# The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order 2013, Article 129: Towing, picking up, raising and lowering of persons, animals and articles

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) An aircraft in flight must not, by means external to the aircraft tow any article or pick up, raise or lower any person, animal or article—
(a) unless there is a certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid in respect of that aircraft under the law of the country in which the aircraft is registered and that certificate or the flight manual for the aircraft includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose; and
(b) if it is a helicopter, otherwise than under and in accordance with the terms of a written permission granted by the Governor under this article or article 128.
(2) An aircraft in flight must not tow any article, other than a glider, at night or when flight visibility is less than one nautical mile.
(3) The length of the combination of towing aircraft, tow rope, and article in tow, must not exceed 150 metres.
(4) An aeroplane must not launch or pick up tow ropes, banners or similar articles other than at an aerodrome.
(5) Every applicant for, and holder of, a permission required under paragraph (1) must make available to the Governor if requested an operations manual containing such information and instructions as may be necessary to enable employees and persons engaged in the operation to perform their duties.
(6) The operations manual must include standard operating procedures as described in article 127(2) of this Order.
(7) The holder of the permission must make such amendments or additions to the operations manual as the Governor may require.
(8) A helicopter must not fly at any height over a congested area of a city, town or settlement at any time when any article, person or animal is suspended from the helicopter.
(9) A person who is not a member of the flight crew must not be carried in a helicopter at any time when an article, person or animal is suspended from the helicopter, other than—
(a) a task specialist who has duties to perform in connection with the article, person or animal; or
(b) a person who has been picked up or raised by means external to the helicopter; or
(c) a person who it is intended must be lowered to the surface by means external to the helicopter.
(10) Nothing in this article—
(a) prohibits the towing in a reasonable manner by an aircraft in flight of any radio aerial, any instrument which is being used for experimental purposes, or any signal, apparatus or article required or permitted by or under this Order to be towed or displayed by an aircraft in flight; or
(b) prohibits the picking up, raising or lowering of any person, animal or article in an emergency or for the purpose of saving life.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/2870/article/129 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/air-navigation-overseas-territories-order-2013/article-129
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.