GENERAL NOTICE
NOTICE 263 OF 1998
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
AVIATION ACT, 1962 PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS, 1997
Under section 22 of the Aviation Act, 1962 (Act No. 74 of 1962), the Minister of Transport hereby publishes the proposed Amendments to the Civil Aviation Regulations, as set out in the Schedule. Any comments or representations on these proposed regulations should be lodged in writing with the Director-General: Transport (Chief Directorate: Civil Aviation Authority) for attention Mr. E. Marik, Private Bag X193, Pretoria, 0001, Fax No. (012) 323-7007 or E-mail at Marines@NDOT.PWV.GOV.ZA, by 31 MARCH 1998. The purpose of the proposed amendment is set out in explanatory paragraphs following each recommended amendment.
SCHEDULE
Definition
In these regulations "The Regulations" means the Civil Aviation Regulations, 1997, published by Government Notice No. R. 1255 of 17 October 1997, as amended by Government Notice No. R. 1735 of 24 December 1997.
The PASA, a member section of the Aero Club of S.A., has always been the body responsible for Organising, licensing and Controlling Sport Parachuting in S.A.
Their standards are based on experience gathered over the years and on those of the major parachuting nations of the world, most notably the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and the British Parachute Association (BRA), and adapted to suit local conditions and laws.
Some of the Aviation Regulations contained in Part 105 of the Civic Aviation Regulations as published in the Government Gazette of 26 September 1997 do not conform with our existing standards and those applied by the organisations mentioned above.
The PASA therefore proposes the amendment of the following Civil Aviation Regulations: Note: the wording in bold is where the amendment is suggested.
SUBPART 1
General Provisions
Current regulation:
105.01.7 (b)
A person carrying out a tandem parachute descent, who shall activate the main parachute at not less than 000 feet AGL.
Proposed amendment: L
105.01.7 (b) ,
A person carrying out a tandem parachute descent, who shall activate the main parachute at not less than 4,000 feet AGL.
Motivation:
This is in accordance with the altitude requirements as stated in the existing PASA manual; the owner's manuals of the manufacturers of the two types of Tandem equipment in common use in S.A.; the USPA's manual.
Current regulation:
105.01 .16
Each person making a parachute descent from an unpressurised aircraft shall—
Proposed amendment:
105.01 .16
Each person making a parachute descent from an unpressurised aircraft shall
Motivation:
This is in accordance with the altitude requirements as stated in: the existing PASA manual and the USPA's manual.
Most of the parachute clubs affiliated to PASA are located on airfields in the Gauteng, Free State, North West, Northern and Mpumalanga Provinces. These locations are mostly above 3 000 ft AMSL.
The common exit altitude of 10 000 ft AGL requires aircraft to operate above FL130 but below FL150. The PASA and USPA altitude classifications are contained in the respective manuals. The minimal time the jumpers usually spend above 10 000 ft altitude does not necessitate supplemental oxygen. (a) and (b) above would cover those jumps w1we Hypoxia could be a safety concern.
Descent above FL130 105.01.18
Current regulation:
Each person making a parachute descent from above FL130 shall comply with the standards, procedures and training requirements determined by the body or institution designated by the Commissioner in terms of Part 149, for high altitude descents.
Proposed regulation:
Descent above FL150
Each person making a parachute descent from above FL150 shall comply with the standards, procedures and training requirements determined by the body or institution designated by the Commissioner in terms of Part 149, for intermediate altitude descents.
Motivation:
This is in accordance with the altitude requirements as stated in: the existing PASA manual and the USPA's manual.
Current regulation:
Descent above Fi250 1 05.01.20
Each person making a parachute descent from above FL250 unless he or she has the prior written approval of the body or institution designated by the Commissioner in terms of Part 149.
Proposed regulation:
Descent above Fi200 1 05.01.20
Each person making a parachute descent from above Fi200 unless he or she has the prior written approval of the body or institution designated by the Commissioner in terms of Part 149.
Motivation:
This is in accordance with the altitude requirements as stated in: the existing PASA manual and the USPA's manual.
SUBPART 2 Parachute Equipment
Current regulation: 1 05.02.5
Each person or Tandem pair making a free-fall descent of more than 10 seconds shall—
Proposed regulation: 1 05.02.5
Each student parachutist or solo Jumper making a free-fall descent of more than 15 seconds shall
Motivation:
This is in accordance with the requirements as stated in the existing PASA manual.
Under our current system, student parachutists are initially trained to develop a time versus altitude awareness for descents up to and including 15 seconds. Thereafter they are trained in the care, use and limitations of altimeters as a back up to this time/altitude awareness.
Tandem masters are currently required to wear and use altimeters on all descents.
There are requirements for the use of altimeters by persons involved in group jumping already in place.
Automatic activation devices
Current regulation:
1 05.02.06
Each student parachutist or tandem master making a parachute descent and every person making a parachute descent from above FL130, shall, in addition to regulation 105.02.2, be equipped with an automatic activation device on the reserve parachute, which has been—
Proposed regulation:
1 05.02.06
Each student parachutist or tandem master making a parachute descent and every person making a parachute descent from above FL200, shall, in addition to regulation 105.02.2, be equipped with an automatic activation device on the reserve parachute, which has been—
Motivation:
Currently most Parachute Associations World Wide, including PASA, mandate the use of MD's for student parachutist and Tandem master use, and highly recommend that all parachutists use them. However no association that I am aware of, mandates them for senior jumpers, or by an altitude requirements. The above amendment would be in line with the current PASA and USPA requirements and would further tie in with the altitude classification of High Altitude jumping.
The PASA further proposes the withdrawal of the following Civil Aviation Regulations:
SUBPART 3 Parachute Maintenance
105.03.4 (2) A person shall not modify or repair a main parachute used by a student parachutist or a Tandem pair without the written approval of the manufacturer.
Proposed regulation:
105.03.4—Consisting only of paragraph (1) as currently printed. : iT~}
Motivation:
The requirements of Subpart 3, excluding this paragraph, are sufficient to ensure the safe maintenance of all types of parachuting equipment. us p(Gra
The standards, techniques, materials and equipment utilised by properly rated and certificated technicians, currently and as defined by these regulations and the PASA's manual, do not differ for the maintenance and repair of the equipment mentioned in (2) above. Manufacturer's approval is not specifically required.