---
title: "SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching — Part-SPO · Avioverse"
description: "Complex motor-powered helicopters operated on a flight over water in a hostile environment at a distance from land corresponding to more than 10 minutes'…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-d/spo-ide-h-203"
---

# SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching

ANNEX VIII (Part-SPO) · 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

## SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching

Complex motor-powered helicopters operated 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 cruising speed and other-than complex motor-powered helicopters flying over water in a hostile environment beyond a distance of 50 NM from land shall be:

(a) designed for landing on water in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code;

(b) certified for ditching in accordance with the relevant airworthiness code; or

(c) fitted with emergency flotation equipment.

IR · SPO.IDE.H.203 — Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2015/140 · Air OPS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 27 Mar 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 SPO.IDE.H.203 All helicopters on flights over water – ditching

EMERGENCY FLOTATION EQUIPMENT

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

AMC · AMC1 SPO.IDE.H.203 — 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 AND EQUIPMENT](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/air-ops/part-spo/subpart-d)

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.