REFERENCES

A. OPNAVINST 3710.7P, NATOPS GENERAL FLIGHT AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

129.1 EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE NAVAL AIR TRAIING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION (NATOPS) PROGRAM.

THE NATOPS PROGRAM PRESCRIBES GENERAL OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE OPERATION OF ALL NAVAL AIRCRAFT AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.

129.2 EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING TERMS AS THEY APPLY TO THE NATOPS PROGRAM:

A. NATOPS ADVISORY GROUP - MONITORS THE NATOPS PROGRAM AND EXCEPT FOR NAVSAFECEN ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THE CNO FOR ITS PROPER OPERATION.

B. NATOPS COORDINATOR - SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE OVERALL COMMAND NATOPS PROGRAM AS DIRECTED BY THE APPROPRIATE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS.

C. COGNIZANT COMMAND - THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHEDULING, CONVENING AND CONDUCTING NATOPS REVIEW CONFERENCES AS REQUIRED.

D. MODEL MANAGER - SHALL COLLECT AND COMPILE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE NATOPS MANUAL OR NATOPS FLIGHT MANUALS ASSIGNED AND RECOMMEND CONVENING OF REVIEW CONFERENCES AS REQUIRED.

E. NATOPS EVALUATION UNIT - A SQUADRON, UNIT OR AIR STATION WHICH HAS BEEN ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR NATOPS MATTERS BY THE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER, EVEN THOUGH THE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER HAS NOT BEEN ASSIGNED THE COGNIZANT COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES. ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER MAY PROMULGATE EVALUATION UNIT ASSIGNMENTS AS DESIRED.

F. NATOPS EVALUATOR - SHALL CONDUCT ANNUAL NATOPS EVALUATIONS UPON THE NATOPS INSTRUCTORS OF ALL SAME MODEL SQUADRONS OR UNITS WITHIN THE SAME MAJOR COMMAND.

G. NATOPS INSTRUCTOR - SHALL CONDUCT AN EVALUATION ON ALL FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS WITHIN THEIR UNIT.

H. NATOPS MANUAL - CONTAINS STANDARD FLIGHT DOCTRINE THE OPTIMUM OPERATION PROCEDURES FOR THE AIRCRAFT CONCERNED.

I. NATOPS CHANGE PROCEDURES - CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS (CLASSIFIED URGENT OR ROUTINE BY ORIGINATOR) ARE SENT TO THE ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. IF APPROVED BY THE COMMAND'S ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER, THE RECOMMENDATION SHALL BE FORWARDED TO THE COGNIZANT COMMAND, OTHER ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS EXERCISING OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE MODEL AIRCRAFT, COMNAVAIRSYSCOM (WHEN THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS TECHNICAL IN NATURE), NAVSAFECEN, NAVAIRTESTCEN, THE MODEL MANAGER. INFO ADDRESSEES INCLUDE: CNO, NAVAISYSCOM AND NAVTACSUPPACT

J. NATOPS EVALUATION PROCEDURES - CONSIST OF AN OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION, A CLOSED BOOK EXAMINATION, ORAL EXAMINATION AND AN EVALUATION FLIGHT.

129.3 EXPLAIN AND DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING AS IT RELATES TO AEROMEDICAL AND SURVIVAL:

A. AIRCREW PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT - FLIGHT SUIT, ANTI-G SUIT, GLOVES, HELMET, ANTI-EXPOSURE SUIT- USED TO IMPROVE THE SURVIVABILITY OF AIRCREW PERSONNEL.

B. REST AND SLEEP - EIGHT HOURS OF UN-INTERRUPTED SLEEP BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR EVERY TWENTY FOUR HOUR PERIOD. FLIGHT PERSONNEL SHOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED FOR CONTINUOUS ALERT OR FLIGHT DUTY IN EXCESS OF EIGHTEEN HOURS.

