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The Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) program prescribes general flight and operating instructions and procedures applicable to the operation of all US naval aircraft and related activities. The program issues policy and procedural guidance of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) that is applicable to all Navy and Marine Corps aviation personnel.

Contents 1 History / raison d'être 1.1 NATOPS Publications 1.1.1 Changes 1.2 People 1.3 Implementing NATOPS 1.3.1 NATOPS Evaluation 1.3.2 Ground Evaluation 1.3.3 Unit NATOPS Evaluation

[edit] 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 1950 the US Navy/Marine Corps lost 776 aircraft (roughly 2 airplanes per day or a rate of 54 major mishaps per 10,000 flight hours). Numerous technical initiatives, including the angled flight deck in 1954, and standardization programs, were credited with significantly reducing the rate to 19 major mishaps per 10,000 flight hours by 1961, and further to 9 by 1970 (the current rate, for comparison, is under 2 major mishaps per 10,000 flight hours). A lack of standardization and training in both maintenance and flight operations was cited as causal in a large percentage of mishaps. Several standardization programs were initiated in the late 50’s and early 60’s to counter this problem. The first was the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) in 1959. Prior to the NAMP, aircraft maintenance practices were completely non-standardized. For example, a maintenance procedure on a F-11 Tiger at NAS Oceana, Virginia, might be significantly different than the procedure performed on the same model jet in Pensacola, Florida. The NAMP standardized maintenance procedures across the entire Naval Aviation enterprise. The second standardization initiative began in 1961 with the introduction of the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) program. FRSs indoctrinate newly designated aircrew and aircraft mechanics into the peculiarities of specific aircraft. Prior to the FRS concept, qualified pilots transitioning to a new aircraft were essentially told how to start it, and then sent to go fly. The final major standardization program put in place was NATOPS in 1961.

[edit] NATOPS Publications

NATOPS Manuals are issued for specific aircraft or aviation-related activities. They contain standard flight doctrine and the optimum operating procedures for the aircraft model or aviation activity concerned. There are numerous volumes associated with each aircraft:

Each NATOPS manual has the following statement:

“NATOPS is a positive approach toward improving combat readiness and achieving a substantial reduction in the aircraft accident rate. Standardization, based on professional knowledge and experience, provides the basis for development of an efficient and sound operational procedure. The standardization program is not planned to stifle individual initiative, but rather to aid the commanding officer in increasing the unit’s combat potential without reducing command prestige or responsibility.”

They further go on to state: “This manual standardizes ground and flight procedures but does not include tactical doctrine. Compliance with the stipulated manual procedure is mandatory except ss authorized herein. 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 oflicers of aviation units are authorized to modify procedures contained herein, in accordance with the waiver provisions established by OPNAVINST 3710.7, for the purpose of assessing new ideas prior to initiating recommendations for permanent changes. This manual is prepared and kept current by the user in order to achieve maximum readiness and safety in the most efficient and economical manner. Should conflict exist between the training and operating procedures found in this manual and those found in other publications, this manual will govern. 3. Checklists and other pertinent extracts from this publication necessary to normal operations and training should be made and may be carried in naval aircraft for use therein.

NATOPS is not intended to cover every contingency that may arise nor every rule of safety and good practice. Aviaiton personnel are expected to study and understand all applicable portions of the program.

“NATOPS manuals are issued by the authority of the Chief of Naval Operations and under the direction of Commander, Naval Air Systems Command. They provide the best available operating instructions for most circumstances, but no manual is 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 the air crewman’s responsibility to have a complete knowledge of its contents.”

• NATOPS Flight Manual (NFM) — A manual for a specific aircraft model containing standardized ground and flight operating procedures, training requirements, aircraft limitations, and technical data necessary for safe and effective operation of the aircraft. To reduce the size of some NATOPS flight manuals, supplements may be issued for specific sections of the NFM (e.g., Weapons System Supplement, Performance Charts Supplement).

NFM-200 (Performance Data Charts Supplement for aircraft with F404-GE-400 engines) NFM-500 (Pocket Checklist) NFM-600 (Servicing Checklist) NFM-700 (Functional Checkflight Checklist)

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: a. The pilot shall be considered to have above-average intelligence and normal (average) common sense. b. No values (pressure, temperature, quantity, etc.) which cannot be read in the cockpit are stated, except where such use provides the pilot with a value judgement. Only the information required to fly the aircraft is provided. c. Notes, Cautions, and Warnings are held to an absolute minimum, since, almost everything in the manual could be considered a subject for a Note, Caution, or Warning. d. No Cautions or Warnings or procedural data are contained in the Descriptive Section, and no abnormal procedures (Hot Starts, etc.) are contained in the Normal Procedures Section. e. Notes, Cautions and Warnings are not used to emphasize new data. f. Multiple failures (emergencies) are not covered. g. Simple words in preference to more complex or quasi-technical words are used and, unnecessary and/or confusing word modifiers are avoided.

