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Operating procedures, rules & regulations

Who May Rent a GGH Helicopter?

A licensed helicopter pilot who has received or is currently working on a rating at GGH, or a student pilot working on a PPL Rotorcraft, may rent a GGH helicopter. To act as pilot-in-command (“PIC”), the Renter (“You”) must hold at least a US PPL Rotorcraft Helicopter, a current Medical Certificate, and BFR; you must complete the necessary aircraft checkouts; and you must meet insurance and currency requirements. You may be asked to provide personal information required for county, state, and federal security checks.

Insurance

Liability and property damage insurance is carried at all times by GGH. Our policy includes $1,000,000 in liability coverage and covers all aircraft damage, less the deductible not to exceed 10% of the hull value, which you must pay should damage occur while being operated by you. You may be held liable, at GGH's sole discretion, over and above the deductible if the accident is determined by GGH, the NTSB, FAA or any law enforcement authority, to be caused by a violation of any FAR or these Operating Procedures, Rules, and Regulations. You are responsible for damage not covered by insurance; additional renter coverage may be obtained through various aviation insurance providers. If aircraft damage is noted during the pre-flight inspection, you must report it immediately to GGH dispatch personnel. You must meet insurance flight time requirements to carry passengers.

Aircraft Checkout and Currency Requirements

You must complete applicable checkouts and training before renting a GGH helicopter. Checkouts include “Initial checkout,” “Mountain checkout,” and completion of the Robinson Helicopter Safety Course. Evidence of completion of each checkout must be on file in the GGH offices, and an endorsement in your logbook may also be required.

After checkout, you must stay current to rent a GGH helicopter. If your currency lapses, you must fly with a GGH instructor before acting as PIC.

If you are a post-solo student pilot, you must have the appropriate endorsements in your logbook and on your Medical Certificate for all solo flights, and each solo flight must be verbally approved by your instructor.

Responsibilities

Scheduling

Failure to notify GGH that you do not intend to fly a scheduled aircraft may result in a charge of the aircraft minimum daily rental unless weather-related. You must notify GGH Dispatch in person or by phone (408-805-5910) of any flight cancellation, regardless of reason, 12 hours prior to scheduled flight to permit rescheduling of the aircraft. You can cancel or change a reservation online up to 24 hours prior to the flight. A scheduled helicopter will be released for rental 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time if GGH has not been notified of a change or cancellation. You are responsible for checking the schedule and returning the aircraft on time. If delayed, notify GGH by phone. Unless prior arrangement has been made with GGH, you are required to pay a minimum of 3 flight hours per 24-hour period that a helicopter is scheduled, e.g., rental Friday evening through Sunday evening is a minimum of 6 hours flight time.

Flight operations

You must complete and have reviewed by Dispatch or a GGH instructor a weight-and-balance computation and a Dispatch Form before keys are issued for the helicopter.

You must obtain a complete weather briefing, including local area notams, for each flight, and you must file a flight plan with the appropriate Flight Service Station on flights outside the local flying area (50nm). GGH aircraft are not authorized to be flown outside the Continental US.

Passenger loading or unloading while the helicopter is running is prohibited. “Running” means “while the blades are turning.” Neither you nor your passengers may exit the helicopter for any reason while the blades are turning.

Practice emergency maneuvers, including the following, are prohibited unless a GGH instructor is on board:

You may not allow any other person to act as PIC or manipulate the flight controls of a GGH helicopter you have rented. You must occupy the right seat and remove all flight controls for the left seat unless accompanied by a GGH instructor. Store them under the seat or inside GGH.

Only the right door may be removed for flight. Leave it inside GGH.

You cannot fly when wind conditions at your departure and/or destination airports are in excess of published or company limitations for your helicopter. GGH company limits: Student pilots, 10 kts, or endorsement by an instructor. Pilots with <200 hours, 15 kts, max 10kt gust spread. Pilots with >200 hours, 20 kts, max 10kt gust spread.

No student solo flights are approved before or after office hours unless an instructor is present at GGH and authorizes the flight.

You may not operate a GGH aircraft below 500’ AGL, except for takeoff, landing or declared emergency, or during emergency practice with a GGH instructor. Off-airport approaches and landings require prior approval from a GGH instructor and must meet all applicable regulations and laws.

All ground operations are to be conducted in the safest manner possible.

Instruction

GGH instructors are employees of Golden Gate Helicopters, LLC. Only authorized GGH instructors may instruct in GGH helicopters. Only authorized GGH instructors may conduct emergency procedure practice.

Helicopter care

Careless procedures or abuse to helicopters beyond normal wear and tear is chargeable to you at GGH’s sole discretion. You must return the helicopter on time, litter removed, locked, and covers put on the aircraft, if available. You will be charged $75 for battery recharge and other costs resulting from leaving the master switch on after flight. Only GGH management may authorize maintenance on GGH aircraft. You must call for authorization and instructions before repairs are made away from the Hayward Airport.

Aircraft charges

Enter flight time legibly on the dispatch sheet. If the Hobbs meter numbers have begun to move, you must use the next higher number. Report discrepancies between the previous and current Hobbs reading to GGH dispatch before engine start; otherwise, you will be charged for the entire time. Your account will be credited for all valid fuel/oil receipts.

Record-keeping and invoicing

GGH dispatch may ask you to verify your personal information on file, including address, contact information, birthdate, checkout endorsements, medical and BFR dates, and state ID. You cannot rent a GGH helicopter unless this information is complete and accurate. A photocopy of your pilot certificate, current medical and government photo ID will be kept on file with GGH.

GGH does not offer credit. If you do not maintain a credit balance entitling you to block rate, you must pay your balance in full at the full rate at the end of each flight when the aircraft dispatch sheet and keys are turned in and the flight is invoiced. A block payment is $1500 and may be made by cash, check, or credit card. A $25 charge will be levied for all returned checks. Failure to pay for services will result in flying privileges being suspended until the account is paid in full. Any charges incurred to collect a delinquent account will be added to the balance owed.

After-hour dispatch

Flights that begin or end outside of GGH business hours must be arranged in advance. A cash deposit, blank signed check, credit card on file, or other arrangement must be made before the aircraft will be released. If the office is not open when you return, you may drop the dispatch sheet with the keys in the GGH lockbox, the code for which is shown on the aircraft dispatch clipboard.