Here is the proposed requirement from the draft EASA regulations - Subpart GEN is applicable to
all specified aircraft:
OPS.GEN.405 Equipment for all aircraft
AEROPLANES AND HELICOPTERS
(a) Aeroplanes and helicopters shall be equipped with:
(1) except in the case of aerobatic flights, at least one hand fire extinguisher:
(i) in the cockpit; and
(ii) in each passenger compartment which is separate from the cockpit;
Commercial Air Transport inherits the requirement from Subpart GEN and so remains silent. There is
no guidance on the General Requirement (so it is not clear what is required) but there is this method of compliance for Commercial Air Transport:
AMC OPS.CAT.405 Hand fire extinguishers – Motor-powered aircraft
HAND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS – NUMBER, LOCATION AND TYPE
1. The number and location of hand fire extinguishers should be such as to provide adequate availability for use, account being taken of the number and size of the passenger compartments, the need to minimise the hazard of toxic gas concentrations and the location of toilets, galleys etc. These considerations may result in the number of fire extinguishers being greater than the minimum prescribed.
2. There should be at least one fire extinguisher suitable for both flammable fluid and electrical equipment fires installed in the cockpit. Additional extinguishers may be required for the protection of other compartments accessible to the crew in flight. Dry chemical fire extinguishers should not be used in the cockpit, or in any compartment not separated by a partition from the cockpit, because of the adverse effect on vision during discharge and, if conductive, interference with electrical contacts by the chemical residues.
3. Where only one hand fire extinguisher is required in the passenger compartments it should be located near the cabin crew member’s station, where provided.
4. Where two or more hand fire extinguishers are required in the passenger compartments and their location is not otherwise dictated by consideration of paragraph OPS.CAT.405(a), an extinguisher should be located near each end of the cabin with the remainder distributed throughout the cabin as evenly as is practicable.
5. Unless an extinguisher is clearly visible, its location should be indicated by a placard or sign. Appropriate symbols may also be used to supplement such a placard or sign.
6. The fire extinguishers located in the cockpit should contain Halon 1211 (bromochlorodifluoro-methane, CBrCIF2) or an equivalent extinguishing agent.
7. For aeroplanes with a maximum approved passenger seating configuration between 31 and 60, one of the required fire extinguishers located in the passenger compartment should contain Halon 1211 (bromochlorodi-fluoromethane, CBrCIF2) or an equivalent extinguishing agent.
8. For aeroplanes with a maximum approved passenger seating configuration of more than 61, at least two of the fire extinguishers located in the passenger compartment should contain Halon 1211 (bromochlorodi-fluoromethane, CBrCIF2) or an equivalent extinguishing agent.
Although these regulations are out for comment, it is unlikely that they will be incorporated until, at the earliest, 2012 and not come into force until several years after that.
Up to that time, the NAA (in your case the CAA) will provide the requirement (and the method of compliance). If your helicopter is operating in Commercial Air Transport, the requirement is exactly that specified above i.e. JAR-OPS 3.790(b):
(b) At least one hand fire extinguisher, containing Halon 1211 (bromochlorodifluoro-methane, CBrClF2), or equivalent as the extinguishing agent, must be conveniently located in the cockpit for use by the flight crew;
If your aircraft is
not operating in Commercial Air Transport, it is still required to have a fire extinguisher in the cockpit (Schedule 4 Scale A(5)) but it is not clear what the contents should be.
You do of course have time to comment as the 'comment period' does not expire until the end of July. However, it would appear that the requirement remains as it was under the ANO and JAR-OPS 3.
This might
not be an operational requirement but, if that is the case, then you might wish to ask your maintenance company where the requirement stems from.
Jim