Easy Access Rules for Air Operations ANNEX I – Definitions

(Regulation (EU) No 965/2012)

ANNEX I – DEFINITIONS
Annex I Definitions for terms used in Annexes II to VIII
Regulation (EU) 2019/1387

For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) ‘accelerate-stop distance available (ASDA)’ means the length of the take-off run available plus
the length of stopway, if such stopway is declared available by the State of the aerodrome and
is capable of bearing the mass of the aeroplane under the prevailing operating conditions;
(2) ‘acceptable means of compliance (AMC)’ means non-binding standards adopted by the Agency
to illustrate means to establish compliance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its
Implementing Rules;
(3) ‘acceptance checklist’ means a document used to assist in carrying out a check on the external
appearance of packages of dangerous goods and their associated documents to determine that
all appropriate requirements have been met with;
(4) ‘adequate aerodrome’ means an aerodrome on which the aircraft can be operated, taking
account of the applicable performance requirements and runway characteristics;
(5) For the purpose of passenger classification:
(a) ‘adult’ means a person of an age of 12 years and above;
(b) ‘child/children’ means persons who are of an age of two years and above but who are
less than 12 years of age;
(c) ‘infant’ means a person under the age of two years;
(6) [deleted with Reg. (EU) 2018/1975]
(7) ‘aided night vision imaging system (NVIS) flight’ means, in the case of NVIS operations, that
portion of a visual flight rules (VFR) flight performed at night when a crew member is using night
vision goggles (NVG);
(8) ‘aircraft’ means a machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the
air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface;
(8a) ‘aircraft tracking’ means a ground based process that maintains and updates, at standardised
intervals, a record of the four dimensional position of individual aircraft in flight;
(8b) ‘aircraft tracking system’ means a system that relies on aircraft tracking in order to identify
abnormal flight behaviour and provide alert;
(9) ‘alternative means of compliance’ means those means that propose an alternative to an existing
acceptable means of compliance or those that propose new means to establish compliance with
Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules for which no associated AMC have
been adopted by the Agency;
(10) ‘anti-icing’, in the case of ground procedures, means a procedure that provides protection
against the formation of frost or ice and accumulation of snow on treated surfaces of the aircraft
for a limited period of time (hold-over time);
(11) ‘approach procedure with vertical guidance (APV) operation’ means an instrument approach
which utilises lateral and vertical guidance, but does not meet the requirements established for

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precision approach and landing operations, with a decision height (DH) not lower than 250 ft
and a runway visual range (RVR) of not less than 600 m;
(11a) [deleted with Reg. (EU) 2018/1975]
(12) ‘cabin crew member’ means an appropriately qualified crew member, other than a flight crew
or technical crew member, who is assigned by an operator to perform duties related to the
safety of passengers and flight during operations;
(13) ‘category I (CAT I) approach operation’ means a precision instrument approach and landing
using an instrument landing system (ILS), microwave landing system (MLS), GLS (ground-based
augmented global navigation satellite system (GNSS/GBAS) landing system), precision approach
radar (PAR) or GNSS using a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) with a decision height
(DH) not lower than 200 ft and with a runway visual range (RVR) not less than 550 m for
aeroplanes and 500 m for helicopters;
(14) ‘category II (CAT II) operation’ means a precision instrument approach and landing operation
using ILS or MLS with:
(a) DH below 200 ft but not lower than 100 ft; and
(b) RVR of not less than 300 m;
(15) ‘category IIIA (CAT IIIA) operation’ means a precision instrument approach and landing
operation using ILS or MLS with:
(a) DH lower than 100 ft; and
(b) RVR not less than 200 m;
(16) ‘category IIIB (CAT IIIB) operation’ means a precision instrument approach and landing
operation using ILS or MLS with:
(a) DH lower than 100 ft, or no DH; and
(b) RVR lower than 200 m but not less than 75 m;
(17) ‘category A with respect to helicopters’ means a multi-engined helicopter designed with engine
and system isolation features specified in the applicable certification specification and capable
of operations using take-off and landing data scheduled under a critical engine failure concept
that assures adequate designated surface area and adequate performance capability for
continued safe flight or safe rejected take-off in the event of engine failure;
(18) ‘category B with respect to helicopters’ means a single-engined or multi-engined helicopter that
does not meet category A standards. Category B helicopters have no guaranteed capability to
continue safe flight in the event of an engine failure, and unscheduled landing is assumed;
(19) ‘certification specifications’ (CS) means technical standards adopted by the Agency indicating
means to show compliance with Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and its Implementing Rules and
which can be used by an organisation for the purpose of certification;
(20) ‘circling’ means the visual phase of an instrument approach to bring an aircraft into position for
landing on a runway/FATO that is not suitably located for a straight-in approach;
(21) ‘clearway’ means a defined rectangular area on the ground or water under the control of the
appropriate authority, selected or prepared as a suitable area over which an aeroplane may
make a portion of its initial climb to a specified height;
(22) ‘cloud base’ means the height of the base of the lowest observed or forecast cloud element in
the vicinity of an aerodrome or operating site or within a specified area of operations, normally

