AMC2 SPA.VEMS.130 Crew requirements

VEMS TECHNICAL CREW MEMBER

(a) When the crew is composed of a PIC and a VEMS technical crew member, the latter should be seated in a forward-facing front seat during the flight, so as to be able to carry out his or her primary tasks of assisting the PIC in:

(1) collision avoidance;

(2) the selection of the VEMS operating site;

(3) the detection of obstacles during the approach and take-off phases; and

(4) the reading of checklists.

(b) By day, the VEMS technical crew member may be seated in the cabin, at the discretion of the PIC, provided all the following conditions are met:

(1) the VEMS technical crew member provides medical assistance to the medical patient in flight; and

(2) the flight is conducted to or from a VEMS operating site.

(c) The PIC may delegate other aviation tasks to the VEMS technical crew member, as necessary:

(1) assistance in navigation;

(2) assistance in the selection of radio-communication/radio-navigation means;

(3) if properly qualified and licensed, assistance in radio communications; and

(4) monitoring of parameters.

(d) The PIC may also delegate to the VEMS technical crew member tasks on the ground, such as:

(1) assistance in preparing the VCA and the dedicated medical specialist equipment for a subsequent VEMS departure; or

(2) assistance in the application of safety measures during ground operations with lift and thrust units powered on (including, as applicable, crowd control, embarking and disembarking of passengers, refuelling, battery recharging or swapping, etc.).

(e) There may be exceptional circumstances when it is not possible for the VEMS technical crew member to carry out his or her primary tasks as defined under point (a). This is to be regarded as exceptional and the tasks are only to be undertaken at the discretion of the PIC, taking into account the dimensions and environment of the VEMS operating site.

(f) RESERVED

(g) When selecting flight crews for single-pilot operations in accordance with point SPA.VEMS.130(a), the operator should consider the experience of both the PIC and the VEMS technical crew member.

The operator should consider a VEMS technical crew member as inexperienced until the VEMS technical crew member has completed 25 VEMS missions. The operator may include VEMS missions flown during line flying under supervision and simulated VEMS missions.

When an inexperienced VEMS technical crew member is part of the crew, the following should apply:

(1) the PIC has completed 10 flight hours on the VCA type within a period of 60 days since the completion of the operator’s conversion course on the VCA type; or

(2) the PIC has completed 20 flight hours on the VCA type after the completion of the operator’s conversion course on the VCA type.

(h) A smaller number of VEMS missions or flight hours than those defined in point (g) may be acceptable to the competent authority and subject to any conditions which the competent authority may impose, when either of the following applies:

(1) a new operator commences operations;

(2) an operator introduces a new VCA type;

(3) the PIC has previously completed a type conversion course with the same operator (reconversion);

(4) credits are defined in the operational suitability data established in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 748/2012.