scope:

This instruction applies to all personnel and agencies of the Naval Aviation Systems TEAM (TEAM) involved in acquisition and/or T&E of aviation weapon systems and equipment.

Purpose. To promulgate policy and guidance which permits consideration for tailored application of airworthiness standards for flight test of special purpose configurations of Navy aircraft and weapons systems. For the purposes of this instruction, a special purpose configuration is defined as any equipment, system, or aircraft not intended for fleet introduction, but intended for limited operation in a controlled Test and Evaluation (T&E) environment. This instruction authorizes engineering analysis of flight safety risk and potential risk mitigation factors to accommodate test configurations not fully compliant with established airworthiness standards.