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measured above aerodrome elevation or, in the case of offshore operations, above mean sea
level;
(22a) ‘cockpit voice recorder (CVR)’ means a crash-protected flight recorder that uses a combination
of microphones and other audio and digital inputs to collect and record the aural environment
of the flight crew compartment and communications to, from and between the flight crew
members;
(23) ‘code share’ means an arrangement under which an operator places its designator code on a
flight operated by another operator, and sells and issues tickets for that flight;
(24) ‘congested area’ means in relation to a city, town or settlement, any area which is substantially
used for residential, commercial or recreational purposes;
(25) ‘contaminated runway’ means a runway of which a significant portion of its surface area
(whether in isolated areas or not) within the length and width being used is covered by one or
more of the substances listed under the runway surface condition descriptors;
(26) ‘contingency fuel’ means the fuel required to compensate for unforeseen factors that could
have an influence on the fuel consumption to the destination aerodrome;
(27) ‘continuous descent final approach (CDFA)’ means a technique, consistent with stabilised
approach procedures, for flying the final-approach segment of a non-precision instrument
approach procedure as a continuous descent, without level-off, from an altitude/height at or
above the final approach fix altitude/height to a point approximately 15 m (50 ft) above the
landing runway threshold or the point where the flare manoeuvre shall begin for the type of
aircraft flown;
(28) ‘converted meteorological visibility (CMV)’ means a value, equivalent to an RVR, which is
derived from the reported meteorological visibility;
(29) ‘crew member’ means a person assigned by an operator to perform duties on board an aircraft;
(30) ‘critical phases of flight’ in the case of aeroplanes means the take-off run, the take-off flight
path, the final approach, the missed approach, the landing, including the landing roll, and any
other phases of flight as determined by the pilot-in-command or commander;
(31) ‘critical phases of flight’ in the case of helicopters means taxiing, hovering, take-off, final
approach, missed approach, the landing and any other phases of flight as determined by the
pilot-in-command or commander;
(32) [deleted with Reg.(EU) 2019/1387]
(33) ‘dangerous goods (DG)’ means articles or substances which are capable of posing a risk to
health, safety, property or the environment and which are shown in the list of dangerous goods
in the technical instructions or which are classified according to those instructions;
(34) ‘dangerous goods accident’ means an occurrence associated with and related to the transport
of dangerous goods by air which results in fatal or serious injury to a person or major property
damage;
(35) ‘dangerous goods incident’ means:
(a) an occurrence other than a dangerous goods accident associated with and related to the
transport of dangerous goods by air, not necessarily occurring on board an aircraft, which
results in injury to a person, property damage, fire, breakage, spillage, leakage of fluid or
radiation or other evidence that the integrity of the packaging has not been maintained;

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(b) any occurrence relating to the transport of dangerous goods which seriously jeopardises
an aircraft or its occupants;
(36) ‘de-icing’, in the case of ground procedures, means a procedure by which frost, ice, snow or
slush is removed from an aircraft in order to provide uncontaminated surfaces;
(37) ‘defined point after take-off (DPATO)’ means the point, within the take-off and initial climb
phase, before which the helicopter’s ability to continue the flight safely, with the critical engine
inoperative, is not assured and a forced landing may be required;
(38) ‘defined point before landing (DPBL)’ means the point within the approach and landing phase,
after which the helicopter’s ability to continue the flight safely, with the critical engine
inoperative, is not assured and a forced landing may be required;
(39) ‘distance DR’ means the horizontal distance that the helicopter has travelled from the end of
the take-off distance available;
(40) ‘dry lease agreement’ means an agreement between undertakings pursuant to which the
aircraft is operated under the air operator certificate (AOC) of the lessee or, in the case of
commercial operations other than CAT, under the responsibility of the lessee;
(41) ‘dry operating mass’ means the total mass of the aircraft ready for a specific type of operation,
excluding usable fuel and traffic load;
(42) ‘dry runway’ means a runway whose surface is free of visible moisture and not contaminated
within the area intended to be used;
(42a) ‘EFB application’ means a software application installed on an EFB host platform that provides
one or more specific operational functions which support flight operations;
(42b) ‘EFB host platform’ means the hardware equipment in which the computing capabilities and
basic software reside, including the operating system and the input/output software;
(42c) ‘EFB system’ means the hardware equipment (including any battery, connectivity provisions,
input/output components) and software (including databases and the operating system)
needed to support the intended EFB application(s);
(43) ‘ELA1 aircraft’ means the following manned European Light Aircraft:
(a) an aeroplane with a Maximum Take-off Mass (MTOM) of 1 200 kg or less that is not
classified as complex motor-powered aircraft;
(b) a sailplane or powered sailplane of 1 200 kg MTOM or less;
(c) a balloon with a maximum design lifting gas or hot air volume of not more than 3400 m3
for hot air balloons, 1 050 m3 for gas balloons, 300 m3 for tethered gas balloons;
(44) ‘ELA2 aircraft’ means the following manned European Light Aircraft:
(a) an aeroplane with a Maximum Take-off Mass (MTOM) of 2 000 kg or less that is not
classified as complex motor-powered aircraft;
(b) a sailplane or powered sailplane of 2 000 kg MTOM or less;
(c) a balloon;
(d) a Very Light Rotorcraft with a MTOM not exceeding 600 kg which is of a simple design,
designed to carry not more than two occupants, not powered by turbine and/or rocket
engines; restricted to VFR day operations;

