DCA releases new directives for foreign pilots

KUCHING: The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has issued new aviation requirements following the helicopter accident in Batang Lupar last year.

According to DCA directorgeneral Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the new directives are actually requirements for a foreign helicopter pilot working for local commercial air transport operators.

The directives mentioned that no operator of a Malaysian helicopter or non-Malaysian helicopter shall cause or permit a foreign pilot to fly its helicopter in Malaysia for the purpose of commercial air transport unless the foreign pilot possesses a minimum of 1,000 hours on any type of helicopter, has completed a Crew Resource Management (CRM) even as a Single Pilot VFR operations and undergone a minimum of 10 hours flying under supervision of a Malaysian pilot who holds a valid CPL or ATPL, to familiarise himself with the terrain and weather pattern of the operations area which he intends to fly.

In the case of short term employment or any other related arrangement of less than three months, no operator of a Malaysian helicopter or non-Malaysian helicopter shall cause or permit a foreign pilot to fly its helicopter in Malaysia for the purpose of commercial air transport unless the foreign pilot has flown at least 25 hours in a helicopter of the same type which he intends to fly, for the last six months; has conducted a minimum of three take-offs, approaches and landings in a helicopter of the same type which he intends to fly, for the last 90 days; and has completed a minimum of three days induction course organised by the operator.

The induction course includes topics such as operations area, weather pattern and terrain familiarity, communication with Air Traffic Controller and the operator and handling of helicopter during normal, abnormal and emergency situations.

Foreign pilots should also take note that they have to follow the DCA’s requirements.

DCA defines ‘foreign pilots’ as a person who holds a valid flight crew licence and granted under the law of any state and ‘Malaysian helicopter’ as a helicopter which is registered in Malaysia under the Civil Aviation Regulation 2016.