scope:

Scope and Applicability.

a. The provisions of this instruction apply to all civilian helicopter take-offs, landings, external load operations, as well as hoist transfers on U.S. Navy vessels, with exceptions as described in paragraph 4b. For the purpose of this instruction, U.S. Navy vessels include aviation ships Carrier Vessel Nuclear (CVN), Amphibious Assault Ships (general purpose) (LHA) and (multipurpose) (LHD) and all air capable ships (other ships from which helicopters can take-off, land or routinely receive and transfer logistic support) whose mission includes the conduct of flight operations in the categories listed in paragraphs 4a(1) through (4).

(1) Commissioned ships.

(2) Government-owned or government-chartered ships operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), the Maritime Administration and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency.

(3) Ships under construction for the U.S. Navy under U.S. Government contracts.

(4) Navy vessels undergoing overhaul, conversion, repair, preservation or storage regardless of their commissioned status.

b. Exceptions:

(1) Civilian helicopters providing radar tracking and other ship services for which there is no intent for landing or hovering are not subject to the provisions of this instruction.

(2) Paragraphs 5a, 5g, 5h, 5j, 5k, 5l, 5m and 5o do not apply to foreign government-operated, foreign government-contracted or U.S. Government-operated civilian helicopters. Examples of foreign-government civilian helicopters include; civilian search and rescue, helicopters taken up from trade and Coast Guard helicopters. Examples of U.S. Government-operated civilian helicopters include; helicopters from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and State or local law enforcement, fire department or emergency services. Naval component and fleet commanders are responsible for establishing operational procedures for rendering assistance to and embarking U.S. civilian law enforcement aircraft and personnel per reference (a).

(3) During humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, civilian helicopters do not need to meet the requirements of paragraphs 5a, 5g, 5h, 5j, 5k, 5l, 5m and 5o, nor comply with the helicopter equipment, aircrew training and aircrew equipment requirements, per enclosures (1) through (3). Naval component and fleet commanders are responsible for establishing operational procedures for assisting and embarking civilian helicopters during humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

(4) Civilian helicopters providing operational support services, which are not transporting Department of Defense (DoD) personnel or cargo, such as those providing transportation for navigation pilots, do not need to meet the requirements of paragraphs 5a, 5g, 5h, 5j, 5k, 5l, 5m and 5o. These civilian helicopter contractors must operate per approved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations specifications and all applicable portions of Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. The contracting officer must ensure that articles addressing liability insurance coverage are delineated in applicable contract(s).

(5) Civilian helicopter detachments on contract with MSC supporting U.S. Navy vessels from combat logistic force ships or shore-based sites do not need to request approval to operate with U.S. Navy vessels. The MSC contracting officer representative must ensure compliance with all contract terms and conditions, which require the contractors to meet all applicable FAA regulations, Commercial Airlift Review Board certification requirements and all quality and safety criteria outlined in this instruction.