• OPNAVINST 3710.7 states that "Naval aircraft shall be operated in accordance with applicable provisions of FAR Part 91 except where this manual prescribes more stringent requirements."
• FAR's are binding to all aviators in the U.S., military and civilian.  FAR Part 91 entitled "General Operating and Flight Rules" is the part that most affects Naval Aviators.
• Information in the AIM is consistent with FAR Part 91 and is normally easier to read.

1. NATOPS - specific acft NATOPS Flight Manual
2. OPNAVINST 3710.7
3. Flight Information Publications (FLIPs)
4. FAR Part 91

• Shall = procedure is mandatory
• Should = procedure is recommended
• May (& need-not) = a procudure is optional
• Will = indicates futurity and never indicates any degree of requirement for application of a procedure. 

• Agency of FAA which enforces FAR Part 91
• Approves flight plans and grants clearances

• provide briefings
• en route communications
• some SAR services
• assist lost acft and acft in emergency situations
• relay ATC clearances
• originate NOTAMs
• broadcast aviation weather
• receive and process flight plans
• provide some flight following and monitor navigational aids
• at military airfields, there is a "Base Operations" that provides many of these services

• responsible for the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of traffic operating in an in the vicinity of an airport.  Has 3 stations: 

clearance delivery

ground

tower

• Control IFR traffic in the terminal area
• divided into several sectors, each assigned a controller with a radarscope.
• APC normally operates 2 frequencies in each sector: approach and departure

• PIC IAW FAR - "The pilot is responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time" and states that the PIC is "directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of that acft."
• PIC IAW OPNAVINST 3710.7 - Defines "pilot in command" as the pilot who is assigned by the unit commander, or delegated authority, the responsibility for the safe, orderly flight of the acft and well being of the crew.

Before commencing a flight, the pilot in command shall be familiar with all available information appropriate to the intended operation.

[NOTAMs, fuel requirements, alternates, anticipated traffic delays,weather, airport info]

• relays important info about the flight to the departure airport, destination airport and all intermediate agencies
• it also establishes a baseline for lost communication & missing acft procedures if necessary.

Pilots are responsible for reviewing and being familiar with weather conditions for the area in which flight is contemplated.

[PIC must get wx brief]

• FARs and OPNAVINST allow pilots to deviate from established rules during emergencies.
• PIC must be ready to answer to proper authorities for such deviations.

• all occupants aboard naval acft shall use supplemental oxygen on flights in which the cabin alt exceeds 10,000'.

Exceptions include:

• Greater than 10,000: pilot at the controls shall use supplemental oxygen continuously.
• When oxygen is not available to other occupants - flight btwn 10,000 & 13,000 shall not exceed 3 hrs. & flight above 13,000 is prohibited.
• When all occupants are equipped with oxygen - unpressurized acft may operate with a cabin alt of 25,000 or less.
• Tactical Jet and Tactical Jet Training Acft - oxygen shall be used by all aircrew from takeoff to landing.

• VMC - conditions expressed in terms of vis, distance from clouds and ceiling equal to or better than specified minima; VMC are flight weather conditions
• IMC - conditions expressed in terms of vis, distance from clouds and ceiling less than the minima specified for VMC; exist anytime a visible hoizon is not distinguishable

• VFR - rules governing the procedures for conductnig flight under visual conditions.  Requirements are 1000/3.  Indicates type of flight plan.
• IFR - rules governing the procedures for conducting flight under instrument conditions.  Weather less than 1000/3.  Indicates type of flight plan.

• Takeoff - ceiling at least 1,000 AGL, ground vis 3 SM or greater. (if more stringent minima have been est. those conditions must be met)
• En Route - Maintain VMC throughout flight
• Destination - Weather must be 1000/3 & be forecast to remain so for a period of 1 hour before and 1 hour after the estimated time of arrival.

• alter route of flight so as to continue under VMC
• remain in VMC until a change of flight plan is filed and IFR clearance is obtained
• remain in VMC and land at a suitable alternate
• acft may be operated on a VFR clearance above "broken clouds" or an "overcast sky" provided climb and descent from such "on top" flight can be made in accordance with visual flight rules.

• Increased use of IFR filing and positive control -  to decrease probability of midair collisions, all flights in naval acft shall be conducted in accordance with instrument flight rules; all other portions of flights shall be conducted under positive control
• ATC clearance requirement - flights shall not be made in IFR conditions within controlled airspace until an ATC clearance has been obtained

• determined by established semicircular rules
• 0° to 179° are considered EAST for cruising altitude pruposes
• 180° to 359° are considered WEST for cruising altitude purposes
• Note: Acft flying VFR at 3,000 AGL or below may use any altitude desired regardless of the direction of flight
• Cruising altitudes for IFR flights will be assigned by ATC.  The semicircular rules are used primarily for preflight planning and for flights in uncontrolled airspace

• International maneuver involving abrupt bank angles greater than 60°, pitch angles greater than +/- 45°, or accelerations greater than 2.0g.
• A "break" maneuver that conforms to the model NATOPS flight manual is not considered to be aerobatic flight.

• Controlled - generic term that covers the different classifications of airspace (Class A, B, C, D and E) and defined dimensions within which air traffic control service is proveded in accordance with the airspace classification.
• Uncontrolled - Generic term for all airspace under FAA jurisdiction that is not Classs A, B, C, D or E and in which no air traffic control services are provided.

• Aviation units shall take steps to prevent aircraft from frightening wild fowl or driving them from their feeding grounds.

