The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on May 14, 2024, issued draft amendment to CAR Section 3 Series C Part IX - Minimum Safety Requirements for Seaplane Operations.
The following has been stated: -
•This CAR lays down the minimum safety requirements including operational and airworthiness requirements as well as requirements for take-off and landing Areas for seaplane operations. This CAR is issued under Rule 133 A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
•The prospective seaplane operator shall comply with the requirements of CAR Section 3 Series ‘C’ Part II or Part III or Part XII and other applicable regulations for obtaining AOC/AOP for the proposed category of operations.
•The operator shall propose their own operational requirements for proposed seaplane operations, which shall not be lower than the requirements contained in this CAR, keeping in view the nature and area of their operations.
•The operational requirements for such operations shall be specified in the company Operations Manual prepared in accordance with the general requirements stipulated in CAR Section 8 Series O Part VII, and the layout specified in Annexure 1 to this CAR.
•The minimum experience requirements for flight crew to operate commercial seaplane operations shall be as approved by DGCA and shall be documented in the Operations Manual. The minimum total cockpit experience shall not be less than 200 hours on type / similar type of seaplane.
•On satisfactory compliance by the operator with these requirements, DGCA will grant specific operation permission to the operator for carrying out Scheduled / Non-Scheduled (NSOP) / Scheduled Commuter seaplane operations with specific airplanes.
•If at any time during the approval of such operations, it comes to the notice of the DGCA that there exist unsafe conditions or these operations are carried out jeopardizing the safety, the DGCA may alter, suspend, revoke, or cancel the permission for a specific operation.
•Comments are invited by June 14, 2024, on the Draft amendment to CAR Section 3 Series C Part IX - Minimum Safety Requirements for Seaplane Operations.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