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(44a) ‘electronic flight bag (EFB)’ means an electronic information system, comprised of equipment
and applications for flight crew, which allows for the storing, updating, displaying and
processing of EFB functions to support flight operations or duties;
(45) ‘elevated final approach and take-off area (elevated FATO)’ means a FATO that is at least 3 m
above the surrounding surface;
(45a) ‘emergency exit’ means an installed exit-type egress point from the aircraft that allows
maximum opportunity for cabin and flight crew compartment evacuation within an appropriate
time period and includes floor level door, window exit or any other type of exit, for instance
hatch in the flight crew compartment and tail cone exit;
(46) ‘en-route alternate (ERA) aerodrome’ means an adequate aerodrome along the route, which
may be required at the planning stage;
(47) ‘enhanced vision system (EVS)’ means a system to display electronic real-time images of the
external scene achieved through the use of imaging sensors;
(48) ‘final approach and take-off area (FATO)’ means a defined area for helicopter operations, over
which the final phase of the approach manoeuvre to hover or land is completed, and from which
the take-off manoeuvre is commenced. In the case of helicopters operating in performance
class 1, the defined area includes the rejected take-off area available;
(48a) ‘flight crew member’ means a licensed crew member charged with duties essential to the
operation of an aircraft during a flight duty period;
(49) ‘flight data monitoring (FDM)’ means the proactive and non-punitive use of digital flight data
from routine operations to improve aviation safety;
(49a) ‘flight operations officer’ or ‘flight dispatcher’ means a person designated by the operator to
engage in the control and supervision of flight operations, who is suitably qualified, who
supports, briefs or assists, or both, the pilot-in-command in the safe conduct of the flight;
(49b) ‘flight data recorder (FDR)’ means a crash-protected flight recorder that uses a combination of
data sources to collect and record parameters that reflect the state and performance of the
aircraft;
(49c) ‘flight recorder’ means any type of recorder that is installed on the aircraft for the purpose of
facilitating accident or incident safety investigations;
(50) ‘flight simulation training device (FSTD)’ means a training device which is:
(a) in the case of aeroplanes, a full flight simulator (FFS), a flight training device (FTD), a flight
and navigation procedures trainer (FNPT), or a basic instrument training device (BITD);
(b) in the case of helicopters, a full flight simulator (FFS), a flight training device (FTD) or a
flight and navigation procedures trainer (FNPT);
(51) ‘fuel ERA aerodrome’ means an ERA aerodrome selected for the purpose of reducing
contingency fuel;
(52) ‘GBAS landing system (GLS)’ means an approach landing system using ground based augmented
global navigation satellite system (GNSS/GBAS) information to provide guidance to the aircraft
based on its lateral and vertical GNSS position. It uses geometric altitude reference for its final
approach slope;
(53) ‘ground emergency service personnel’ means any ground emergency service personnel (such
as policemen, firemen, etc.) involved with helicopter emergency medical services (HEMSs) and
whose tasks are to any extent pertinent to helicopter operations;

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(54) ‘grounding’ means the formal prohibition of an aircraft to take-off and the taking of such steps
as are necessary to detain it;
(55) ‘head-up display (HUD)’ means a display system which presents flight information to the pilot’s
forward external field of view and which does not significantly restrict the external view;
(56) ‘head-up guidance landing system (HUDLS)’ means the total airborne system that provides
head-up guidance to the pilot during the approach and landing and/or missed approach
procedure. It includes all sensors, computers, power supplies, indications and controls;
(57) [deleted with Reg. (EU) 2018/1975]
(58) ‘helicopter hoist operation (HHO) crew member’ means a technical crew member who performs
assigned duties relating to the operation of a hoist;
(59) ‘helideck’ means a FATO located on a floating or fixed offshore structure;
(60) ‘HEMS crew member’ means a technical crew member who is assigned to a HEMS flight for the
purpose of attending to any person in need of medical assistance carried in the helicopter and
assisting the pilot during the mission;
(61) ‘HEMS flight’ means a flight by a helicopter operating under a HEMS approval, the purpose of
which is to facilitate emergency medical assistance, where immediate and rapid transportation
is essential, by carrying:
(a) medical personnel;
(b) medical supplies (equipment, blood, organs, drugs); or
(c) ill or injured persons and other persons directly involved;
(62) ‘HEMS operating base’ means an aerodrome at which the HEMS crew members and the HEMS
helicopter may be on stand-by for HEMS operations;
(63) ‘HEMS operating site’ means a site selected by the commander during a HEMS flight for
helicopter hoist operations, landing and take-off;
(64) ‘HHO flight’ means a flight by a helicopter operating under an HHO approval, the purpose of
which is to facilitate the transfer of persons and/or cargo by means of a helicopter hoist;
(65) ‘HHO offshore’ means a flight by a helicopter operating under an HHO approval, the purpose of
which is to facilitate the transfer of persons and/or cargo by means of a helicopter hoist from
or to a vessel or structure in a sea area or to the sea itself;
(66) ‘HHO passenger’ means a person who is to be transferred by means of a helicopter hoist;
(67) ‘HHO site’ means a specified area at which a helicopter performs a hoist transfer;
(68) ‘hold-over time (HoT)’ means the estimated time the anti-icing fluid will prevent the formation
of ice and frost and the accumulation of snow on the protected (treated) surfaces of an
aeroplane;
(69) ‘hostile environment’ means:
(a) an area in which:
(i) a safe forced landing cannot be accomplished because the surface is inadequate;
or
(ii) the helicopter occupants cannot be adequately protected from the elements; or

