof established by the appropriate ATS authority in the form of a corridor equipped with radio navigation aids;

“alerting service” means a service provided by the appropriate ATS authority to notify appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid and to assist such organisations as required;

“alternate aerodrome” includes -

“alternate heliport” means a heliport specified in the flight plan to which a flight may proceed when it becomes inadvisable to land at the heliport of intended landing;

“altitude” means the vertical distance of a level, a point or an object considered as a point, measured from mean sea level (MSL);

“anti-collision light” means -

“approach control office” means a unit established by the appropriate ATS authority to provide air traffic control service to controlled flights arriving at, or departing from, one or more aerodromes;

“approach control service” means air traffic control service for arriving or departing controlled flights;

“appropriate ATS authority” means in relation to the State, the Authority and, in relation to any other state, the relevant authority designated by the state which has responsibility for the provision of air traffic services in the airspace concerned, and in relation to those parts of the high seas where, pursuant to a regional air navigation agreement, a state has accepted responsibility for the provision of air traffic services, the relevant authority designated by that state;

“appropriate authority” means in relation to the State, the Authority, and in relation to any other state, the relevant authority of the state having sovereignty over the territory being overflown, and in the case of flight over the high seas, the relevant authority of the state in which the aircraft concerned is registered;

“apron” means a defined area at a land aerodrome intended to accommodate aircraft for the purposes of loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo or for fuelling, parking or maintenance;

“area control centre” means a unit established by the appropriate ATS authority to provide air traffic control service to controlled flights in control areas under its jurisdiction;

“area control service” means air traffic control service for controlled flights in control areas;

“area navigation” means a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any desired flight path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids or within the limits of the capability of self-contained aids, or a combination of these;

“area navigation route” means an ATS route established by the appropriate ATS authority for the use of aircraft capable of employing area navigation;

“ATC” means the symbol used to designate air traffic control;

“ATS” means the symbol used to designate air traffic services;

“ATS route” means a route specified by the appropriate ATS authority designed for channelling the flow of traffic as necessary for the provision of air traffic services (including an airway, an advisory route, a controlled or uncontrolled route, an arrival route or a departure route);

“Automatic Dependent Surveillance” (ADS) means a surveillance technique in which aircraft automatically provide, via a data link, data derived from on-board navigation and position-fixing systems, including aircraft identification, four-dimensional position and additional data as appropriate;

“attitude” means the angles made by the axes of an aircraft in flight or on the ground with the relative airflow or with the ground respectively;

“automatic terminal information service” means the provision of current, routine information to arriving and departing aircraft by means of continuous and repetitive broadcasts throughout the day or a specified part of the day;

“balloon” means a non-power-driven lighter-than-air aircraft;

“base turn” means a turn executed by the aircraft during the initial approach between the end of the outbound track and the beginning of the intermediate or final approach track, the tracks not being reciprocal;

“ceiling” means the height above the ground or water as the case may be of the base of the lowest layer of cloud which is below 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) covering more than half the sky;

“change-over point” means the point at which an aircraft navigating on an ATS route segment defined by reference to very high frequency omnidirectional radio ranges is expected to transfer its primary navigational reference from the facility behind the aircraft to the next facility ahead of the aircraft;

“clearance limit” means the point to which an aircraft is granted an air traffic control clearance;

“congested area” means in relation to a city, town or settlement, an area substantially used for residential, commercial or recreational purposes without adequate safe forced landing areas;

“control area” means a controlled airspace extending upwards from a specified limit above the earth specified by the appropriate ATS authority;

“controlled aerodrome” means an aerodrome at which air traffic control service is provided by the appropriate ATS authority to aerodrome traffic;

“controlled airspace” means an airspace of defined dimensions designated by the appropriate ATS authority within which air traffic control service is provided in accordance with the airspace classifications in Rule 26 of this Schedule; controlled airspace is a generic term which covers ATS airspace of Classes A, B, C, D and E as described in Annex 11 to the Convention at section 2.6;

“controlled flight” means any flight which is subject to an air traffic control clearance;

“controller-pilot data link communications” (CPDLC) means a means of communication between controller and pilot using data link for ATC communications;