• NATOPS Miscellaneous Manual — A manual issued for special aircraft-related operations or systems that require fleet-wide standardization (e.g., Aircraft Refueling NATOPS, CV NATOPS, LSO NATOPS).

Mature NATOPS publications contain all of the information required to operate specific aircraft or to perform specific functions. OPNAVINST 3710.7T POLICY CONCERNING USE OF AIRCRAFT Personnel Authorized To Pilot Naval Aircraft ORIENTATION FLIGHTS FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS AND STATIC EXHIBITS

Weather Criteria . Flight Personnel Training/Qualification Jacket Entry/Aviators Flight Log Book Entry Cross-Country Flight . FLIGHT PLANNING AUTHORIZED AIRFIELDS Call Sign Requirements Minimum Fuel Requirements . GENERAL FLIGHT RULES . Aircraft Lighting . Supersonic Flight Operations . Aerobatic Flight Simulated Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) Training Rules . INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES AND POSITIVE CONTROL PROCEDURES . REDUCING FLIGHT-RELATED DISTURBANCES AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PROCEDURES SAFETY AEROMEDICAL AND SURVIVAL AVIATION PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS PARACHUTE JUMPS SECURITY OF AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM BASE AIRCRAFT NOISE ABATEMENT

FLIGHT RECORDS, REPORTS AND FORMS AVIATORS FLIGHT LOG BOOK, OPNAV 3760/31 NATOPS FLIGHT PERSONNEL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION JACKET, OPNAV 3760/32 .

Qualifications INSTRUMENT RATINGS AND QUALIFICATIONS NATOPS FLIGHT PERSONNEL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION JACKET AIRCRAFT VISUAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM UNIT IDENTIFICATION AIRCRAFT SIDE NUMBERS MARKING OF AIRCRAFT.

Atc a-a refueling ground refueling aircraft signals cv flight deck/hangar instrument flight lso weapons crash and salvage

[edit] Changes

Changing NATOPS Publications requires following a full approval process, which includes giving all who fly the aircraft or use the procedures the opportunity to comment on the proposed change recommendations.  

[edit] People

• NATOPS Model Manager — The unit commander designated to administer the NATOPS program for a specific aircraft model or aircraft related system. to conduct annual NATOPS evaluations of units assigned

• NATOPS Program Manager — An officer assigned by the Model Manager who performs administrative responsibilities for the NATOPS program and who is given written authority to act on behalf of the Model Manager in NATOPS-related matters. The program manager is highly qualified in his aircraft/activety.

• NATOPS Evaluator — A highly qualified air crewmember assigned to a NATOPS evaluation unit who conducts annual unit NATOPS evaluations for a flightcrew position.

• NATOPS Instructor — A highly qualified air crewmember whose primary duty is administering the NATOPS evaluation program within a squadron or unit.

• Unit NATOPS Officer — An aviator whose primary duty is to administer the NATOPS program within a squadron or unit. The NATOPS officer may also be the NATOPS instructor.

[edit] Implementing 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.

[edit] NATOPS Evaluation

An evaluation of individual pilot or crewmember, consisting of an open book examination, a closed book examination, oral examination, and an evaluation flight/simulator. Use of trainers is particularly encouraged for those simulated emergencies and/or scenarios that present significantly increased risk when performed in an aircraft. If no such device is available, the aircraft cockpit may be used. Evaluation flights in aircraft that require simulated emergencies should be avoided while deployed at sea.

[edit] Ground Evaluation

Prior to commencing the evaluation flight, an evaluee must achieve a minimum grade of Qualified on the open book and closed book examinations. The oral examination is also part of the ground evaluation, but may be conducted as part of the flight evaluation. To assure a degree of standardization between units, the Model Manager shall prepare and maintain a bank of questions and answers for use by unit NATOPS instructors in preparing the written examinations. The areas to be evaluated in the ground phase is delineated in the individual aircraft model NATOPS manual.

[edit] Unit NATOPS Evaluation

A unit NATOPS evaluation is conducted every 18 months by the appropriate NATOPS evaluator and follows the same procedures.

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.