# Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 of 5 October 2012 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to air operations pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Division (a): HEMS flights operated in performance class 1 and 2 shall comply with the weather minima in Table 1 for dispatch and en-route phase of the HEMS flight. In the event that during the en-route phase the weather conditions fall below the cloud base or visibility minima shown, helicopters certified for flights only under VMC shall abandon the flight or return to base. Helicopters equipped and certified for instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) operations may abandon the flight, return to base or convert in all respects to a flight conducted under instrument flight rules (IFR), provided the flight crew are suitably qualified.

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

Table 1
HEMS operating minima
During the en-route phase visibility may be reduced to 800 m for short periods when in sight of land if the helicopter is manoeuvred at a speed that will give adequate opportunity to observe any obstacles in time to avoid a collision.
During the en-route phase, cloud base may be reduced to 1 000 ft for short periods.
2 PILOTS
1 PILOT
DAY
Ceiling
Visibility
Ceiling
Visibility
500 ft and above
As defined by the applicable airspace VFR minima
500 ft and above
As defined by the applicable airspace VFR minima
499 - 400 ft
1 000 m
499 – 400 ft
2 000 m
399 - 300 ft
2 000 m
399 – 300 ft
3 000 m
NIGHT
Cloud base
Visibility
Cloud base
Visibility
1 200 ft
2 500 m
1 200 ft
3 000 m

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2012/965/annex/V/division/subpart+j/division/spahems120/division/a (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2012-965/annex-V/division-subpart+j/division-spahems120/division-a
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.