“control zone” means a controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface of the earth to an upper limit specified by the appropriate ATS authority;

“cruise climb” means an aeroplane cruising technique resulting in a net increase in altitude as the aeroplane mass decreases;

“cruising level” means a level maintained during a significant portion of a flight;

“current flight plan” means the flight plan together with any changes caused by subsequent clearances;

“danger area” means an airspace of dimensions specified by the appropriate ATS authority within which activities dangerous to the flight of aircraft may exist at specified times;

“data link communications” means a form of communication intended for the exchange of messages via a data link;

“estimated off blocks time” means the estimated time at which an aircraft will commence movement associated with departure;

“estimated time of arrival” means for IFR flights, the time at which it is estimated that the aircraft will arrive over that designated point, defined by reference to navigation aids, from which it is intended that an instrument approach procedure will be commenced, or, if no navigation aid is associated with the aerodrome, the time at which the aircraft will arrive over the aerodrome. For VFR flights, the time at which it is estimated that the aircraft will arrive over the aerodrome;

“expected approach time” means the time at which an air traffic control unit expects that an arriving aircraft, following a delay, will leave the holding point to complete its approach for a landing;

“filed flight plan” means the flight plan as filed with an air traffic service unit by the pilot or a designated representative, without any subsequent changes;

“flight crew member” means a crew member licensed in accordance with the appropriate requirements and charged with duties essential to the operation of an aircraft during a flight duty period;

“flight information centre” means a unit established by the appropriate ATS authority to provide flight information service and alerting service;

“flight information region” means an airspace of defined dimensions designated by the appropriate ATS authority within which flight information service and alerting service are provided;

“flight information service” means a service provided by the appropriate ATS authority for the purpose of giving advice and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flights;

“flight level” means a surface of constant atmospheric pressure which is related to a specific pressure datum of 1013.2 hectopascals (hPa) and is separated from other such surfaces by specific pressure intervals;

“flight plan” means specified information provided to air traffic services units, relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight of an aircraft;

“flight status” means an indication of whether or not a given aircraft requires special handling by air traffic services units or not;

“flight time” means the total time from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own or external power for the purpose of taking-off until the moment it comes to rest at the end of the flight;

“flight visibility” means the visibility forward from the cockpit of an aircraft in flight;

“glider” means a non-power-driven heavier-than-air aircraft deriving its lift in flight from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under given conditions of flight;

“ground visibility” means the visibility at an aerodrome, as reported by an observer accredited by the appropriate authority;

“heading” means the direction in which the longitudinal axis of an aircraft is pointed, usually expressed in degrees from North (true, magnetic, compass or grid);

“heavier-than-air aircraft” means any aircraft deriving, its lift in flight chiefly from aerodynamic forces;

“height” means -

“helicopter” means a heavier-than-air aircraft supported in flight chiefly by the reactions of the air on one or more power driven rotors on substantially vertical axes;

“heliport” means an area of land water or structure used or intended to be used for the take-off and landing of helicopters;

“holding point” means -

“IFR” means the symbol used to designate the Instrument Flight Rules;

“IFR flight” means a flight conducted or obliged to be conducted in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules;

“IMC” means the symbol used to designate Instrument Meteorological Conditions;

“Instrument Approach Procedure” means a series of predetermined manoeuvres by reference to flight instruments with specified protection from obstacles from the initial approach fix, or where applicable, from the beginning of an arrival route as defined by the appropriate ATS authority to a point from which a landing can be completed and thereafter, if a landing is not completed, to a position at which holding or en-route obstacle clearance criteria apply;

“Instrument Flight Rules” means the Rules in Part IV of this Schedule;

“Instrument Meteorological Conditions” means meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling, less than the minima specified in Rule 34 of this Order for Visual Meteorological Conditions;

“landing area” means that part of the movement area intended for the landing or take-off of aircraft;

“level” means the vertical position of an aircraft in flight and includes height, altitude or flight level;

“lighter-than-air aircraft” means any aircraft supported by its buoyancy in the air;

“manoeuvring area” means that part of an aerodrome used for the take-off, landing and taxing of aircraft, excluding aprons;