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(iii) search and rescue response/capability are not provided consistent with
anticipated exposure; or
(iv) there is an unacceptable risk of endangering persons or property on the ground;
(b) in any case, the following areas:
(i) for overwater operations, the open sea area north of 45 N and south of 45 S, unless
any part is designated as non-hostile by the responsible authority of the State in
which the operations take place; and
(ii) those parts of a congested area without adequate safe forced landing areas;
(69a) ‘human–machine interface (HMI)’ means a component of certain devices that is capable of
handling human–machine interactions. The interface consists of hardware and software that
allow user inputs to be interpreted and processed by machines or systems that, in turn, provide
the required results to the user;
(70) ‘landing decision point (LDP)’ means the point used in determining landing performance from
which, an engine failure having been recognised at this point, the landing may be safely
continued or a balked landing initiated;
(70a) ‘landing distance at time of arrival (LDTA)’ means a landing distance that is achievable in normal
operations based on landing performance data and associated procedures determined for the
prevailing conditions at the time of landing;
(71) ‘landing distance available (LDA)’ means the length of the runway which is declared available
by the State of the aerodrome and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane landing;
(72) ‘landplane’ means a fixed wing aircraft which is designed for taking off and landing on land and
includes amphibians operated as landplanes;
(73) ‘local helicopter operation’ means a commercial air transport operation of helicopters with a
maximum certified take-off mass (MCTOM) over 3 175 kg and a maximum operational
passenger seating configuration (MOPSC) of nine or less, by day, over routes navigated by
reference to visual landmarks, conducted within a local and defined geographical area specified
in the operations manual;
(74) ‘low visibility procedures (LVP)’ means procedures applied at an aerodrome for the purpose of
ensuring safe operations during lower than standard category I, other than standard category
II, category II and III approaches and low visibility take-offs;
(75) ‘low visibility take-off (LVTO)’ means a take-off with an RVR lower than 400 m but not less than
75 m;
(76) ‘lower than standard category I (LTS CAT I) operation’ means a category I instrument approach
and landing operation using category I DH, with an RVR lower than would normally be
associated with the applicable DH but not lower than 400 m;
(76a) ‘maintenance check flight (‘MCF’)’ means a flight of an aircraft with an airworthiness certificate
or with a permit to fly which is carried out for troubleshooting purposes or to check the
functioning of one or more systems, parts or appliances after maintenance, if the functioning
of the systems, parts or appliances cannot be established during ground checks and which is
carried out in any of the following situations:
(a) as required by the aircraft maintenance manual (‘AMM’) or any other maintenance data
issued by a design approval holder being responsible for the continuing airworthiness of
the aircraft;

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(b) after maintenance, as required by the operator or proposed by the organisation

responsible for the continuing airworthiness of the aircraft;
(c) as requested by the maintenance organisation for verification of a successful defect
rectification;
(d) to assist with fault isolation or troubleshooting;
(77) ‘maximum operational passenger seating configuration (MOPSC)’ means the maximum
passenger seating capacity of an individual aircraft, excluding crew seats, established for
operational purposes and specified in the operations manual. Taking as a baseline the maximum
passenger seating configuration established during the certification process conducted for the
type certificate (TC), supplemental type certificate (STC) or change to the TC or STC as relevant
to the individual aircraft, the MOPSC may establish an equal or lower number of seats,
depending on the operational constraints;
(78) ‘medical passenger’ means a medical person carried in a helicopter during a HEMS flight,
including but not limited to doctors, nurses and paramedics;
(78a) ‘minor failure condition’ means a failure condition that would not significantly reduce aircraft
safety, and which involves flight crew actions that are well within their capabilities;
(78b) ‘misuse of substances’ means the use of one or more psychoactive substances by flight crew,
cabin crew members and other safety-sensitive personnel in a way that:
(a) constitutes a direct hazard to the user or endangers the lives, health or welfare of others,
and/or
(b) causes or worsens an occupational, social, mental or physical problem or disorder;
(79) ‘night’ means the period between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning
civil twilight or such other period between sunset and sunrise as may be prescribed by the
appropriate authority, as defined by the Member State;
(80) ‘night vision goggles (NVG)’ means a head-mounted, binocular, light intensification appliance
that enhances the ability to maintain visual surface references at night;
(81) ‘night vision imaging system (NVIS)’ means the integration of all elements required to
successfully and safely use NVGs while operating a helicopter. The system includes as a
minimum: NVGs, NVIS lighting, helicopter components, training and continuing airworthiness;
(82) ‘non-hostile environment’ means an environment in which:
(a) a safe forced landing can be accomplished;
(b) the helicopter occupants can be protected from the elements; and
(c) search and rescue response/capability is provided consistent with the anticipated
exposure.
In any case, those parts of a congested area with adequate safe forced landing areas shall be
considered non-hostile;
(83) ‘non-precision approach (NPA) operation’ means an instrument approach with a minimum
descent height (MDH), or DH when flying a CDFA technique, not lower than 250 ft and an
RVR/CMV of not less than 750 m for aeroplanes and 600 m for helicopters;
(84) ‘NVIS crew member’ means a technical crew member assigned to an NVIS flight;
(85) ‘NVIS flight’ means a flight under night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with the flight
crew using NVGs in a helicopter operating under an NVIS approval;

