---
title: "CAT.IDE.H.320 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching — Part-CAT · Avioverse"
description: "Helicopters shall be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant certification specification when operated in…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-cat/subpart-d/cat-ide-h-320"
---

# CAT.IDE.H.320 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching

ANNEX IV (Part-CAT) · Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

IR Implementing rule

## CAT.IDE.H.320 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching

(a) Helicopters shall be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant certification specification when operated in performance class 1 or 2 on a flight over water in a [hostile environment](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/hostile-environment) at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruise speed.

(b) Helicopters shall be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant certification specification or fitted with emergency flotation equipment when operated in:

(1) performance class 1 or 2 on a flight over water in a [non-hostile environment](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/non-hostile-environment) at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes flying time at normal cruise speed;

(2) performance class 2, when taking off or landing over water, except in the case of [helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helicopter) emergency medical services (HEMS) operations, where for the purpose of minimising exposure, the landing or take-off at a [HEMS operating site](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/hems-operating-site) located in a congested environment is conducted over water;

(3) performance class 3 on a flight over water beyond [safe forced landing](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/safe-forced-landing) distance from land.

IR · CAT.IDE.H.320 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2019/1384 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 CAT.IDE.H.320 Landing on water

DESIGN FOR LANDING ON WATER

A [helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helicopter) is designed for landing on water if safety provisions at least equivalent to those for ditching (CS 27.801/CS 29.801) are met.

GM · GM1 CAT.IDE.H.320 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2016/022/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 CAT.IDE.H.320(b) All helicopters on flight over water – ditching

GENERAL

The same considerations of AMC1 SPA.HOFO.165(d) should apply in respect of emergency flotation equipment.

AMC · AMC1 CAT.IDE.H.320(b) — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2016/022/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

[All rules in SUBPART D: INSTRUMENTS, DATA, EQUIPMENT](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-cat/subpart-d)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.