Download the PDF consolidation of Part 125 [PDF 701 KB]
This Subpart prescribes the rules governing the assignment of crew members conducting an air operation in an aeroplane under the authority of an air operator certificate.
(a) A holder of an air operator certificate must, for each aeroplane type operated under the authority of the certificate, assign in writing to each crew member, the operational and safety functions that each crew member is to perform during an air operation.
(b) The certificate holder must ensure that a person is not assigned to perform the function of a crew member on an aeroplane operating under the authority of the certificate unless that person—
(1) has completed the applicable training programme under Subpart I and is assessed as competent for the crew member position under Subpart J; or
(2) is a pilot completing the pilot line training under rule 125.567—
(i) has completed the applicable segments of the training programme under Subpart I; and
(ii) is assessed as competent for the flight crew member position under Subpart J.
(c) The certificate holder must not require a crew member to perform any duty during a critical phase of a flight that is not required for the safe operation of the aeroplane.
(d) For the purpose of paragraph (c), a critical phase of a flight includes—
(1) for flight crew members, all operations involving push back, taxi, take-off, approach and landing, and any other period when the aeroplane is operated below a height of 10 000 feet above ground level except when in cruise flight; and
(2) for other crew members, all ground operations after leaving the apron area to join a main taxiway, take-off until passing a height of 1000 feet above ground level on climb, and the approach and landing phase of flight after the aeroplane has descended below a height of 5000 feet above ground level.
A holder of an air operator certificate must, for an air operation conducted under the authority of the certificate, assign in writing—
(1) a pilot who meets the requirements referred to in rule 125.507 as the designated pilot-in-command under VFR, or rule 125.509 as the designated pilot-in-command under IFR; and
(2) a pilot designated as a co-pilot who is required by the flight manual for the operation of the aeroplane, and who meets the requirements referred to in rule 125.503(b)(2); and
(3) any additional pilot who is required by the flight manual for the operation of the aeroplane and who meets the requirements referred to in rules 125.507 or 125.509.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a pilot to act as pilot-in-command of an aeroplane conducting an air operation performed under VFR unless the pilot—
(1) holds at least a current commercial pilot licence or airline transport pilot licence (aeroplane) with an applicable aircraft type rating; and
(2) has successfully completed the applicable training and competency requirements specified under Subparts I and J; and
(3) has at least 500 hours of flight time experience as a pilot, including—
(i) at least 100 hours of cross-country flight time; and
(ii) 100 hours fight time experience in multi-engine operation if the operation is to be conducted in a multi-engine aircraft; and
(4) for night operations, has at least 25 hours of night flight time experience.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a pilot to act as pilot-in-command of an aeroplane conducting an air operation performed under IFR unless the pilot—
(1) holds at least a current commercial pilot licence or airline pilot licence (aeroplane) with an applicable aircraft type rating; and
(2) holds a current instrument rating; and
(3) has successfully completed the applicable training and competency requirements specified under Subparts I and J; and
(4) has at least 1200 hours of flight time experience as a pilot, including—
(i) 500 hours of cross country flight time; and
(ii) at least 250 hours flight time experience in a multi-engine operation if the operation is to be conducted in a multi-engine aircraft; and
(5) has at least 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time of which 25 hours can be in a flight simulator approved for this purpose; and
(6) for night operations, the pilot has acquired at least 50 hours of night flight time experience.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a pilot to perform the function of a pilot instructor in the flight crew member training programme required by this Part unless that pilot—
(1) is qualified to act as pilot-in-command of the aeroplane type performing the air operation; and
(2) holds a Category A, B, or D flight instructor rating, or an airline flight instructor rating, referred to in Part 61; and
(3) has acquired at least 1500 hours of flight time experience as a pilot including—
(i) 250 hours line-operating flight time experience as pilot-in- command; or
(ii) 100 hours of flight time experience as pilot-in-command for the particular aeroplane type involved; and
(4) has successfully completed a training course in the methods for assessing crew member competency in the technical and nontechnical aspects of aircraft operation including human factors and crew resource management.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a pilot to perform the function of a flight examiner in a route check required by rule 125.607(b) or in a competency assessment programme required by rule 125.605 unless that pilot—
(1) holds a current airline flight examiner rating referred to in Part 61; and
(2) is qualified to act as pilot-in-command of the aeroplane type performing an air operation in accordance with rule 125.507 or rule 125.509 or has flight instruction experience that is acceptable to the Director; and
(3) has acquired—
(i) 250 hours of line-operating flight time experience as pilot-in-command for the particular aeroplane type involved; or