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(86) ‘offshore operation’ means a helicopter operation that has a substantial proportion of any flight
conducted over open sea areas to or from an offshore location;
(86a) ‘offshore location’ means a facility intended to be used for helicopter operations on a fixed or
floating offshore structure or a vessel;
(86b) ‘open sea area’ means the area of water to seaward of the coastline;
(87) ‘operating site’ means a site, other than an aerodrome, selected by the operator or pilot-in-
command or commander for landing, take-off and/or external load operations;
(88) ‘operation in performance class 1’ means an operation that, in the event of failure of the critical
engine, the helicopter is able to land within the rejected take-off distance available or safely
continue the flight to an appropriate landing area, depending on when the failure occurs;
(89) ‘operation in performance class 2’ means an operation that, in the event of failure of the critical
engine, performance is available to enable the helicopter to safely continue the flight, except
when the failure occurs early during the take-off manoeuvre or late in the landing manoeuvre,
in which cases a forced landing may be required;
(90) ‘operation in performance class 3’ means an operation that, in the event of an engine failure at
any time during the flight, a forced landing may be required in a multi-engined helicopter and
will be required in a single-engined helicopter;
(91) ‘operational control’ means the responsibility for the initiation, continuation, termination or
diversion of a flight in the interest of safety;
(92) ‘other than standard category II (OTS CAT II) operation’ means a precision instrument approach
and landing operation using ILS or MLS where some or all of the elements of the precision
approach category II light system are not available, and with:
(a) DH below 200 ft but not lower than 100 ft; and
(b) RVR of not less than 350 m;
(93) ‘performance class A aeroplanes’ means multi-engined aeroplanes powered by turbo-propeller
engines with an MOPSC of more than nine or a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg, and
all multi-engined turbo-jet powered aeroplanes;
(94) ‘performance class B aeroplanes’ means aeroplanes powered by propeller engines with an
MOPSC of nine or less and a maximum take-off mass of 5 700 kg or less;
(95) ‘performance class C aeroplanes’ means aeroplanes powered by reciprocating engines with an
MOPSC of more than nine or a maximum take-off mass exceeding 5 700 kg;
(95a) ‘personnel-carrying device system (PCDS)’ means a system including one or more devices that
is either attached to a hoist or cargo hook or mounted to the rotorcraft airframe during human
external cargo (HEC) or helicopter hoist operations (HHO). The devices have the structural
capability and features needed to transport occupants external to the helicopter e.g. a life
safety harness with or without a quick release and strop with a connector ring, a rigid basket or
a cage;
(95b) ‘simple personnel carrying device system (simple ‘PCDS’)’ means a PCDS that complies with the
following conditions:

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(a) meets a harmonised standard under Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European
Parliament and of the Council1 or Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council2;
(b) is designed to restrain no more than a single person (for instance, hoist or cargo hook
operator, task specialist or photographer) inside the cabin, or to restrain no more than
two persons outside the cabin;
(c) is not a rigid structure such as a cage, a platform or a basket;
(96) ‘pilot-in-command’ means the pilot designated as being in command and charged with the safe
conduct of the flight. For the purpose of commercial air transport operations, the ‘pilot-in-
command’ shall be termed the ‘commander’;
(96a) ‘portable EFB’ means a portable EFB host platform, used on the flight deck, which is not part of
the configuration of the certified aircraft;
(96b) ‘portable electronic device (PED)’ means any kind of electronic device, typically but not limited
to consumer electronics, brought on board the aircraft by crew members, passengers, or as part
of the cargo, that is not included in the configuration of the certified aircraft. It includes all
equipment that is able to consume electrical energy. The electrical energy can be provided from
internal sources such as batteries (chargeable or non-rechargeable) or the devices may also be
connected to specific aircraft power sources;
(97) ‘principal place of business’ means the head office or registered office of the organisation within
which the principal financial functions and operational control of the activities referred to in
this Regulation are exercised;
(98) ‘prioritisation of ramp inspections’ means the dedication of an appropriate portion of the total
number of ramp inspections conducted by or on behalf of a competent authority on an annual
basis as provided in Part-ARO;
(98a) ‘psychoactive substances’ means alcohol, opioids, cannabinoids, sedatives and hypnotics,
cocaine, other psychostimulants, hallucinogens, and volatile solvents, with the exception of
caffeine and tobacco;
(99) ‘public interest site (PIS)’ means a site used exclusively for operations in the public interest;
(100) ‘ramp inspection’ means the inspection of aircraft, of flight and cabin crew qualifications and of
flight documentation in order to verify the compliance with the applicable requirements;
(101) ‘rectification interval’ means a limitation on the duration of operations with inoperative
equipment;
(102) ‘rejected take-off distance available (RTODAH)’ means the length of the final approach and take-
off area declared available and suitable for helicopters operated in performance class 1 to
complete a rejected take-off;
(103) ‘rejected take-off distance required (RTODRH)’ means the horizontal distance required from the
start of the take-off to the point where the helicopter comes to a full stop following an engine
failure and rejection of the take-off at the take-off decision point;

1
Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on personal protective equipment and
repealing Council Directive 89/686/EEC (OJ L 81, 31.3.2016, p. 51).
2 Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC
(OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 24).

