HAC requirements
- To be qualified as a helicopter aircraft commander, the NATOPS manual shall establish the designation for the particular model, and an individual shall:
- Have completed the requirements for and possess to an advanced degree the knowledge, proficiency, and capabilities of a second pilot.
- Have a minimum of 500 total flight hours.
- Have 150 flight hours in rotary-wing aircraft.
- Have pilot hours in class and model required by the commanding officer or higher authority and demonstrate the proficiency and judgment required to ensure the successful accomplishment of all tasks of the unit mission.
- Demonstrate ability to command and train the officers and enlisted members of the flightcrew.
- Demonstrate the qualities of leadership required to conduct advanced base or detached unit operations as officer in charge when such duty is required as part of the units mission or method of operation.
When can you deviate from OPNAV
- In the tactical environment, military exigency may require on-site deviations from instructions/procedures contained here. The existing risk of deviation must continually be weighed against the benefit of deviating from this instruction. Deviation from specified flight and operating instructions is authorized in emergency situations when, in the judgment of the pilot in command (PIC), safety justifies such a deviation.
Position light requirement
- Standard position lights shall be displayed during the period 30 minutes before official sunset until 30 minutes after official sunrise or at any time when the prevailing visibility as seen from the cockpit is less than 3 statute miles. During these conditions, they shall be displayed:
- Immediately before engine start and anytime the engine(s) is running.
- When the aircraft is being towed unless the aircraft is otherwise illuminated.
- When an aircraft is parked and likely to cause a hazard unless the aircraft is otherwise illuminated or marked with obstruction lights.
Anti-collision light requirement
Anti-collision lights shall be used immediately before engine start and at all times when the aircraft engine(s) is in operation, except when the use of such lights adversely affects ground operations (i.e., arming and dearming, refueling operations, etc.). They may be turned off during flight through clouds when the rotating light reflects into the cockpit. The use of green anti-collision lights for the specific purpose of identifying airborne tankers is authorized, provided that standard position lights are also displayed.
Form lighting
To the extent necessary for safety, lighting configuration for formation flights may be varied according to aircraft model and mission requirements. Normally, all aircraft in the flight shall have external lights on and at least one aircraft in the flight shall have lights on bright and the anticollision light on when aircraft lighting is required.
**NOTE: Aircraft engaged in drug interdiction operations are granted relief from reference (d), subpart 91.209(a), provided each operation is conducted using a dedicated on-board observer, electronic/radar equipment, or an observer in a spotter aircraft, all of which must be capable of detecting the presence of other aircraft operating in proximity to the interdiction aircraft and alerting the pilot to those aircraft locations.
Who can taxi a helo?
No one shall be permitted to taxi a helicopter except those persons who are authorized to fly helicopters.
Flight over wildlife areas
These areas shall be avoided when at altitudes of less than 3,000 feet AGL except when in compliance with an approved:
(1) Traffic or approach pattern.
(2) VR or IR route.
(3) SUA
Helo operations outside of controlled airspace
Outside of controlled airspace, tiltrotors in helicopter conversion mode and helicopters may be operated below 1,200 feet 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
Jettisoning of stores through extensive cloud cover
- Pilots of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are only authorized to expend ordnance, fire missiles, or drop other airborne stores through cloud cover sufficiently extensive to preclude visual clearance of the air and surface area under the following conditions:
- When operating over the high seas, provided area air and surface clearance can be ensured through radar surveillance or visual means
- When operating over land (including over territorial waters), provided that the firing or drop is conducted within an activated restricted area and the impact is within a designated surface target/range
- Nothing in the above precludes emergency jettisoning of external stores through extensive cloud cover; pilots are directly responsible for their actions and must take every possible precaution to minimize danger to other aircraft and persons/property on the surface
Autorotation requirements
Practice autorotations shall be conducted within the limits of the field boundary over a surface upon which a full autorotation can be safely completed and that is readily accessible to crash, rescue, and firefighting equipment. Practice autorotations shall require the specific approval of the tower
TACAN to a PAR, what type of approach would you log?
Only that portion of the approach executed to a missed approach or landing shall be logged as an approach (i.e., a tactical air navigation (TACAN) approach to a PAR/ILS/ALS final would be logged only as a precision approach).
Who can sign a DD175?
Except when a daily flight schedule is used in lieu of a flight plan form, the pilots in command/formation leaders shall submit a flight plan for their flight (including remote filing via the FWB system). For multipiloted aircraft, the PIC/formation leader may choose to delegate this responsibility to a NATOPS qualified pilot/NFO.
When is an aircraft commader required?
