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EASA publishes small VCA easy access rules and revisions to means of compliance

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published Easy Access Rules for small category VCA, including the requirements for the management of small category VTOL-capable aircraft (VCA).

“This EAR book consolidates the currently published material on VCA, formerly known as SC-VTOL (Special Conditions for Vertical Take-off and Landing), and its Means of Compliance (MOC), to simplify the use of VCA requirements,” says EASA. The first Easy Access Rules for small category VCA from October 2024 include the following: SC VTOL Issue 2, MOC Issue 2, MOC 2 Issue 3, and MOC 3 Issue 2.

“The types of operations that the Category Enhanced aircraft will perform correspond to the highest operational risk to third parties and/or to passenger transport for remuneration. For this reason, the most stringent system safety objectives are assigned regardless of the number of occupants. This SC applies to VCA with a pilot on board, with a Maximum Take Off Mass of up to 5700kg and up to 9 passengers. The focus is on VFR-Day operations in urban and non-urban environments, and for flights over water, if applicable. Furthermore, it is compatible with various degrees of automation, as well as a future extension of airworthiness criteria to consider the evolution of autonomous operations.”

The MOC content has been updated to reflect some of the changes introduced with the latest publication of requirements. The changes include: an increase of the maximum certified take-off mass to 5700 kg — introducing the term “VCA” to replace “VTOL” following Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1111.

For more information

https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-small-category-vca

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