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(103a) ‘required navigation performance (RNP) specification’ means a navigation specification for PBN
operations which includes a requirement for on-board navigation performance monitoring and
alerting;
(103b) ‘rules of the air’ means the rules established in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)
No 923/20121;
(103c)‘runway condition report (RCR)’ means a comprehensive standardised report relating to the
conditions of the runway surface and their effect on the aeroplane landing and take-off
performance, described by means of runway conditions code;
(104) ‘runway visual range (RVR)’ means the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centre
line of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or
identifying its centre line;
(105) ‘safe forced landing’ means an unavoidable landing or ditching with a reasonable expectancy of
no injuries to persons in the aircraft or on the surface;
(105a) ‘safety-sensitive personnel’ means persons who might endanger aviation safety if they perform
their duties and functions improperly, including flight crew and cabin crew members, aircraft
maintenance personnel and air traffic controllers;
(106) ‘seaplane’ means a fixed wing aircraft which is designed for taking off and landing on water and
includes amphibians operated as seaplanes;
(107) ‘separate runways’ means runways at the same aerodrome that are separate landing surfaces.
These runways may overlay or cross in such a way that if one of the runways is blocked, it will
not prevent the planned type of operations on the other runway. Each runway shall have a
separate approach procedure based on a separate navigation aid;
(107a) ‘specially prepared winter runway’ means a runway with a dry frozen surface of compacted
snow or ice which has been treated with sand or grit or has been mechanically treated to
improve runway friction;
(108) ‘special VFR flight’ means a VFR flight cleared by air traffic control to operate within a control
zone in meteorological conditions below VMC;
(109) ‘stabilised approach (SAp)’ means an approach that is flown in a controlled and appropriate
manner in terms of configuration, energy and control of the flight path from a pre-determined
point or altitude/height down to a point 50 ft above the threshold or the point where the flare
manoeuvre is initiated if higher;
(109a) ‘sterile flight crew compartment’ means any period of time when the flight crew members are
not disturbed or distracted, except for matters critical to the safe operation of the aircraft or
the safety of the occupants;
(110) ‘take-off alternate aerodrome’ means an alternate aerodrome at which an aircraft can land
should this become necessary shortly after take-off and if it is not possible to use the aerodrome
of departure;

1
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 of 26 September 2012 laying down the common rules of the air and operational
provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1035/2011 and
Regulations (EC) No 1265/2007, (EC) No 1794/2006, (EC) No 730/2006, (EC) No 1033/2006 and (EU) No 255/2010 (OJ L 281, 13.10.2012,
p. 1).

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(111) ‘take-off decision point (TDP)’ means the point used in determining take-off performance from
which, an engine failure having been recognised at this point, either a rejected take-off may be
made or a take-off safely continued;
(112) ‘take-off distance available (TODA)’ in the case of aeroplanes means the length of the take-off
run available plus the length of the clearway, if provided;
(113) ‘take-off distance available (TODAH)’ in the case of helicopters means the length of the final
approach and take-off area plus, if provided, the length of helicopter clearway declared
available and suitable for helicopters to complete the take-off;
(114) ‘take-off distance required (TODRH)’ in the case of helicopters means the horizontal distance
required from the start of the take-off to the point at which take-off safety speed (VTOSS), a
selected height and a positive climb gradient are achieved, following failure of the critical engine
being recognised at the TDP, the remaining engines operating within approved operating limits;
(115) ‘take-off flight path’ means the vertical and horizontal path, with the critical engine inoperative,
from a specified point in the take-off for aeroplanes to 1 500 ft above the surface and for
helicopters to 1 000 ft above the surface;
(116) ‘take-off mass’ means the mass including everything and everyone carried at the
commencement of the take-off for helicopters and take-off run for aeroplanes;
(117) ‘take-off run available (TORA)’ means the length of runway that is declared available by the
State of the aerodrome and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane taking off;
(117a) ‘task specialist’ means a person assigned by the operator or a third party, or acting as an
undertaking, who performs tasks on the ground directly associated with a specialised task or
performs specialised tasks on board or from the aircraft;
(118) ‘technical crew member’ means a crew member in commercial air transport HEMS, HHO or NVIS
operations other than a flight or cabin crew member, assigned by the operator to duties in the
aircraft or on the ground for the purpose of assisting the pilot during HEMS, HHO or NVIS
operations, which may require the operation of specialised on-board equipment;
(119) ‘technical instructions (TI)’ means the latest effective edition of the ‘Technical instructions for
the safe transport of dangerous goods by air’, including the supplement and any addenda,
approved and published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation;
(120) ‘traffic load’ means the total mass of passengers, baggage, cargo and carry-on specialist
equipment and including any ballast;
(120a) ‘type A EFB application’ means an EFB application whose malfunction or misuse has no safety
effect;
(120b) ‘type B EFB application’ means an EFB application:
(a) whose malfunction or misuse is classified as minor failure condition or below; and
(b) which neither replaces nor duplicates any system or functionality required by
airworthiness regulations, airspace requirements, or operational rules;
(121) ‘unaided NVIS flight’ means, in the case of NVIS operations, that portion of a VFR flight
performed at night when a crew member is not using NVG;
(122) ‘undertaking’ means any natural or legal person, whether profit-making or not, or any official
body whether having its own personality or not;
(123) ‘V1’ means the maximum speed in the take-off at which the pilot must take the first action to
stop the aeroplane within the accelerate-stop distance. V1 also means the minimum speed in

