CNAF Definitions

Question 1

Actual Instrument Approach

Answer 1

When actual instrument conditions are encountered below 1,000’above the airport/flight deck elevation during an instrument approach

Question 2

Actual Instrument Conditions

Answer 2

Conditions external to the aircraft in flight that do not permit visual reference to the horizon

Question 3

Aircraft Commander Time

Answer 3

The individual flight time during which an individual, designated as a qualified aircraft commander in the aircraft model being flown, is serving as pilot in command.. Aircraft commander time is a measure of command experience rather than of pilot experience.

Question 4

Aircraft Type

Answer 4

The broadest classification of aircraft as to physical characteristics (i.e. fixed wing or rotary wing)

Question 5

Aircraft Model

Answer 5

The basic mission symbol and design number (h-60)

Question 6

Aircraft series

Answer 6

The specific version of aircraft within the same model (Mh-60R)

Question 7

Aircrew

Answer 7

A collective term that applies to all categories of personnel in a flight status either as crew or non crew member. Aircrew are military personnel on competent flight orders or civilian personnel whose duties require frequent and regular participation in aerial flights to perform inflight functions such as installation, maintenance, evaluation of airborne technical equipment, communication specialist, photo specialists, etc.

Question 8

Controlling Custodian

Answer 8

The command exercising admin control of assignment, employment, and logistic support of aircraft. Controlling custodians are identified in COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2A

Question 9

CRM

Answer 9

The use of specifically defined behavioral skills as an integral part of every flight to improve mission effectiveness by minimizing crew preventable errors, maximizing crew coordination and optimizing risk management

Question 10

Cross-Country Flight

Answer 10

A flight that either does not remain in the local flying area or remains in the local flying area and terminals at a facility other than an active military facility

Question 11

Designations

Answer 11

A designation is a one-time occurrence and remains in effect until removed for cause. Commanders shall issue a designation letter to the individual upon the occasion of his/her original designation with appropriate copies for inclusion in his/her NATOPs qualification jacket

Question 12

Flight (Operational, Recording, Helo)

Answer 12

A) For operation purposes, a flight is one or more aircraft proceeding on a common mission

B) For recording and reporting purposes, a flight begins when the aircraft first moves forward on its takeoff run or takes off vertically from rest at any point of support and ends after airborne flight when the aircraft is on the surface and either:

  1. The engines are stopped or the aircraft has been on the surface for 5 min, whichever comes first
   2. A change is made in PIC

C) for helos, a flight begins when the aircraft lifts from a rest point or commences ground taxi and ends after airborne flight when the rotors are disengaged or the aircraft has been stationary for 5 min with rotors engaged.

Question 13

Flight clearance

Answer 13

A flight clearance provides temporary flight operating limits for an aviation system operating in a nonstandard configuration or to a nonstandard envelope, pending issuance of the technical directive or change to the NATOPS, NATIP, or tactical manuals. A flight clearance is a temporary airworthiness approval from COMNAVAIRSYSCOM

Question 14

Flight time

Answer 14

The elapsed time computed in accordance with the definition of a flight. Flight time is logged in hours and tenths of hours and is creditable tot eh aircraft, personnel aboard, and equipment

Question 15

Flight crew

Answer 15

Personnel whose presence is required on board a manned aircraft or at a control station for UAS to perform crew functions in support of the assigned mission (e.g. pilot, copilot, navigator, flight engineer, etc)

Question 16

Formation flight

Answer 16

A flight of more than one aircraft operating by prior arrangement as a single aircraft with regard to altitude, navigation, and position reporting, and where separation between aircraft within the flight rests with eh pilots in that flight

Question 17

IMC (Instrument meteorological conditions)

Answer 17

Meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling less than the minimums specified for visual meteorological conditions. IMC conditions exist anytime a visible horizon is not distinguishable

Question 18

Instrument time

Answer 18

The portion of pilot time in either day or night under actual or simulated instrument conditions.

A) actual Instrument Time will be logged by both pilots in a dual/multi piloted aircraft during flight in actual instrument conditions

B) simulated instrument time shall be logged only by the pilot actually manipulating the controls

Question 19

Landing

Answer 19

A return to the surface; landings include touch and go (providing the landing gear touches the surface), bolter, forced, crashed

Question 20

Local flight

Answer 20

A flight that remains within the local flying area and terminates at either the same facility or another military facility with which the originating station has direct station-to-station communications

Question 21

Local Flying area

Answer 21

That area in the vicinity of an air installation in which locally-based aircraft can operate during an average/typical sorties flight time. The local flying area shall not exceed 350miles from an air installation and be designated as such in the Air Ops manual by the CO. IN so far as practicable, local flying areas shall be bounded by prominent terrain features and/or air navigation aid radials/distances.

Question 22

Mile

Answer 22

All distances referred to in this instruction are nautical miles unless otherwise specified

Question 23

Mission CDR time

Answer 23

Flight time during which an individual, designated as a qualified mission commander in the aircraft model being flown, is serving as the mission commander. Mission commander time is a measure of command experience rather than flight experience.

