---
title: "SPA.HOFO.170 Crew requirements — Part-SPA · Avioverse"
description: "The operator shall establish: criteria for the selection of flight crew members, taking into account the flight crew members’ previous experience;"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spa/subpart-k/spa-hofo-170"
---

# SPA.HOFO.170 Crew requirements

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

Official sources: [EASA Easy Access Rules (opens in a new tab)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-air-operations) · [EUR-Lex 2012/965 (opens in a new tab)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32012R0965)

IR Implementing rule

## SPA.HOFO.170 Crew requirements

(a) The operator shall establish:

(1) criteria for the selection of flight crew members, taking into account the flight crew members’ previous experience;

(2) a minimum experience level for a commander/pilot-in-command intending to conduct offshore operations; and

(3) a flight crew training and checking programme that each [flight crew member](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/flight-crew-member) shall complete successfully. Such programme shall be adapted to the offshore environment and include normal, abnormal and emergency procedures, crew resource management, water entry and sea survival training.

(b) Recency requirements

A pilot shall only operate a [helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helicopter) carrying passengers:

(1) at an [offshore location](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/offshore-location), as commander or pilot-in-command, or co-pilot, when he or she has carried out in the preceding 90 days at least 3 take-offs, departures, approaches and landings at an offshore location in a helicopter of the same type or a full flight simulator (FFS) representing that type; or

(2) by [night](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/night) at an offshore location, as commander or pilot-in-command, or co-pilot, when he/she has carried out in the preceding 90 days at least 3 take-offs, departures, approaches and landings at night at an offshore location in a helicopter of the same type or an FFS representing that type.

The 3 take-offs and landings shall be performed in either multi-pilot or single-pilot operations, depending on the operation to be performed.

(c) Specific requirements for CAT:

(1) The 90-day period presented in points (b)(1) and (2) above may be extended to 120 days as long as the pilot undertakes line flying under the supervision of a type rating instructor or examiner.

(2) If the pilot does not comply with the requirements in (1), he/she shall complete a training flight in the helicopter or an FFS of the helicopter type to be used, which shall include at least the requirements described in (b)(1) and (2) before he or she can exercise his or her privileges.

IR · SPA.HOFO.170 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2016/1199 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 SPA.HOFO.170(a) Crew requirements

FLIGHT CREW TRAINING AND CHECKING

(a) Flight crew training programmes should:

(1) improve knowledge of the offshore operations environment with particular consideration of visual illusions during approach, introduced by lighting, motion and weather factors;

(2) improve crew cooperation specifically for offshore operations;

(3) provide flight crew members with the necessary skills to appropriately manage the risks associated with normal, abnormal and emergency procedures during flights by day and [night](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/night);

(4) if night operations are conducted, give particular consideration to approach, [go-around](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/go-around), landing, and take-off phases;

(5) include instructions on the optimum use of the [helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/helicopter)’s automatic flight control system (AFCS);

(6) for multi-pilot operation, emphasise the importance of multi-crew procedures, as well as the role of the pilot monitoring during all phases of the flight; and

(7) include standard operating procedures.

(b) Emergency and safety equipment training should focus on the equipment fitted/carried. Water entry and sea survival training, including operation of all associated safety equipment, should be an element of the recurrent training, as described in AMC1 ORO.FC.230(a)(2)(iii)(F).

(c) The training elements referred to above should be assessed during: operator proficiency checks, line checks, or, as applicable, emergency and safety equipment checks.

(d) Training and checking should make full use of full flight simulators (FFSs) for normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures related to all aspects of helicopter offshore operations (HOFO).

AMC · AMC1 SPA.HOFO.170(a) — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · ED Decision 2016/022/R · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

[All rules in SUBPART K: HELICOPTER OFFSHORE OPERATIONS](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spa/subpart-k)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 27 Mar 2026, extracted 2 Nov 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.