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the take-off, following a failure of the critical engine at VEF, at which the pilot can continue the
take-off and achieve the required height above the take-off surface within the take-off distance;
(124) ‘VEF’ means the speed at which the critical engine is assumed to fail during take-off;
(125) ‘visual approach’ means an approach when either part or all of an instrument approach
procedure is not completed and the approach is executed with visual reference to the terrain;
(126) ‘weather-permissible aerodrome’ means an adequate aerodrome where, for the anticipated
time of use, weather reports, or forecasts, or any combination thereof, indicate that the
weather conditions will be at or above the required aerodrome operating minima, and the
runway surface condition reports indicate that a safe landing will be possible;
(127) ‘wet lease agreement’ means an agreement:
— in the case of CAT operations, between air carriers pursuant to which the aircraft is
operated under the AOC of the lessor; or
— in the case of commercial operations other than CAT, between operators pursuant to
which the aircraft is operated under the responsibility of the lessor;
(128) ‘wet runway’ means a runway whose surface is covered by any visible dampness or water up to
and including 3 mm deep within the area intended to be used.

GM1 Annex I Definitions

ED Decision 2019/008/R

DEFINITIONS FOR TERMS USED IN ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF COMPLIANCE AND GUIDANCE MATERIAL
For the purpose of Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to Regulation (EU)
No 965/2012, the following definitions should apply:
(a) ‘Abnormal flight behaviour’ means, in the context of an aircraft tracking system, an event
affecting a flight:
(1) which is outside of the parameters defined by the operator for normal operation or which
indicates an obvious deviation from normal operation; and
(2) for which the operator has determined that it poses a risk for the safe continuation of the
flight or for third parties.
(a) ‘Accuracy’ means, in the context of PBN operations, the degree of conformance between the
estimated, measured or desired position and/or the velocity of a platform at a given time, and
its true position or velocity. Navigation performance accuracy is usually presented as a statistical
measure of system error and is specified as predictable, repeatable and relative.
(b) ‘Aircraft-based augmentation system (ABAS)’ means a system that augments and/or integrates
the information obtained from the other GNSS elements with information available on board
the aircraft. The most common form of ABAS is receiver autonomous integrity monitoring
(RAIM).
(ba) ‘Airport moving map display (AMMD)’ means a software application that displays an airport
map on a display device and uses data from a navigation source to depict the aircraft current
position on this map while the aircraft is on the ground.
(c) ‘Area navigation (RNAV)’ means a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on any
desired flight path within the coverage of station-referenced navigation aids or within the limits
of the capability of self-contained aids, or a combination of these.

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(d) ‘Availability’ means, in the context of PBN operations, an indication of the ability of the system
to provide usable service within the specified coverage area and is defined as the portion of
time during which the system is to be used for navigation during which reliable navigation
information is presented to the crew, autopilot or other system managing the flight of the
aircraft.
(e) ‘Committal point’ means the point in the approach at which the pilot flying decides that, in the
event of an engine failure being recognised, the safest option is to continue to the elevated final
approach and take-off area (elevated FATO).
(f) ‘Continuity of function’ means, in the context of PBN operations, the capability of the total
system, comprising all elements necessary to maintain aircraft position within the defined
airspace, to perform its function without non-scheduled interruptions during the intended
operation.
(fa) ‘Controlled portable electronic device (C-PED)’ means a PED subject to administrative control
by the operator that uses it. This includes, inter alia, tracking the allocation of the devices to
specific aircraft or persons and ensuring that no unauthorised changes are made to the
hardware, software, or databases. C-PEDs can be assigned to the category of non-intentional
transmitters or T-PEDs.
(fb) ‘EFB installed resources’ means certified EFB hardware components external to the EFB host
platform itself, such as input/output components (installed remote displays, keyboards,
pointing devices, switches, etc.) or a docking station.
(fc) ‘EFB mounting device’ means an aircraft certified part that secures a portable or installed EFB,
or EFB system components.
(fd) ‘EFB system supplier’ means the company responsible for developing, or for having developed,
the EFB system or part of it.
(g) ‘Emergency locator transmitter’ is a generic term describing equipment that broadcasts
distinctive signals on designated frequencies and, depending on application, may be activated
by impact or may be manually activated.
(h) ‘Exposure time’ means the actual period during which the performance of the helicopter with
the critical engine inoperative in still air does not guarantee a safe forced landing or the safe
continuation of the flight.
(i) ‘Fail-operational flight control system’ means a flight control system with which, in the event of
a failure below alert height, the approach, flare and landing can be completed automatically. In
the event of a failure, the automatic landing system will operate as a fail-passive system.
(j) ‘Fail-operational hybrid landing system’ means a system that consists of a primary fail-passive
automatic landing system and a secondary independent guidance system enabling the pilot to
complete a landing manually after failure of the primary system.
(k) ‘Fail-passive flight control system’: a flight control system is fail-passive if, in the event of a
failure, there is no significant out-of-trim condition or deviation of flight path or attitude but
the landing is not completed automatically. For a fail-passive automatic flight control system
the pilot assumes control of the aeroplane after a failure.
(l) ‘Flight control system’ in the context of low visibility operations means a system that includes
an automatic landing system and/or a hybrid landing system.