(ii) 100 hours flight time as a pilot instructor to which this Part or Part 121 applies; or
(iii) other equivalent experience applicable to this Part or Part 121 that is acceptable to the Director, to act as a flight examiner for the purpose of conducting a competency assessment; and
(4) has completed a training course in the methods for assessing crew member competency in the technical and non-technical aspects of aircraft operation including human factors and crew resource management.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a person to perform the functions of a flight attendant in an aeroplane conducting an air operation unless the person has satisfactorily completed the appropriate segments of the crew member training programme required by rule 125.553 for the aeroplane type and the assigned crew member position.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a pilot to perform the function of a pilot instructor, or flight examiner, for the purpose of giving flight instruction or conducting a flight crew member competency assessment in a flight simulator unless the pilot—
(1) meets the appropriate requirements referred to in rule 125.511 or 125.513, or as approved by the Director to conduct specific flight tests; and
(2) demonstrates competency as pilot-in-command in the flight simulator to the standard required by Subpart J; and
(3) has received proficiency training in the operation of the flight simulator; and
(4) has completed a training course in the methods for assessing crew member competency in the technical and non-technical aspects of aircraft operation including human factors and crew resource management.
(b) A pilot who has previously met the requirements referred to in paragraph (a) but who no longer holds a current medical certificate may act as a pilot instructor or flight examiner in a flight simulator if the pilot maintains competency by—
(1) undergoing training as a flight crew member in a flight simulator in accordance with the training programme required by rule 125.553; and
(2) completing a competency assessment under Subpart J; and
(3) completing the applicable training requirements which are otherwise necessary to maintain the currency of an airline instructor rating, or flight examiner rating, under Part 61 and this Part.
(c) Despite paragraph (a), if the certificate holder applies to the Director in writing, the Director may approve a pilot, who does not hold a current medical certificate and who has not previously met the requirements referred to in rules 125.511 or 125.513, to exercise the functions of a pilot instructor or flight examiner in a flight simulator if the pilot—
(1) has at least 1500 hours flight time experience as—
(i) pilot-in-command or co-pilot in air operations conducted under this Part; or
(ii) pilot-in-command or second-in-command in air operations conducted under Part 121; and
(2) satisfactorily completes the training and competency requirements of Subpart I and J in a flight simulator of the aeroplane type; and
(3) satisfactorily completes a course in flight instruction or flight examination that is acceptable to the Director; and
(4) receives proficiency training in the operation of the flight simulator; and
(5) continues to maintain competency as specified in paragraph (b).
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a flight attendant to perform the function of a flight attendant trainer in the flight crew member training programme required by this Part unless that flight attendant—
(1) has completed the flight attendant training in the segments of the crew member training programme specified in rule 125.553; and
(2) has completed a training course acceptable to the Director in the methods for assessing flight attendant competency in the technical and non-technical aspects of aircraft operation including human factors and crew resource management.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a flight attendant to perform the function of a flight attendant assessor for the purpose of rule 125.611 unless that flight attendant—
(1) has completed the training segments and course referred to in rule 125.519; and
(2) has met the requirements referred to in rule 125.571.
A holder of an air operator certificate must not designate a person to perform the functions of a ground instructor in its crew member training programme required by rule 125.553, unless that person has completed—
(1) an instructional techniques course acceptable to the Director; and
(2) a human factors course acceptable to the Director; and
(3) a comprehensive training course in the subject matter area in which instruction is being provided, and the course is acceptable to the Director.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that an aeroplane operated under IFR is operated with 2 pilots.
(b) The certificate holder may operate an aeroplane with a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of 14 seats or less under IFR with one pilot if—
(1) the aeroplane flight manual permits the aeroplane to be operated by one pilot; and
(2) the aeroplane is equipped with an operative autopilot or stabilisation system capable of operating the aeroplane controls to maintain flight and manoeuvre the aeroplane about the roll and pitch axes with an automatic heading and altitude hold; and
(3) the aeroplane is fitted with a headset that includes a boom microphone and facility for control column transmit-receive switching at the pilot-in-command station; and
(4) the pilot-in-command has met the requirements referred to in rule 125.509; and
(5) where the aeroplane is used in conducting a SEIFR passenger operation, the autopilot or stabilization system required by paragraph (2) is capable of remaining fully functional after an engine failure.