C. FLIGHT TIME - DAILY FLIGHT TIME SHOULD NOT NORMALLY EXCEED THREE FLIGHTS OR 6-1/2 TOTAL HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME FOR SINGLE PILOTED AIRCRAFT, OTHER AIRCRAFT SHOULD NOT EXCEED TWELVE HOURS.

D DRUGS - OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS ARE PROHIBITED BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ADVERSE SIDE AFFECTS. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHALL BE CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR GROUNDING UNLESS THE USE IS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE FLIGHT SURGEON.

E. EJECTION SEAT TRAINING - WHEN TRANSITIONING TO AIRCRAFT WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EJECTION SYSTEM, COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL ENSURE THAT A THOROUGH BRIEF ON THE NEW EGRESS SYSTEM IS CONDUCTED BEFORE THE INITIAL FLIGHT.

F. PHYSIOLOGY TRAINING - THE PURPOSE OF AVIATION PHYSIOLOGY TRAINING IS TO FAMILIARIZE ALL PROSPECTIVE AND DESIGNATED AERONAUTICAL PERSONNEL, SELECTED PASSENGERS, PROJECT SPECIALISTS, AND ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL WITH THE AEROMEDICAL ASPECTS OF FLIGHT AND PREPARE THEM TO PROPERLY EMPLOY AVIATION LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS (ALSS) AND SURVIVAL PROCEDURES.

G. WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING - NAVAL AVIATION WATER SURVIVAL TRAINING PROGRAM (NAWSTP) SHALL PREPARE PROSPECTIVE AND AERONAUTICALLY DESIGNATED PERSONNEL, SELECTED PASSENGERS, PROJECT SPECIALISTS, AND OTHER AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL FOR SURVIVAL IN THE WATER. THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH LECTURES, DEMONSTRATIONS, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN CNO APPROVED WATER SURVIVAL PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES, AND HANDS ON TRAINING USING ALSS AND SURVIVAL PROCEDURES.

H. PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS - PHYSICAL STANDARDS AS ESTABLISHED BY BUMED ARE TO BE MET AS A CONTINUING REQUIREMENT, NOT SOLELY AT THE TIME OF THE REQUIRED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION IS A PREREQUISITE FOR ALL FLIGHT CREW PERSONNEL. COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL SUSPEND FROM FLIGHT DUTIES ALL AIRCREW PERSONNEL WHO HAVE NOT MET ANNUAL FLIGHT PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS.

129.4 DEFINE AND EXPLAIN DIFTEM:

DUTY IN FLIGHT STATUS, TEMPORARY: USED FOR PERSONNEL IN QUALIFICATION PROCESS, STATUS FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS DURATION.

129.5 DEFINE AND EXPLAIN DIFCREW:

DUTY IN FLIGHT STATUS, CREW: APPLIES TO ALL OPERATIONAL AIRCREW PERSONNEL.

129.6 EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURES AND TRAINING REQUIRED TO BECOME
A NAVAL AIRCREWMAN.

TO QUALIFY FOR THE NAVAL AIRCREW PROGRAM (ENLISTED), AND APPLICANT MUST FIRST BE A VOLUNTEER FOR DUTY INVOLVING FLIGHT AND MUST BE PHYSICALLY QUALIFIED, MUST BE A SECOND CLASS SWIMMER AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MILPERSCOMINST 1326.1. IF APPROVED BY THE COMMAND, THEY MUST THEN SUBMIT A 1307/7 VIA COMNAVMILPERSCOM (NMPC-40E). THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO PASS A MEDICAL EXAMINATION. THE CANDIDATE WILL THEN ATTEND THE NAVAL AIRCREW CANDIDATE SCHOOL COURSE, A 6 WEEK SCHOOL AT NAS PENSACOLA. THE CANDIDATE MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF A SECRET CLEARANCE AND HAVE A SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE RECORD OF 3.4 OR ABOVE.