Question 24

Multi-piloted aircraft

Answer 24

Any aircraft having two sets of flight controls and instruments and operated by two pilots, both of who meet the requirements of the NATOPS manual for that model aircraft

Question 25

Night time

Answer 25

The portion of pilot time during darkness (ie between the official time of sunset and sunrise (on the surface below the aircraft in flight), regardless of whether visual or instrument conditions exist)

Question 26

Oceanic

Answer 26

A situation where an aircraft has no radio communication and is greater than 250nm from the nearest an aid

Question 27

Officer in tactical command

Answer 27

The senior officer present eligible to assume command, or the officer to whom he/she has delegated tactical command

Question 28

Official business

Answer 28

The necessity to contact personnel, units, or organizations for the purpose of conducting transactions in the service of and in the interest of the US government.

This definition does not authorize the use of official business only airfields, their services, or other items attendant to itinerant operations when making en route stops while proceeding to an airfield at which official business is to be conducted.

Official business only restrictions do not preclude the use fo the facility as an alternate during IFR conditions

Question 29

Operational necessity

Answer 29

A mission associated with war or peacetime operations in which the consequences of an action justify accepting the risk of loss of aircraft and crew

Question 30

Operational risk management (ORM)

Answer 30

The process of dealing with the risk associated with military operations, which include risk assessment, risk decision making and implementation of effective risk controls.

Question 31

Orientation flight

Answer 31

A continuous-flight in DOD aircraft performed within the local flying area and terminating at the point of origin intended to further the understanding of particular programs concerning the roles and missions of the DOD

Question 32

Passenger

Answer 32

An individual who is not part of the aircrew traveling in an aircraft designed or normally configured for passenger (non-aircrew) carrying capability on a point-to-point flight

Question 33

Pilot in Command

Answer 33

The pilot assigned responsibility for safe and orderly conduct of the flight

Question 34

Pilot time

Answer 34

The time credited to a designated aviator, San, student/designated flight surgeon, student/designated aerospace physiologist, or student/designated aerospace experimental psychologist assigned to duty involving flying. Pilot time includes all time credited as first pilot and copilot. Pilot time is intended to be a record of active participation in the control of an aircraft. Pilot time will be credited to the individual actually earning it regardless of rank, billet, age, or level of experience

Question 35

Pilot time continued (First pilot time and copilot time)

Answer 35

First Pilot: The portion of pilot time during which an individual is positioned with access to the flight controls and is exercising principal active control of the aircraft

Copilot: the portion of pilot time while assisting the pilot exercising principal active control of a multi piloted aircraft during which the copilot is positioned with access to and is immediately ready to operate the flight controls; or, in those aircraft with only one set of flight controls, that portion of flight time while instructing the pilot who is exercising principal active control when the designated instructor is positioned so that pilot and aircraft instruments can be observed. Aeronautically designated personnel may log CPT while performing copilot dukes as required by the aircraft mission

Question 36

Reporting custodian

Answer 36

An organizational unit of the lowest echelon of command accepting responsibility (involving accountability to CNO) for aircraft as designated either by CNO or by the controlling custodian of the aircraft

Question 37

Risk

Answer 37

An expression of possible loss in terms of severity and probability

Question 38

Simulated instrument approach

Answer 38

An instrument approach flown under simulated instrument conditions

Question 39

Simulated instrument conditions

Answer 39

Conditions external to the aircraft in flight are visual meteorological conditions, but the pilot vision is limited primarily to the interior of the aircraft

Question 40

Single piloted aircraft

Answer 40

Any aircraft that has only one set of flight controls or a tandem cockpit, or any aircraft that has two sets of flight controls and instruments and is being operated by only one pilot who meets the requirements of the natops manual for that model aircraft

Question 41

Stereo route

Answer 41

Routinely used route of flight established by users and ARFTCC indemnified by a coded name. These routes simplify flight plan handling and communications

Question 42

Aerobatic Flight Maneuvers

Answer 42

An intentional maneuver involving:

1. ) An abrupt change in attitude
2. ) Intentionally performed spins
3. ) Pitch/Dive angles greater than 45*
4. ) Bank angles greater than 60*
5. ) or accelerations greater than 2gs

A maneuver that conforms to the model NATOPS manual (e.g. break, weapons delivery, autorotations, etc.) is not considered to be aerobatic flight.

Question 43

Qualified in model

Answer 43

A designation that indicated the minimum requirements a for qualification in a specific crew position, as set forth in the appropriate NATOPS manual, have been attained. Such designations are a one-time occurrence (per unit/command tour) and remain in effect until removed for cause. Annual NATOPS evaluations should not be confused with or combined with these designation. If specific aircraft model NATOPS guidance is lacking, an individual shall be considered qualified in model for specific crew position when so designated by the reporting custodian