(a) Except if authorised under paragraph (b), a holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that an air operation is not conducted unless at least one of the flight crew members has accumulated the following flight time experience after completing the training requirements of Subpart I:
(1) 50 hours in the aeroplane type that is being operated; or
(2) 20 operating cycles in the aeroplane type that is being operated.
(b) If a certificate holder applies to the Director in writing, the Director may authorise the certificate holder to deviate from the requirements of paragraph (a) by amending the operations specifications as appropriate in any of the following circumstances:
(1) a new certificate holder who cannot meet the minimum requirements prescribed in paragraph (a); or
(2) an existing certificate holder acquires an aeroplane type not previously authorised by the Director for use in its operations.
(a) If a holder of an air operator certificate assigns a flight crew member to operate more than one aeroplane type or more than one variant of an aeroplane type, the certificate holder must—
(1) ensure that the flight crew member is trained and qualified to operate each aeroplane type or variant; and
(2) establish training and competency assessment procedures acceptable to the Director.
(b) The procedures required by paragraph (a)(2) must ensure that—
(1) before a flight crew member is assigned to operate more than one aeroplane type or variant, the flight crew member has the relevant experience for operating the aeroplane type or variant, taking into account the aircraft manufacturer’s recommendations; and
(2) a flight crew member has sufficient experience required on one aeroplane type or variant before beginning training for another aeroplane type or variant, taking into account the manufacturer’s recommendations; and
(3) a flight crew member who is qualified on one aeroplane type or variant is trained and qualified on another aeroplane type or variant; and
(4) a flight crew member—
(i) has the applicable competency and recent flight experience requirements for each aeroplane type or variant; or
(ii) satisfactorily completes a competency assessment on one specified aeroplane type or variant that is deemed to meet the competency standard on another specified aeroplane type or variant; and
(iii) for the purpose of paragraph (ii), the specified aeroplane types or variants must be recommended by the aeroplane manufacturer.
(c) The relevant experience referred to in paragraph (b)(1) must include the minimum flight time experience or operating cycles a flight crew member must complete in air operations to which this Part applies.
(d) The experience referred to in paragraph (b)(2) must include—
(1) the minimum flight time experience or operating cycles a flight crew member must complete in the aeroplane type already flown to which this Part applies; and
(2) the minimum number of hours a flight crew member must complete exclusively on the new aeroplane type or variant after commencing training for the new aeroplane type or variant.
(e) The training and competency assessment procedures referred to in paragraph (a)(2) for a flight crew member to operate more than one aeroplane type or variant, must take into account the differences between aeroplane types or variants including at least the following:
(1) the aeroplane operating procedures; and
(2) the aeroplane systems; and
(3) the aeroplane performance limitations; and
(4) the aeroplane handling characteristics.
(f) Despite rule 61.37, a holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that a flight crew member assigned to act as a flight crew member on multiple aeroplane types or variants, meets—
(1) the recent flight experience required by Part 61 for each aeroplane type or variant; or
(2) the recent flight experience requirements for each aeroplane type or variant as specified in the procedures referred to in paragraph (b)(4).
(a) A holder of an air operator certificate must ensure that the pilots of an aeroplane conducting an air operation under the authority of the certificate do not perform a Category II or III precision approach procedure, or a departure with reduced take-off minima, unless both the pilot-in-command and the pilot acting as co-pilot are qualified to perform the particular approach procedure or departure.
(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a)—
(1) if the pilot-in-command is qualified only as pilot flying for the Category II or III precision approach and reduced take-off minima, the pilot-in-command must conduct the particular approach procedure and reduced take-off minima departure as pilot flying; and
(2) if the co-pilot is qualified only as the pilot non-flying for the Category II or III precision approach and reduced take-off minima, the pilot-in-command must conduct the particular approach procedure and reduced take-off minima departure as pilot flying.
(c) Despite paragraph (b), the pilot of an aeroplane may perform a Category II or III precision approach procedure or a departure with reduced take-off minima as pilot flying or pilot non-flying for the particular approach and take-off if—
(1) the pilot-in-command and the co-pilot are qualified as specified in paragraphs (a); and
(2) the pilot-in-command is—
(i) a pilot instructor qualified as specified in rule 125.511; or
(ii) a flight examiner qualified as specified in rule 125.513.