129.7 EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE NAVAL AIRCRAFT FLIGHT RECORD. (OPNAV 3710/4)

THE NAVAL FLIGHT RECORD IS A SINGLE SOURCE DOCUMENT WHICH COLLECTS FLIGHT ACTIVITY DATA IN SUPPORT OF THE MAINTENANCE DATA SYSTEM (MDS), FREDS, IFARS AND NALIS. DATA COLLECTED INCLUDES: STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLIGHT PERTAINING TO THE AIRCRAFT AND CREW MEMBERS, A RECORD OF ALL LOGISTICS ACTIONS PERFORMED DURING THE FLIGHT, A RECORD OF WEAPONS PROFICIENCY AND A RECORD OF ALL TRAINING AREAS UTILIZED AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS DATA.

129.8 EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE AVIATOR'S FLIGHT LOG BOOK.

ALL AERONAUTICALLY DESIGNATED PERSONNEL AND STUDENTS SHALL POSSESS A CURRENTLY MAINTAINED AVIATORS FLIGHT LOG BOOK, OPNAV 3760/31 AS THE PRIMARY INDIVIDUAL FLIGHT ACTIVITY RECORD.

129.9 EXPLAIN THE FUNCTION OF THE FLIGHT AUDIT BOARD:

AUDIT ENLISTED FLIGHT RECORDS TO ENSURE ALL REQUIRE MENTS FOR HAZARDOUS DUTY PAY HAVE BEEN MET.

129.10 EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING AS THEY PERTAIN TO VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR):

A. JUDGEMENT - ALTHOUGH THE CHOICE OF FLIGHT RULES TO BE FOLLOWED IS NORMALLY DICTATED BY WEATHER AND MISSION CONSIDERATIONS, SOUND JUDGMENT PLAYS A MOST IMPORTANT ROLE. THE ESTABLISHED WEATHER CRITERIA ARE MINIMUMS. THE PILOT SHOULD ALLOW A GREATER MARGIN OF SAFETY WHEN OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS PERMIT, PARTICULARLY IN TERMINAL AREAS OR WHEN REDUCED VISIBILITY OR CLOUD CONDITIONS MAKE FLIGHT UNDER VFR QUESTIONABLE.

B. SEE AND AVOID - THE "SEE AND AVOID" CONCEPT ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR SPECIFIC ROUTE CLEARANCE FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AGENCIES UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. SINCE PILOTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SEPARATION FROM AIRCRAFT, CONDITIONS MUST EXIST WHICH PERMIT AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIR TRAFFIC AND MAINTAIN OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE.

C. WEATHER MINIMUMS - CLOUD CLEARANCE AND VISIBILITY MINIMUMS, SHALL PREVAIL THROUGHOUT A VFR FLIGHT. IN ADDITION, CEILING AND VISIBILITY MINIMUMS WITHIN CONTROL ZONES MUST BE AT LEAST 1,000 FEET AND 3 STATUTE MILES. EXISTING AND FORECAST WEATHER MUST BE SUCH AS TO PERMIT VFR OPERATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. DESTINATION WEATHER SHALL BE AT LEAST 1,000 FOOT CEILING AND 3 STATUTE MILES VISIBILITY AND FORECAST TO REMAIN AT OR ABOVE THESE MINIMUMS DURING THE PERIOD 1 HOUR BEFORE ETA UNTIL 1 HOUR AFTER ETA. EXCEPTIONS TO THESE MINIMUMS ARE:

1. SPECIAL VFR WEATHER MINIMUMS - ARE PERMITTED WITHIN THE CONTROLLED AIRSPACE, CEILING MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 500 FEET; VISIBILITY MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 1 STATUTE MILE; AIRCRAFT MUST REMAIN CLEAR OF CLOUDS AND THE PILOT AND AIRCRAFT MUST BE CERTIFIED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT.

2. OUTSIDE OF CONTROLLED AIRSPACE - HELICOPTERS MAY BE OPERATED BELOW 1,200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), CLEAR OF CLOUDS, WHEN THE VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 1 STATUTE MILE IF OPERATED AT A SPEED THAT ALLOWS THE PILOT ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIR TRAFFIC AND MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.