- An aircraft commander (paragraph 12.2.2.3 of this instruction) shall be designated for the following multipiloted aircraft missions:
- Operational/tactical missions.
- Administrative missions in helicopters/tiltrotors.
- Training flights, except those that are within the capabilities of pilots of lower classification and which, in the opinion of the commanding officer, are best suited to teach such pilots self-reliance and command responsibility.
- Flights in which the transport of passengers is involved.
When are you required/not required to manifest pax
- The PIC of a naval aircraft flight shall ensure that a copy of the manifest is on file with a responsible agency at the point of departure prior to takeoff. The manifest shall include an accurate list of personnel aboard the aircraft, showing names, serial numbers, grade and service if military, duty station, and status aboard the aircraft (passenger or crew).
- Helicopter and tiltrotor pilots engaged in SAR missions, lifting reconnaissance parties, patrols, and outposts during field problems are released from manifest responsibilities when there is no proper agency available with whom a passenger manifest could be deposited.
FAR exceptions
- Shall be operated under FAR except: 1. Where the instructions prescribes more stringent requirements; 2. Where exemptions from DoN or DoD permit deviation.
- Operation of naval aircraft at speeds in excess of limits imposed by section 91.117 shall be governed by paragraph 5.1.4 of this instruction.
- Local altimeter settings
- Undergraduate aviators can fly solo in Class A airspace
- Alternate airport requirements
- IFR cruising altitude does not comply for military training routes.
Humanitarian Operations
Naval aircraft can participate in forest fires, search, rescue, calamities and for humanitarian reasons involving life-threatening circumstances.
Report to CNO and local commander
Special airlift
Requirements: sole purpose to accomplish urgent business in national interest that would suffer if other forms of transportation were relied upon; national interest or cost savings to DoN
Nonessential Flight
- the use of aircraft for nonessential flights shall not be authorized. Any flight open to misinterpretation by the public shall be avoided.AVOID:
- Flights of routine business nature for which commercial or other military transportation could be more economically substituted
- Flights for any officer or group of officers, the sole purpose of which is the convenience and/or prestige of the officers concerned and not the performance of official duties or accomplishment of bona fide training
- Repeated flights to the hometown area of flight personnel concerned
- Flights coinciding with major sporting events or civic celebrations
Embarkation of Pax
no person shall be emplaned as a passenger nor shall any cargo be embarked on a naval aircraft unless authorization has been granted by a competent authority. No person shall be carried in a taxiing aircraft unless such person is authorized to fly.
night overwater
night overwater helicopter passenger flights to/from ships are prohibited except in cases of operational necessity.
This does not preclude troop movement in support of amphibious exercises, vbss level III operations, or SPECOPS missions. A medical attendant who is current in approved water survival training, and has been properly briefed on emergency egress procedures for that aircraft, may be transferred via a return night flight to the ship with approval from the ships CO.
PIC
Refers to the pilot of an individual aircraft.
The PIC is responsible for the safe, orderly flight of the aircraft and well-being of the crew. May also be mission commander/formation leader. In absence of direct orders, responsibility for starting or continuing a mission with respect to weather or any other condition affecting the safety of the aircraft rests with the PIC.
It shall not be transferred during flight except in emergency, operational necessity, or as directed by the CO. Independent of rank or seniority.
PIC of naval aircraft may authorize air transportation for personnel and/or equipment not otherwise qualified for government air transportation when required for successful prosecution of SAR, MEDEVAC, or disaster relief.
This authority shall only be authorized when all practical means of obtaining authorization from a competent authority has proven unsuccessful of unavailable.
Flag or General Officer Embarked
the PIC of an aircraft with a flag or general officer eligible for command at sea or in the field embarked as a passenger shall be subject to the orders of such flag or general officer in accordance with U.S. Navy Regulations. That passenger thereby assumes full responsibility for the safe and orderly conduct of flight. The passenger shall give due consideration to the judgment of the PIC regarding items of flight safety such as hazardous weather and aircraft/ crew limitations. Flying rule violations, accident reports, and any other actions arising out of the flight will be referred to the embarked passenger.
Flights that require a NATOPS qualified crew shall not be physically piloted by any individual not so qualified; however, the flight may be directed by an officer in Tactical Command embarked who is not NATOPS qualified.
Five steps of ORM
- Identify hazards
- Asses hazards
- Make risk decision
- Implement controls
- Supervise
3 levels of ORM
- time-critical: a quick mental review of the 5 step process when time does not allow for any more.
- Deliberate: experience and brain storming are used to identify hazards and is best done in groups
- In-depth: more substantial tools are used to thoroughly study the hazards and their associated risk in complex ops.