“movement area” means that part of an aerodrome used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the manoeuvring area and the apron(s);

“night” means the hours between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, or such other period between sunset and sunrise as may be specified by the appropriate authority. In or over the State, “night” shall be deemed to be, during the period beginning on the 1st day of April, and ending on the 30th day of September, the time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, and during the remainder of the year, the time between sunset and sunrise, and for the purpose of this definition sunset shall be determined at surface level;

“operator” means a person, organisation or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation and who, in relation to any particular aircraft has at the relevant time the management of that aircraft;

“Performance Class I” means, in relation to a helicopter, performance such that, in the case of critical power unit failure, it is able to land on the rejected take-off area or safely continue the flight to an appropriate landing area, depending on when the failure occurs;

“Performance Class 2” means, in relation to a helicopter, performance such that in the case of critical power unit failure, it is able to safely continue the flight, except when the failure occurs prior to a defined point after take-off or after a defined point before landing, in which case a forced landing may be required;

“Performance Class 3” means, in relation to a helicopter, performance such that, in the case of power unit failure at any point in the flight profile, a forced landing must be performed;

“pilot-in-command” means the pilot designated by the operator of an aircraft, or in the case of general aviation, the registered owner of the aircraft, as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of a flight by that aircraft;

“pressure altitude” means an atmospheric pressure expressed in terms of altitude which corresponds to that pressure in the Standard Atmosphere as defined in Annex 8 to the Chicago Convention;

“problematic use of substances” means the use of one or more psychoactive substances by aviation personnel in a way that constitutes a direct hazard to the user or endangers the lives, health or welfare of others or causes or worsens an occupational, social mental or physical problem or disorder;

“power-unit” means a system of one or more engines and ancillary parts which are together necessary to provide thrust, independently of any other power-unit(s), but not including short period thrust producing devices;

“prohibited area” means airspace of defined dimensions designated by the appropriate authority above the land areas of the country or territorial waters thereof, within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited by such authority;

“psychoactive substances” means alcohol, opoids, cannabinoids, sedatives and hypnotics, cocaine other psychostimulants, hallucinogens and volatile solvents, whereas coffee and tobacco are excluded;

“radiotelephony” means a form of radio communication primarily intended for the exchange of information in the form of speech;

“regional air navigation agreements” means agreements approved by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation on the advice of regional air navigation meetings;

“repetitive flight plan” means a flight plan related to a series of frequently recurring, regularly operated individual flights with identical basic features, submitted by an operator for retention and repetitive use by air traffic services units;

“reporting point” means a specified geographical location in relation to which the position of an aircraft can be reported;

“restricted area” means an airspace of defined dimensions designated by the appropriate authority above the land areas of a country or the territorial waters thereof, within which the flight of aircraft is restricted by the appropriate authority in accordance with certain specified conditions;

“runway” means a defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft;

“runway visual range” means the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centre line of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its centre line;

“runway-holding position” means a designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation surface, or an ILS/MLS critical or sensitive area at which taxiing aircraft or vehicles shall stop and hold, unless otherwise authorised by the aerodrome control tower to proceed.

“safety sensitive personnel” means persons who might endanger aviation safety if they perform their duties and functions improperly, including, but not limited to, flight and cabin crew members, aircraft maintenance personnel and air traffic controllers;

“safe forced landing” means an unavoidable landing or ditching with a reasonable expectancy of no injuries to persons in the aircraft or on the surface or of no significant damage to property;

“SELCAL” means a system which permits the selective calling of individual aircraft over radio-telephone channels linking a ground station with an aircraft;

“signal area” means an area on an aerodrome used for the display of ground signals;

“special VFR flight” has the meaning assigned to it in Rule 34(4) of this Schedule;

“taxiing” means the movement of an aircraft on the surface of an aerodrome under its own power, excluding take-off and landing, and in the case of helicopters including air-taxiing, that is, operation over the surface of an aerodrome within a height band associated with ground effect and at speeds associated with taxiing;