• Noise Sensitive and Wilderness Areas
  • Pilots shall avoid noise sensitive and wilderness areas when at altitudes of less than 3,000 AGL, expect when in compliance with an approved traffic or approach pattern, VFR and IFR training routes, or special use airspace
• Wildlife Preserves
  • At least 3,000 shall be maintained, conditions permitting
• Temporary Flight Restrictions (public interest areas)
  • Aircraft shall not be operated within an area designated by a Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) within which temporary flight restrictions apply.  The exact dimensions will be included in the NOTAM designating the flight restrictions
• Commercial Carriers and Aircraft of Civil Registry
  • Aircraft avoidance or at least 500 vertically and /or 1 sm laterally, unless ordered otherwise by competent air traffic control authority. 

State the rule concerning the annoyance to civilians and endangering private property IAW OPNAVINST 3710.7.

• “Flights of naval aircraft shall be conducted so that a minimum of annoyance is experienced by persons on the ground. It is not enough for the pilot to be satisfied that no person is actually endangered.  Definite and particular effort shall be taken to fly in such a manner that individuals do not believe they or their property are endangered.”

• FAR
  • FAR 91 states that no person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight:
    • Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement.
    • Over an open air assembly of persons
    • Within Class B, C, D, or E airspace designated for an airport or within the limits of Federal Airways
    • Below an altitude of 1,500 AGL
    • When visibility is less than 3 sm.

State the rules concerning aerobatic flight IAW OPNAVINST 3710.7.

•  
  • Additionally (from FAR rules) states that aerobatic flight maneuvers shall not be performed.
    • If prohibited by a particular aircraft’s NATOPS Manual.
    • Unless the aircraft remains in VFR conditions and at an altitude of at least 1,500 above the highest obstruction to flight or cloud tops within a horizontal distance of 5 sm.
    • Note:  individual commands may be more restrictive.  For example, 5,000 AGL is the minimum altitude for aerobatic flight in Training Command aircraft.

• Mandatory Instruction Signs-white ltrs on red background, denotes entrance to a RW or critical/prohibited area.[hold short line]
• Information Sign-black ltrs on yellow background, provide frequencies or NAVAID check data.
• Direction Signs-black ltrs on yellow background, used at intersection of taxiways to indicate direction of turn for a specified taxiway.
• Location Signs-Yellow ltrs/yellow border on black background, they identify taxiway or RW on which an acft is located or other important boundaries.
• Runway Distance Remaining Signs-white nmbrs on black background, indicate landing distance remaining in thousands of feet.

• all acft must operate under IFR (ATC will not authoize VFR/VFR on top in Class A)
• Pilot/Acft must be instrument certified
• transponder with Mode C
• IFR clearance from ATC prior to entering
• Establish/maintain 2-way communications with ATC

• upside down wedding cake
• configured to contain published instrument procedures for Class B airport
• surface to 10,000 MSL surrounding busiest airports

• private pilot certificate(designated aviator when flying military acft0
• VOR/TACAN receiver for IFR operations
• transponder with mode C
• ATC clearance prior to operations
• Establish 2 way radio comms prior to entry and maintain

• surface to 4,000 AGL (charted in MSL)
• 5 nm radius core surface area from sfc to 4,000 and 10 nm radius shelf area that extends from 1200 to 4000 AGL

• all airspace at and above 10,000 MSL
• all airspace within 30 nm of class B airport from sfc to 10,000 MSL
• all airspace above the ceiling and within the lateral boundaries of class B/C airspace upward to 10,000 MSL

• VOR airways (Class E): 1200AGL-18,000MSL(but not including);4nm width either side(8nm total);"V" followed by #;east/west=even, north/south=odd
• Jet Routes (Class A):18,000MSL-FL450;no defined width;"J" followed by #

• acft in distress has right of way over all
• acft on final has right of way over all
• acft being overtaken has right of way(overtaking acft must alter well to right)
• if approaching head on both acft alter course to right
• converging: acft converging at same alt...acft to the other's right has right of way

• below 10,000 MSL = 250 Kts
• Below Class B = 200 kts
• within lateral limits of Class B = 200 kts
• Class C/D = within 4nm/sfc to 2,500AGL = 200 kts

• denote existence of unusual, often invisible hazards to acft (artillery firing/guided missiles)
• acft must have prior approval granted by controlling authority to fly thru

• airspace which may contain hazards to nonparticipating acft in international airspace (3 mile limit)
• permission to enter not required but enter at your own risk

• may contain a high volume of pilot trng or unusual type of aerial activity
• permission to enter not required but pilots transiting the area shall be equally responsible for collision avoidance

• separates military trng from IFR traffic
• permission not required to fly VFR but must exercise extreme caution

• activity is suspended immediately when acft is approaching, not charted b/c nonparticipating acft do not need to change flight path

• Red=left wing, green=right wing, white=tail
• 30 min before sunset
• 30 min after sunrise
• when prevailing vis less than 3SM
• During those conditions they shall be on before engine start and remain on while engine is running

• utilized for taxi movements ashore during darkness; these lights are recommended for landing approaches when weather conditions permit

• bright strobes/beacons, colored red or white
• shall be used before engine start & remain on until engine shutdown
• OPNAVINST 3710.7 says they may be turned off when flying through clouds or when use of lights adversely affects ground ops

• Congested Areas: 1,000 ft above highest obstacle within horizontal radius of 2,000 ft
• Other than congested areas: 500 AGL=minimum alt
• sparsely populated areas/open water: acft may not be closer than 500 ft to any person, vessel, vehicle or structure
• VFR (OPNAV):fixed wing = not lower than 500 ft
• IFR (OPNAV): out of controlled airspace= no less than 1200 ft above highest obstacle within 22 miles of line of flight; mountains = 2,000 ft minimum altitude