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(m) ‘HEMS dispatch centre’ means a place where, if established, the coordination or control of the
helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) flight takes place. It may be located in a HEMS
operating base.
(n) ‘Hybrid head-up display landing system (hybrid HUDLS)’ means a system that consists of a
primary fail-passive automatic landing system and a secondary independent HUD/HUDLS
enabling the pilot to complete a landing manually after failure of the primary system.
(na) ‘Installed EFB’ means an EFB host platform installed in an aircraft, capable of hosting type A
and/or type B EFB applications. It may also host certified applications. It is an aircraft part, and,
is therefore, covered by the aircraft airworthiness approval.
(o) ‘Integrity’ means, in the context of PBN operations, the ability of a system to provide timely
warnings to users when the system should not be used for navigation.
(p) ‘Landing distance available (LDAH)’ means the length of the final approach and take-off area
plus any additional area declared available by the State of the aerodrome and suitable for
helicopters to complete the landing manoeuvre from a defined height.
(q) ‘Landing distance required (LDRH)’, in the case of helicopters, means the horizontal distance
required to land and come to a full stop from a point 15 m (50 ft) above the landing surface.
(r) ‘Lateral navigation’ means a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on a
horizontal plane using radio navigation signals, other positioning sources, external flight path
references, or a combination of these.
(ra) ‘mass’ and ‘weight’: In accordance with ICAO Annex 5 and the International System of Units (SI),
both terms are used to indicate the actual and limiting masses of aircraft, the payload and its
constituent elements, the fuel load, etc. These are expressed in units of mass (kg), but in most
approved flight manuals and other operational documentation, these quantities are published
as weights in accordance with the common language. In the ICAO standardised system of units
of measurement, a weight is a force rather than a mass. Since the use of the term ‘weight’ does
not cause any problem in the day-to-day handling of aircraft, its continued use in operational
applications and publications is acceptable.
(s) ‘Maximum structural landing mass’ means the maximum permissible total aeroplane mass upon
landing under normal circumstances.
(t) ‘Maximum zero fuel mass’ means the maximum permissible mass of an aeroplane with no
usable fuel. The mass of the fuel contained in particular tanks should be included in the zero
fuel mass when it is explicitly mentioned in the aircraft flight manual.
(ta) ‘Miscellaneous (non-EFB) software applications’ means non-EFB applications that support
function(s) not directly related to the tasks performed by the flight crew in the aircraft.
(u) ‘Overpack’, for the purpose of transporting dangerous goods, means an enclosure used by a
single shipper to contain one or more packages and to form one handling unit for convenience
of handling and stowage.
(v) ‘Package’, for the purpose of transporting dangerous goods, means the complete product of
the packing operation consisting of the packaging and its contents prepared for transport.
(w) ‘Packaging’, for the purpose of transporting dangerous goods, means receptacles and any other
components or materials necessary for the receptacle to perform its containment function.
(x) ‘Personal locator beacon (PLB)’ is an emergency beacon other than an ELT that broadcasts
distinctive signals on designated frequencies, is standalone, portable and is manually activated
by the survivors.

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(xa) ‘Ramp inspection tool’ means the IT application including a centralised database used by all
stakeholders to store and exchange data related to ramp inspections.
(y) ‘Receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM)’ means a technique whereby a GNSS
receiver/processor determines the integrity of the GNSS navigation signals using only GNSS
signals or GNSS signals augmented with altitude. This determination is achieved by a
consistency check among redundant pseudo-range measurements. At least one satellite in
addition to those required for navigation has to be in view for the receiver to perform the RAIM
function.
(z) ‘Rotation point (RP)’ means the point at which a cyclic input is made to initiate a nose-down
attitude change during the take-off flight path. It is the last point in the take-off path from which,
in the event of an engine failure being recognised, a forced landing on the aerodrome can be
achieved.
(aa) ‘Space-based augmentation system (SBAS)’ means a wide coverage augmentation system that
augments and/or integrates the information obtained from the other GNSS elements with
information from a satellite-based transmitter. The most common form of SBAS in Europe is the
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).
(ab) ‘Touch down and lift-off area (TLOF)’ means a load-bearing area on which a helicopter may
touch down or lift off.
(ac) ‘Transmitting PED (T-PED)’ means a portable electronic device (PED) that has intentional radio
frequency (RF) transmission capabilities.
(ad) ‘Vertical navigation’ means a method of navigation which permits aircraft operation on a
vertical flight profile using altimetry sources, external flight path references, or a combination
of these.
(ae) ‘Viewable stowage’ means a non-certified device that is attached to the flight crew member
(e.g. with a kneeboard) or to an existing aircraft part (e.g. using suction cups), and is intended
to hold charts or to hold low-mass portable electronic devices that are viewable by the flight
crew members at their assigned duty stations.

GM2 Annex I Definitions

ED Decision 2016/016/R

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used in the Annexes to this Regulation:
A aeroplane
a/c aircraft
AAC aeronautical administrative communications
AAIM aircraft autonomous integrity monitoring
AAL above aerodrome level
ABAS aircraft-based augmentation system
AC advisory circular
AC alternating current
ACAS airborne collision avoidance system
ADF automatic direction finder
ADG air driven generator
ADS automatic dependent surveillance
ADS-B automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast
ADS-C automatic dependent surveillance - contract
AEA Association of European Airlines

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