SPA.HEMS.120 HEMS operating minima
SI No. 1290/2024
Text in magenta in force from 30 October 2025
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HEMS flights operated in performance class 1 and 2 shall comply with the weather minima in Table 1 for dispatch and en-route phase of the HEMS flight. In the event that during the en-route phase the weather conditions fall below the cloud base or visibility minima shown, helicopters certified for flights only under VMC shall abandon the flight or return to base. Helicopters equipped and certified for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) operations may abandon the flight, return to base or convert in all respects to a flight conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR), provided the flight crew are suitably qualified.
Table 1
| HEMS operating minima | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 PILOTS | 1 PILOT | ||
| DAY | |||
| Ceiling | Visibility | Ceiling | Visibility |
| 500 ft and above | As defined by the applicable airspace VFR minima | 500 ft and above | As defined by the applicable airspace VFR minima |
| 499 - 400 ft | 1000 mᵃ | 499 – 400 ft | 2000 m |
| 399 - 300 ft | 2000 m | 399 – 300 ft | 3000 m |
| NIGHT | |||
| Cloud base | Visibility | Cloud base | Visibility |
| 1 200 ftᵇ | 2500 m | 1200 ftᵇ | 3000 m |
ᵃ During the en-route phase visibility may be reduced to 800 m for short periods when in sight of land if the helicopter is manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe any obstacles in time to avoid a collision.
ᵇ During the en-route phase, cloud base may be reduced to 1 000 ft for short periods.
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The weather minima for the dispatch and en-route phase of a HEMS flight operated in performance class 3 shall be a cloud ceiling of 600 ft and a visibility of 1500 m. Visibility may be reduced to 800 m for short periods when in sight of land if the helicopter is manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe any obstacle and avoid a collision.
Point (b) will be replaced by the following text on 30 October 2025:
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The weather minima for the dispatch and en-route phase of a HEMS flight operated in performance class 3 shall be a ceiling of 600 ft and a visibility of 1500 m. Visibility may be reduced to 800 m for short periods when in sight of land if the helicopter is manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe any obstacle and avoid a collision.