“taxiway” means a defined path on a land aerodrome established for the taxiing of aircraft and intended to provide a link between one part of the aerodrome and another including rapid exit taxiway, that is, a taxiway connected to a runway at an acute angle and designed to allow landing aeroplanes to turn off at higher speeds than are achieved on other exit taxiways;

“terminal control area” means a control area normally established by the appropriate ATS authority at the confluence of ATS routes in the vicinity of one or more major aerodromes;

“track” means the projection on the earth's surface of the path of an aircraft, the direction of which path at any point is usually expressed in degrees from North (whether true, magnetic or grid);

“traffic avoidance advice” means advice provided by an air traffic services unit specifying manoeuvres to assist a pilot to avoid a collision;

“traffic information” means information issued by an air traffic services unit to alert a pilot to other known or observed air traffic which may be in proximity to the position or intended route of flight and to help the pilot avoid a collision;

“transition altitude” means the altitude at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is controlled by reference to altitudes;

“unmanned free balloon” means a non-power-driven, unmanned, lighter-than-air aircraft in free flight;

“VFR” means the symbol used to designate the Visual Flight Rules;

“VFR flight” means a flight conducted in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules;

“visibility” for aeronautical purposes is the greater of:-

a)

the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground can be seen and recognised when observed against a bright background;

b)

the greatest distance at which a black object of suitable dimensions, situated near the ground, can be seen and identified against an unlit background;

Note: The two distances above have different values in air of a given extinction coefficient and the b) varies with the background illumination. a) is represented by the meteorological optical range (MOR);

“Visual Meteorological Conditions” means meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling equal to or better than the minima specified in Rule 34 of this schedule;

“VMC” means the symbol used to designate Visual Meteorological Conditions;

“way-point” means a specified geographical location used to define an area navigation route or the flight path of an aircraft employing area navigation.

PART II General Flight Rules

Protection of Persons and Property

Rule

2. Negligent or Reckless Operation

An aircraft shall not be operated in a negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger life or property.

3. Minimum heights

whichever height is the greatest.

whichever height is the greater;

4. Cruising Levels

TABLE OF CRUISING LEVELS

Track (See Rule 4(2))

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees1

IFR Flights IFR Flights VFR Flights VFR Flights
Flight Level Altitude(Feet) Flight Level Altitude(Feet)
-90 - - -
10 1,000 - -
30 3,000 35 3,500
50 5,000 55 5,500
70 7,000 75 7,500
90 9,000 95 9,500
110 11,000 115 11,500
130 13,000 135 13,500
150 15,000 155 15,500
170 17,000 175 17,500
190 19,000 195 19,500
210 21,000 215 21,500
230 23,000 235 23,500
250 25,000 255 25,500
270 27,000 275 27,500
290 29,000
310 31,000
330 33,000
350 35,000
370 37,000
390 39,000
410 41,000
450 45,000
490 49,000
etc. etc.

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees1

IFR Flights IFR Flights VFR Flights VFR Flights
Flight Level Altitude(Feet) Flight Level Altitude(Feet)
0 - - -
20 2,000 - -
40 4,000 45 4,500
60 6,000 65 6,500
80 8,000 85 8,500
100 10,000 105 10,500
120 12,000 125 12,500
140 14,000 145 14,500
160 16,000 165 16,500
180 18,000 185 18,500
200 20,000 205 20,500
220 22,000 225 22,500
240 24,000 245 24,500
260 26,000 265 26,500
280 28,000 285 28,500
300 30,000
320 32,000
340 34,000
360 36,000
380 38,000
400 40,000
430 43,000
470 47,000
510 51,000
etc. etc.

TABLE OF CRUISING LEVELS

Track (See Rule 4(2))

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees1

IFR Flights IFR Flights VFR Flights VFR Flights
Flight Level Altitude(Feet) Flight Level Altitude(Feet)
-90 - - -
10 1,000 - -
30 3,000 35 3,500
50 5,000 55 5,500
70 7,000 75 7,500
90 9,000 95 9,500
110 11,000 115 11,500
130 13,000 135 13,500
150 15,000 155 15,500
170 17,000 175 17,500
190 19,000 195 19,500
210 21,000 215 21,500
230 23,000 235 23,500
250 25,000 255 25,500
270 27,000 275 27,500
290 29,000 300 30,000
330 33,000 340 34,000
370 37,000 380 38,000
410 41,000 420 42,000
450 45,000 460 46,000
490 49,000 500 50,000
etc. etc. etc. etc.