D. MINIMUM ALTITUDE (OTHER THAN TAKE OFF/LANDING) - FLIGHTS IN FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT SHALL NOT BE CONDUCTED BELOW AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ABOVE THE TERRAIN OR SURFACE OF THE WATER, UNLESS THE MISSION REQUIRES.

129.11 EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING AS THEY PERTAIN TO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR):

A. TAKE OFF MINIMUMS:

1. SPECIAL INSTRUMENT RATING - NO TAKEOFF CEILING OR VISIBILITY MINIMUMS APPLY. TAKEOFF SHALL DEPEND ON THE JUDGEMENT OF THE PILOT AND URGENCY OF FLIGHTS.

2. STANDARD INSTRUMENT RATING - PUBLISHED MINIMUMS FOR THE AVAILABLE NON-PRECISION APPROACH, BUT NO LESS THAN 300 FOOT CEILING AND 1 STATUTE MILE VISIBILITY.

B. MINIMUM ALTITUDES:

1. WHEN OUT OF CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AND ONLY WHEN THE MISSION OF THE FLIGHT REQUIRES OTHERWISE, THE AIRCRAFT SHALL NOT BE FLOWN LESS THAN 1,000 FEET ABOVE THE HIGHEST TERRAIN, SURFACE OF WATER, OR OBSTACLE WITHIN 22 MILES OF THE INTENDED LINE OF FLIGHT.

2. WHEN OUT OF CONTROLLED AIRSPACE AND OVER DESIGNATED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AN AIRCRAFT SHALL NOT BE FLOWN LESS THAN 2,000 FEET ABOVE THE HIGHEST TERRAIN OR OBSTACLE WITHIN 22 MILES OF THE INTENDED LINE OF FLIGHT.

3. IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE, AN AIRCRAFT SHALL NOT BE FLOWN AT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM ENROUTE ALTITUDE OR THE ALTITUDE SPECIFIED BY THE AGENCY EXERCISING CONTROL OVER THE AIRSPACE CONCERNED WHEN OPERATING IN IFR CONDITIONS.

4. AUTHORIZED MISSIONS MAY BE FLOWN AT LOWER ALTITUDES THAN SPECIFIED ABOVE WHEN OPERATING ON PUBLISHED IFR MILITARY TRAINING ROUTES WHICH HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAA.

C. INSTRUMENT APPROACHES AND LANDING MINIMUMS:

1. GENERAL - LANDING MINIMUMS FOR PRECISION AND SURVEILLANCE RADAR APPROACHES ARE PUBLISHED IN SOS FLIP (ENROUTE) IFR SUPPLEMENT. HELICOPTER REQUIRED VISIBILITY MINIMUMS MAY BE REDUCED TO 1/2 THE PUBLISHED VISIBILITY MINIMUMS FOR CATEGORY A AIRCRAFT.

2. APPROACH CRITERIA FOR MULTI-PILOTED AIRCRAFT - WHEN REPORTED WEATHER IS AT OR BELOW PUBLISHED LANDING MINIMUMS FOR THE APPROACH TO BE CONDUCTED, AN APPROACH SHALL NOT BE COMMENCED IN MULTI-PILOTED AIRCRAFT UNLESS THE AIRCRAFT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO PROCEED TO A SUITABLE ALTERNATE IN THE EVENT OF A MISSED APPROACH.

3. APPROACH CRITERIA FOR SINGLE-PILOTED AIRCRAFT - AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH SHALL NOT BE COMMENCED IF THE REPORTED WEATHER IS BELOW PUBLISHED MINIMUMS FOR THE TYPE APPROACH BEING CONDUCTED.

D. TOWER/APPROACH CONTROL RESPONSIBILITIES - KEEP PILOT INFORMED OF LATEST WEATHER AND ACTUAL FIELD CONDI TIONS. EVERY EFFORT SHALL BE MADE TO INFORM PILOT AS WELL AS THE CONTROLLER (IN CASE OF RADAR APPROACHES) OF MOST CURRENT CEILING, RUNWAY VISI BILITY, SURFACE WIND, AND RUNWAY CONDITIONS.