History/raison d'être
NATOPS was established by the United States Navy in 1961 as a positive approach towards improving combat readiness and achieving a substantial reduction in naval aircraft mishaps in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. In 1950, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps lost a total of 776 aircraft (roughly two aircraft per day or a rate of 54 major mishaps per 10,000 flight hours). Numerous technical initiatives, including the angledNATOPS publications
NATOPS manuals contain standard flight doctrine and the optimum operating procedures for the aircraft model or aviation activity (e.g., CV NATOPS, LSO NATOPS, etc.) concerned. They do not include tactical doctrine. There are numerous publications associated with NATOPS covering three basic areas: * The overarching document establishing the program is Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 3710.7: ''NATOPS General Flight and Operating Instructions'' * Specific aircraft NATOPS flight manuals for each USN and USMC Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) aircraft; these are similar to the Air Force Technical Order "Dash 1" series flight manuals in the U.S. Air Force for each Mission Design Series (MDS) aircraft in USAF service. * Miscellaneous manualsCompliance
Compliance with stipulated manual procedures is mandatory, but deviations are allowed per the following statements found in all NATOPS manuals:In order to remain effective, NATOPS must be dynamic and stimulate rather than suppress individual thinking. Since aviation is a continuing, progressive profession, it is both desirable and necessary that new ideas and new techniques be expeditiously evaluated and incorporated if proven to be sound. To this end, Commanding Officers of aviation units are authorized to modify procedures contained herein… for the purpose of assessing new ideas prior to initiating recommendations for permanent changes. :—''NAVAIR 01-45AAE-1, NATOPS Flight Manual, Navy Models A-7C, A-7E Aircraft''
However, his manualis not a substitute for sound judgment. Compound emergencies, available facilities, adverse weather or terrain, or considerations affecting the lives and property of others may require modification of the procedures contained herein. Read this manual from cover to cover. It is your responsibility to have a complete knowledge of its contents. :—''NAVAIR 01-F14AAA-1, NATOPS Flight Manual, Navy Model F-14A Aircraft''
ATOPSis not intended to cover every contingency that may arise nor every rule of safety and good practice. To achieve maximum value, the contents of all directives cited must be studied and understood. :—''NATOPS General Flight and Operating Instructions: OPNAV Instruction 3710.7T'', page 1-1
CNAF 3710.7
The "3710" or "CNAF 3710", as it is commonly referred to, is issued by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Often called the "General NATOPS", it is the overarching document in the NATOPS program and it provides policy and procedural guidance applicable to a broad spectrum of users. Among a variety of topics, 3710 covers: * The general scope and purpose of the NATOPS program * What naval aircraft may be used for and who may pilot and crew them * Flight demonstrations, authorized airfields, cross-country flights and fuel planning * Supersonic flight operations and aerobatic flight * Individual qualifications, including instrument ratings * Aircrew and aircraft documentation requirementsSpecific aircraft manuals
These are manuals for specific aircraft models containing standardized ground and flight operating procedures, training requirements, aircraft limitations, and technical data necessary for safe and effective operation of the aircraft. There are typically several volumes, including supplements for weapons systems, performance charts, servicing checklist, and post maintenance functional checkflight checklist. :Pocket checklists (or "PCL") contain pertinent extracts from the main publications necessary to normal operations, emergency procedures, and training. NATOPS flight manuals are prepared using a concept that provides the aircrew with information for operation of the aircraft, but detailed operation and interaction is not provided. This concept was selected for a number of reasons: reader interest increases as the size of a technical publication decreases, comprehension increases as the technical complexity decreases, and accidents decrease as reader interest and comprehension increase. To implement this streamlined concept, observance of the following rules was attempted: # TheMiscellaneous manuals
Miscellaneous NATOPS manuals are issued for special aircraft-related operations or systems that require fleet-wide standardization. They include: *Publication changes
Changing NATOPS publications requires following a full approval process. Changes can be rapidly accomplished for urgent/safety of flight issues (via electronic directive to make pen and ink modifications to publications/procedures). There is also an annual conference for manual users (aircrew, maintenance personnel, engineers, policy makers, etc.) do deal with more routine/less urgent matters. These conferences produce a list of "recommended changes" that are then vetted by an approval process prior to promulgation.Key people
The key people involved in NATOPS go from the Chief of Naval Operations all the way down to individual users. * NATOPS model manager: The unit commander designated to administer the NATOPS program for a specific aircraft model or aircraft related system. NATOPS model managers conduct annual NATOPS evaluations of units assigned. * NATOPS program manager: An officer assigned by the NATOPS model manager who performs administrative responsibilities for the NATOPS program for a given T/M/S aircraft, operational system, or training/support system and who is given written authority to act on behalf of the NATOPS model manager in NATOPS-related matters. The NATOPS program manager is highly qualified in his/her aircraft or activity. * NATOPS evaluator: A highly qualified air crewmember assigned to a NATOPS evaluation unit who conducts annual unit NATOPS evaluations for a given flight crew position. NATOPS evaluators are former NATOPS instructors at the fleet squadron level, typically assigned to a "NATOPS training team" embedded within a given Fleet Replacement Squadron and answering to the NATOPS program manager. * NATOPS instructor: A highly qualified air crewmember whose primary or secondary duty within an operational fleet squadron, training command squadron, or air test & evaluation squadron is administering the NATOPS evaluation program by conducting positional upgrade and/or annual periodic check rides of flight crew personnel for specific flight crew positions in a given aircraft within that squadron or unit. This position is analogous to a unit flight crew standardization/evaluation (Stan/Eval) pilot, navigator/combat systems officer, air battle manager or enlisted aircrewman in a USAF flying wing. * Unit NATOPS officer: AImplementing NATOPS
The standard operating procedures prescribed in NATOPS manuals represent the optimum methods of operating various aircraft and related equipment. The NATOPS evaluation is intended to evaluate individual and unit compliance by observing and grading adherence to NATOPS procedures.Individual NATOPS evaluation
Flight evaluation
Individual pilots, flight officers or crewmembers are evaluated when initially qualifying (or requalifying after a non-flying assignment) in a given T/M/S aircraft, and a minimum of annually thereafter. Flight crews may also be evaluated prior to annually as part of a unit NATOPS evaluation administered by NATOPS evaluators. NATOPS exams consist of an open book examination, a closed book examination, an oral examination, and an evaluation flight or simulator check. Use of operational flight trainers (OFTs) / weapons system trainers (WSTs) is encouraged for simulated emergencies and scenarios that present significantly increased risk when actually performed in an aircraft. If no suchGround evaluation
Prior to commencing the evaluation flight, an evaluee must achieve a minimum grade of qualified on both open book and closed book NATOPS examinations. The oral examination is also part of the ground evaluation, but may be conducted as part of the flight evaluation.Unit NATOPS evaluation
A unit NATOPS evaluation is conducted for every squadron/unit every 18 months by the appropriate NATOPS evaluator(s). The unit NATOPS evaluation includes NATOPS evaluations for each crew position (ground evaluation and an evaluation flight) selected at random by the evaluator to measure overall adherence to NATOPS procedures. NATOPS evaluators will re-evaluate all squadron NATOPS Instructors during a unit NATOPS evaluation and will also select one flight crewmember from each aircraft position at random for a flight or simulator evaluation. For random evaluation check selectees who perform well beyond expectations, NATOPS evaluators may recommend to the squadron commanding officer that the individual be tracked for qualification and designation as a NATOPS instructor.See also
*Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Natops Flight training United States naval aviation