1. A commercial air transport (CAT) operator shall establish operational procedures and ensure that ARAs are only flown if:

   1. the helicopter is equipped with a radar that is capable of providing information regarding the obstacle environment; and

   2. either:

      1. the minimum descent height (MDH) is determined from a radio altimeter; or

      2. the minimum descent altitude (MDA) plus an adequate margin is applied.

2. ARAs to rigs or vessels in transit shall be flown as multi-pilot operations.

3. The decision range shall provide adequate obstacle clearance in the missed approach from any destination for which an ARA is planned.

4. The approach shall only be continued beyond decision range or below the minimum descent altitude/height (MDA/H) when visual reference to the destination has been established.

5. For single-pilot CAT operations, appropriate increments shall be added to the MDA/H and decision range.

6. When an ARA is flown to a non-moving offshore location (i.e. fixed installation or moored vessel) and a reliable GPS position for the location is available in the navigation system, the GPS/area navigation system shall be used to enhance the safety of the ARA.

The title and text below will replace the text above on 30 October 2025:

SPA.HOFO.125 Offshore standard approach procedures (OSAPs)

1. An operator must establish procedures to ensure that no offshore standard approach procedures (OSAPs) are followed unless:

   1. the helicopter is capable of providing navigation and real-time obstacle environment information for obstacle clearance; and

   2. either:

      1. the MDH is determined from a radio altimeter or a device that provides equivalent performance, or

      2. MDA is applied and it includes an adequate margin.

2. If the operator follows OSAPs to rigs or vessels in transit, the flight must be conducted in multi-pilot operations.

3. The decision range must provide adequate obstacle clearance in the missed approach from any destination for which an OSAP is planned.

4. The approach must only be continued beyond decision range or below the MDA or MDH when visual reference to the destination has been established.

5. For single-pilot operations, appropriate increments must be added to the MDA or MDH and decision range.

6. When an OSAP is followed to a non-moving offshore location (such as a fixed installation or moored vessel) and a reliable GNSS position of the location is available in the navigation system, the GNSS or area navigation system must be used to enhance the safety of the OSAP.

7. The operator must include OSAPs in its initial and recurrent training and checking programmes.