Towing, picking up and raising of persons and articles
54.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (2), a relevant operator must not, by any means external to an aircraft, use the aircraft —
(a)to tow an article other than a glider; or
(b)to pick up or raise any person, animal or article.
(2)  A relevant operator may use the aircraft for the purposes in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) if —
(a)the Certificate of Airworthiness issued or rendered valid in respect of the aircraft under the laws of its State of Registry includes an express provision that the aircraft may be used for that purpose; and
(b)the operation —
(i)is carried out in accordance with an approval granted under the Air Navigation (137 — Aerial Work) Regulations 2018; or
(ii)where sub‑paragraph (i) does not apply, is carried out for such purpose as the Director‑General of Civil Aviation may approve, subject to any condition that may be imposed on the approval.
[S 677/2018 wef 09/10/2018]
(3)  A relevant operator must ensure that an aircraft does not tow any article other than a glider when in flight at night or when flight visibility is less than 1.6 km.
(4)  A relevant operator must ensure that combination of towing aircraft, tow rope and article in tow does not exceed —
(a)150 m in length; or
(b)such other length as the Director-General of Civil Aviation may authorise upon application by the operator.
(5)  A relevant operator must ensure that, when an article, a person or an animal, is being suspended from a helicopter that it operates —
(a)the helicopter does not fly at any height over a congested area of a city, town or settlement; and
(b)the helicopter does not carry any passenger other than a passenger who has duties to perform in connection with the article, person or animal being suspended.
(6)  Nothing in this regulation prohibits an aircraft from picking up or raising any person, animal or article in an emergency or for the purpose of saving life.
(7)  This regulation does not apply to a relevant aircraft that is being flown in accordance with the “B Conditions” set out in the Second Schedule to the Air Navigation Order.