The Air Navigation Order 2009

PART 17Towing and Dropping

Towing of gliders

126.—(1) An aircraft in flight must not tow a glider unless the flight manual for the towing aircraft includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.

(2) The length of the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope and glider in flight must not exceed 150 metres.

(3) The commander of an aircraft which is about to tow a glider must be satisfied, before the towing aircraft takes off that—

(a)the tow rope is in good condition and is of adequate strength for the purpose;

(b)the combination of towing aircraft and glider, having regard to its performance in the conditions to be expected on the intended flight and to any obstructions at the place of departure and on the intended route, is capable of safely taking off, reaching and maintaining a safe height at which to separate the combination;

(c)after separation the towing aircraft can make a safe landing at the place of intended destination;

(d)signals have been agreed and communication established with persons suitably stationed so as to enable the glider to take off safely; and

(e)emergency signals have been agreed between the commander of the towing aircraft and the commander of the glider, to be used, respectively, by the commander of the towing aircraft to indicate that the tow should immediately be released by the glider, and by the commander of the glider to indicate that the tow cannot be released.

(4) The glider must be attached to the towing aircraft by means of the tow rope before the aircraft takes off.

Operation of self-sustaining gliders

127.  A self-sustaining glider must not take off under its own power.

Towing, picking up and raising of persons and articles

128.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this article, an aircraft in flight must not, by means external to the aircraft, tow any article, other than a glider, or pick up or raise any person, animal or article, unless—

(a)there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid for that aircraft under the law of the country in which the aircraft is registered; and

(b)that certificate or the flight manual for the aircraft includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.

(2) An aircraft must not launch or pick up tow ropes, banners or similar articles other than at an aerodrome.

(3) An aircraft in flight must not tow any article, other than a glider, at night or when flight visibility is less than one nautical mile.

(4) The length of the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope, and article in tow, must not exceed 150 metres.

(5) A helicopter must not fly at any height over a congested area of a city, town or settlement at any time when any article, person or animal is suspended from the helicopter.

(6) A passenger must not be carried in a helicopter at any time when an article, person or animal is suspended from the helicopter, other than—

(a)a passenger who has duties to perform in connection with the article, person or animal;

(b)a passenger who has been picked up or raised by means external to the helicopter; or

(c)a passenger who it is intended will be lowered to the surface by means external to the helicopter.

(7) Nothing in this article—

(a)prohibits the towing in a reasonable manner by an aircraft in flight of any radio aerial, any instrument which is being used for experimental purposes, or any signal, apparatus or article required or permitted by or under this Order to be towed or displayed by an aircraft in flight;

(b)prohibits the picking up or raising of any person, animal or article in an emergency or for the purpose of saving life;

(c)applies to any aircraft while it is flying in accordance with the B Conditions; or

(d)permits the towing or picking up of a glider otherwise than in accordance with article 126.

Dropping of articles and animals

129.—(1) Articles and animals (whether or not attached to a parachute) must not be dropped, or permitted to drop, from an aircraft in flight so as to endanger persons or property.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), articles and animals (whether or not attached to a parachute) must not be dropped, or permitted to drop, to the surface from an aircraft flying over the United Kingdom except under and in accordance with the terms of an aerial application certificate granted under article 131.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to the dropping of articles by, or with the authority of, the commander of the aircraft in any of the following circumstances—

(a)the dropping of articles for the purpose of saving life;

(b)the jettisoning, in case of emergency, of fuel or other articles in the aircraft;

(c)the dropping of ballast in the form of fine sand or water;

(d)the dropping of articles solely for the purpose of navigating the aircraft in accordance with ordinary practice or with the provisions of this Order;

(e)the dropping at an aerodrome of tow ropes, banners, or similar articles towed by aircraft;

(f)with the permission of the CAA, the dropping of articles for the purposes of public health or as a measure against weather conditions, surface icing or oil pollution, or for training for the dropping of articles for any such purposes; or

(g)with the permission of the CAA, the dropping of wind drift indicators for the purpose of enabling parachute descents to be made.

(4) Paragraph (2) does not apply to the lowering of any article or animal from a helicopter to the surface, if—

(a)there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid for the helicopter under the law of the country in which it is registered; and

(b)that certificate or the flight manual for the helicopter includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.

(5) In this article ‘dropping’ includes projecting and lowering.

Dropping of persons and grant of parachuting permissions

130.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (9), (10) and (11), a person must not drop, be dropped or be permitted to drop to the surface or jump from an aircraft flying over the United Kingdom except under and in accordance with the terms of either a police air operator’s certificate or a parachuting permission granted by the CAA under this article.

(2) A person must not drop, be dropped or be permitted to drop from an aircraft in flight so as to endanger persons or property.

(3) The CAA must grant a parachuting permission if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit person to hold the permission and is competent to conduct parachuting safely, having regard in particular to the applicant’s—

(a)previous conduct and experience; and

(b)equipment, organisation, staffing and other arrangements.

(4) An aircraft must not be used for the purpose of dropping persons unless—

(a)(i)there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid for that aircraft under the law of the country in which the aircraft is registered;

(ii)that certificate or the flight manual for the aircraft includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose; and

(iii)the aircraft is operated in accordance with a written permission granted by the CAA under this article; or

(b)the aircraft is operated under and in accordance with the terms of a police air operator’s certificate.

(5) Every applicant for and holder of a parachuting permission must make available to the CAA if requested a parachuting manual.

(6) The holder of a parachuting permission must make such amendments or additions to its parachuting manual as the CAA may require.

(7) The holder of a parachuting permission must make its parachuting manual available to every employee or person who is engaged or may engage in parachuting activities conducted by the holder.

(8) The manual must contain all such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable such employees or persons to perform their duties.

(9) Nothing in this article applies to the descent of persons by parachute from an aircraft in an emergency.

(10) Nothing in this article prohibits the lowering of any person in an emergency or for the purpose of saving life.

(11) Nothing in this article prohibits the lowering of any person from a helicopter to the surface if there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid for the helicopter under the law of the country in which it is registered and that certificate or the flight manual for the helicopter includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.

(12) In this article ‘dropping’ includes projecting and lowering.

Dropping articles for purposes of agriculture etc and grant of aerial application certificates

131.—(1) An aircraft must not be used for the dropping of articles for the purposes of agriculture, horticulture or forestry or for training for the dropping of articles for any of such purposes, otherwise than under and in accordance with the terms of an aerial application certificate granted to the operator of the aircraft under paragraph (2).

(2) The CAA must grant an aerial application certificate if it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit person to hold the certificate and is competent to secure the safe operation of the aircraft specified in the certificate on flights for the purposes specified in paragraph (1), having regard in particular to the applicant’s—

(a)previous conduct and experience; and

(b)equipment, organisation, staffing and other arrangements.

(3) If the CAA grants an aerial application certificate it may do so subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, including conditions for ensuring that the aircraft and any article dropped from it do not endanger persons or property in the aircraft or elsewhere.

(4) Every applicant for and holder of an aerial application certificate must make available to the CAA if requested an aerial application manual.

(5) The holder of an aerial application certificate must make its aerial application manual available to every member of the operating staff.

(6) The manual must contain all such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable the operating staff to perform their duties.

(7) The holder of an aerial application certificate must make such amendments or additions to the manual as the CAA may require.