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees1

IFR Flights IFR Flights VFR Flights VFR Flights
Flight Level Altitude(Feet) Flight Level Altitude(Feet)
0 - - -
20 2,000 - -
40 4,000 45 4,500
60 6,000 65 6,500
80 8,000 85 8,500
100 10,000 105 10,500
120 12,000 125 12,500
140 14,000 145 14,500
160 16,000 165 16,500
180 18,000 185 18,500
200 20,000 205 20,500
220 22,000 225 22,500
240 24,000 245 24,500
260 26,000 265 26,500
280 28,000 285 28,500
310 31,000 320 32,000
350 35,000 360 36,000
390 39,000 400 40,000
430 43,000 440 44,000
470 47,000 480 48,000
510 51,000 520 52,000
etc. etc. etc. etc.

5. Dropping of persons and articles, aerial application and aerial work

6. Towing, Picking-up and Raising of Persons, Articles and Materials

7. Descent of Persons by Parachute

8. Acrobatic Flight and Formation Flights

9. Airspace Restrictions

Avoidance of Collisions

10. Proximity

11. Right of Way

When two aircraft are approaching head-on or approximately so and there is danger of a collision, each shall alter its heading to the right;

Except when flying in controlled airspace and in accordance with instructions issued by the appropriate air traffic control unit, an aircraft which is flying within the State in sight of the ground and following a road, railway, canal or coastline, or any other line of landmarks, shall keep such line of landmarks on its left.

12. Lights

Except as provided for in paragraph (4) of this Rule, all aircraft in flight by night within the State or operating in the movement area of an aerodrome by night shall display:

Aircraft in flight or operating in the movement area by day shall display anti-collision lights, if fitted;

Aircraft when stationary on the apron if a power-unit is operating, shall display a red anti-collision light, if fitted;

When a helicopter is stationary with its rotor running on an offshore installation, heliport or apron for the purpose of the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers or the loading or unloading of cargo, it may switch off its anti-collision light in accordance with a procedure set out in the operations manual of the helicopter as a signal to ground personnel that it is safe to approach the helicopter.

13. Simulated Instrument Flight

14. Flight Instruction

Flight instruction and, in particular, authorisation for solo flying shall be such as to ensure that an aircraft piloted by a student pilot does not constitute a hazard to air navigation, persons or property.

15. Operation on and in the vicinity of an Aerodrome

Water Operations

16. Risk of Collision

When two aircraft or an aircraft and a vessel are approaching one another on the water and there is a risk of collision, the aircraft shall proceed with careful regard to existing circumstances and conditions including the limitations of the respective craft.

17. Converging

An aircraft which has another aircraft or vessel on its right on the water shall give way so as to keep well clear.

18. Approaching head-on

An aircraft approaching another aircraft or a vessel head-on, or approximately so, shall alter its heading to the right to keep well clear.

19. Overtaking

An aircraft or vessel on the water which is being overtaken has right of way, and the aircraft overtaking shall alter its heading so as to keep well clear.

20. Landing or taking-off

Aircraft landing on or taking-off from the water shall, so far as practicable, keep well clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation.

21. Lights to be displayed by aircraft on the water

Between sunset and sunrise or such other period between sunset and sunrise as may be prescribed by the Authority, all aircraft on the water shall display lights of the types described in Part VI of this Schedule unless:-

Aircraft on the water: compliance with appropriate other regulations

22. Aircraft on the water shall, in addition to complying with Rules 16 to 21, have regard to the provisions of the Collision Regulations (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Orders, 1984 to 1993 and amendments thereto where these provisions are applicable to aircraft on the water.

Information on Flights

23. Flight Plans

Information relative to an intended flight or portion of a flight, to be provided to an air traffic services reporting office before departure or to any other appropriate air traffic services unit during flight, shall be in the form of a flight plan.

A flight plan shall be submitted prior to operating -

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