Sling Loads And Passengers

[xrkyle]

Are there laws around flying an external load and passengers at the same time if weight restrictions are being adhered to? I asked one operator about flying a couple people and some camping gear into the backcountry and was told they'd have to do it in two trips. One for the pax and another for the load.

[Guest plumber]

Are there laws around flying an external load and passengers at the same time if weight restrictions are being adhered to? I asked one operator about flying a couple people and some camping gear into the backcountry and was told they'd have to do it in two trips. One for the pax and another for the load.

 

They can if they are crucial to the slinging operation ( you can't do it without them) Be a tough sell explaining that one to TC if they find out.

 

[chicken_lifter]

Are there laws around flying an external load and passengers at the same time if weight restrictions are being adhered to? I asked one operator about flying a couple people and some camping gear into the backcountry and was told they'd have to do it in two trips. One for the pax and another for the load.

 

Canadian Aviation Regulations... Part VII - Commercial Air Services, Sub-part III - Air Taxi Operations

 

703.25 Except where carriage of an external load has been authorized in a type certificate or supplemental type certificate, no air operator shall operate an aircraft to carry an external load with passengers on board.

 

And just to clarify:

 

"passenger" - means a person, other than a crew member, who is carried on board an aircraft

 

"crew member" - means a person assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time

 

In my interpretation, the only exceptions to the rule would be when there is an external load that is affixed to the aircraft, like the squirrel cheeks on an Astar or spray equipment.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

[sharkbait]

Sample exceptions are the operator of survey equipment during "bird towing" ops or a "helitach officer" when waterbucketing. They are essential to the operation. They have assigned duties but are not "company" crew as such.

[ray]

Your company policy manual will state your company's policy in that regard.

[Over-Talk]

YES, two trips.

 

But why the sling load ???

If you just have a lot of stuff, it will be cheaper to pack it internally in a bigger helicopter than take two trips with a small one, especially if one trip is a sling load which will probably fly slower.

Note you can't just 'stuff' the back of a helicopter full of gear, and then put a passenger in there too. Cargo must be secured and all emergency exits must be accessible if passengers are back there too.

 

If you have cargo like a canoe that won't fit inside....then it is a sling load and a passenger load.

 

Note, don't do the passenger load first without taking basic supplies with you.....there a 1000 reasons why the 2nd trip with all your gear won't make it !!! Murphy's Law of sling-loads !!

 

Happy camping.

[scottyp1973]

there is a required decal in bell medium in canada that states no pax on external load ops.

[xrkyle]

Thanks for the feedback guys - much appreciated.

[xrkyle]

Canadian Aviation Regulations... Part VII - Commercial Air Services, Sub-part III - Air Taxi Operations

 

703.25 Except where carriage of an external load has been authorized in a type certificate or supplemental type certificate, no air operator shall operate an aircraft to carry an external load with passengers on board.

 

What if we sling the passengers as part of the external load, then is everything kosher?

 

Be quite a ride, lol!

[67november]

What if we sling the passengers as part of the external load, then is everything kosher?

 

Be quite a ride, lol!

 

Isn't that what you call a class D load?