FAR 133: Certification and Operating Rules
Understand the regulatory framework for helicopter external-load work, from initial FAA certification requirements to maintaining ongoing operational compliance.
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 133 provides the safety framework for using helicopters to carry loads externally. These specialized activities are distinct from standard passenger or cargo transport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created these regulations to manage the unique risks of external load work by establishing requirements for aircraft, personnel, and procedures.
Applicability of External Load Regulations
These regulations apply to commercial helicopter services that involve carrying a load outside the aircraft’s main body. Such activities are common in construction for lifting materials like HVAC units or steel beams, forestry for logging, and aerial firefighting. The FAA categorizes rotorcraft-load combinations into four classes to apply appropriate safety standards.
- Class A involves a load that cannot move freely, cannot be jettisoned, and does not extend below the helicopter’s landing gear, such as a securely bolted camera.
- Class B is a jettisonable load lifted free of land or water, common in construction where materials are carried on a long line.
- Class C involves a jettisonable load that remains in contact with a surface, such as in wire-stringing or certain agricultural operations.
- Class D is for operations where the external load includes one or more persons, such as in search and rescue, and has the most stringent requirements.
Each class has specific airworthiness and operational rules tailored to its associated risks.
Certification Prerequisites and Documentation
Before applying for a Rotorcraft External-Load Operator Certificate, an operator must have qualified personnel and appropriate aircraft. The pilot in command must hold at least a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating.
The aircraft must have a standard or restricted category airworthiness certificate and an approved Rotorcraft-Load Combination Flight Manual. The external load attaching mechanism, such as a cargo hook, must also meet all design and installation standards.
The application is submitted on FAA Form 8710-4, the Rotorcraft External-Load Operator Certificate Application. On this form, the applicant must provide details about the company, management personnel, pilots, and aircraft. This includes listing each pilot’s certificate number and ratings, and each rotorcraft’s registration number and approved load-carrying equipment to demonstrate compliance with regulations.
The Certification Application Process
The operator must submit the completed application package to their local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), which will assign an inspector to manage the project. The FAA inspector then conducts a thorough evaluation to verify the operator’s ability to conduct safe operations. This assessment includes reviewing the application for accuracy, inspecting the rotorcraft and its external-load equipment, and confirming all prerequisites are met.
The evaluation also involves direct testing of the applicant’s capabilities. The FAA administers knowledge and skill tests to the chief pilot and other pilots, which includes an examination on Part 133 regulations. The process culminates in a practical demonstration, where the operator must conduct proving flights to show proficiency in the specific class of load combination sought.
Upon successful completion of all reviews and demonstrations, the FAA issues the Rotorcraft External-Load Operator Certificate. The certificate specifies the authorized classes of rotorcraft-load combinations and is valid for 24 calendar months, after which it must be renewed.
Operating and Recordkeeping Requirements
Operators with a Part 133 certificate must follow ongoing operational rules. This includes adhering to strict limitations when flying over congested areas, which often requires specific FAA permission and a detailed safety plan.
The pilot in command is responsible for conducting a thorough crewmember briefing before each takeoff. This briefing covers operational plans, emergency procedures, and the duties of each crewmember. The pilot must also ensure the load is secure and does not exceed the aircraft’s performance capabilities.
Certificate holders must maintain detailed records for each pilot, including their flight time, duty periods, and training and proficiency checks. The operator must also keep a log of each external load operation, detailing the date, location, and the type and weight of the load. All of these records are subject to inspection by the FAA at any time.