Fuel and oil requirements — Helicopters
47.—(1)  An AOC holder must not commence any flight of a helicopter unless, taking into account both the meteorological conditions and any delays that are expected in flight, the helicopter carries an amount of fuel (which includes fuel reserves to provide for contingencies) and oil that is sufficient to ensure that the helicopter completes the flight safely.
(2)  An AOC holder must set down a minimum in‑flight indicated fuel state for each type of helicopter, and each type of operation involving that type of helicopter, as operated under these Regulations.
(3)  Where a helicopter is equipped for cross‑feeding or balancing of fuel in flight, the AOC holder must ensure that cross‑feeding or fuel balancing procedures are contained in its Operations Manual.
(4)  For every flight of a helicopter to be operated in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules by day or over non‑hostile terrain by day, the AOC holder must ensure that the total fuel carried on the helicopter includes —
(a)the amount of fuel required for the helicopter —
(i)to start up and taxi;
(ii)to fly the intended route from departure point to destination;
(iii)to hold at the destination for at least 20 minutes at best‑range speed (also known as the “final reserve fuel”); and
(iv)to compensate for unforeseen factors, which is a contingency reserve amounting to 5% of fuel required under sub‑paragraph (a)(ii); and
(b)any extra fuel that is carried on the helicopter at the pilot‑in‑command’s discretion.
(5)  Where a helicopter is fuelled in accordance with paragraph (4), the AOC holder must ensure that the helicopter does not commence or continue its flight in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules unless all the fuel requirements outlined in paragraph (6) are met before the portion of the flight that is flown in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules starts.
(6)  Subject to paragraph (7), for every flight, or portion of a flight, of a helicopter to be operated in accordance with the Instrument Flight Rules, offshore or over hostile terrain, the AOC holder must ensure that the total fuel carried on the helicopter includes —
(a)the amount of fuel required for the helicopter —
(i)to start up and taxi;
(ii)to fly the intended route from departure point to the intended destination;
(iii)to make one missed approach at the intended destination;
(iv)to re-route to an alternate, including diversion to a suitable alternate using a suitable altitude determined by the AOC holder and cleared by the appropriate air traffic control unit (which must be at least the minimum safe altitude);
(v)to hold for 30 minutes at endurance speed at 450 m (1,500 ft) above the alternate under standard temperature conditions, with additional fuel for areas where air traffic delays are likely to occur (also known as the “final reserve fuel”); and
(vi)to compensate for unforeseen factors, which is a contingency reserve amounting to at least 10% of the total fuel required under sub‑paragraphs (ii), (iii) and (iv); and
(b)any extra fuel that is carried on the helicopter at the pilot‑in‑command’s discretion.
(7)  Where no alternate heliport or landing location is available (such as when the destination is isolated) —
(a)paragraph (6)(a)(iv) does not apply; and
(b)the AOC holder must ensure that the helicopter is carrying sufficient fuel for the helicopter to fly for a period of time that will enable a safe landing to be made, based on geographical and environment considerations of the landing site.
(8)  In this regulation —
“hostile terrain” means a place where forced landings are not possible or which present a consequential survival problem;
“non-hostile terrain” means a place where a forced landing may be carried out with a high degree of confidence that there is not likely to be a consequential survival problem.
(9)  Regulation 38 of the Air Navigation (91 — General Operating Rules) Regulations 2018 does not apply to any flight of a helicopter made under these Regulations.