scope:

This specification covers the general requirements of NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) for the demonstration of helicopters. These general requirements will be modified and amplified as required by contract addenda to this specification. The expression "demonstration" refers to all of the contractor's work (as applied to specific helicopter models and contracts) specified herein including modifications and amplifications contained in pertinent contractual documents. The modified and amplified requirements may limit the demonstration for a particular contract or helicopter model to only a limited number of tests to be performed at a single location and, also, may contain requirements for the demonstration of features and characteristics not included in this general specification.

This document, in addition to covering contractor's demonstration work, delineates certain responsibilities of Government officers concerning such work, and sets forth policy of NAVAIR on release for flight and on restrictions to be observed in subsequent operations.

It is the policy of INSURV (the Board of Inspection and Survey) to accept for trials' purposes, data from any source provided that in the judgement of the activity conducting the trials, the data are valid and fully representative of the production article undergoing trials. Properly validated demonstration test data are of assistance to INSURV and thus decrease the time required for trials.

It is the policy of NAVAIR to assign the responsibility for coordinating the demonstration of naval aircraft to the COMNAVAIRTESTCEN (Commander, Naval Air Test Center). Such phases of the demonstrations as fall within the purview of other activities will be assigned thereto by the NAVAIRTESTCEN (Naval Air Test Center). Likewise in the case of other test and evaluation projects assigned directly to COMNAVAIRTESTCEN by NAVAIR, he is authorized to assign portions or phases of these projects to other NAVAIR field activities at his discretion. (See 3.1.2)

NAVAIR Instruction 13100.7 contains the policy of NAVAIR concerning the release of naval aircraft for INSURV Acceptance Trials and for use by the Fleet.

After an aircraft has been shop-completed in conformance with design specifications, evaluations and tests are needed to provide to NAVAIR assurance that desired design characteristics exist, or can be made to exist by changes and adjustments, prior to delivery of aircraft of the same design for fleet usage. These developmental tests and evaluations are performed by contractor's personnel. Performance of critical (i.e. potentially dangerous) tests are prerequisite to Navy pilots operating the aircraft to those critical limits. Included in these evaluations and tests are actions to:

(1) to determine that the helicopter can be safely operated by Navy pilots during trials to limits consistent with the contract design limits for the helicopter without the occurrance of yielding, excessive wear, malfunctions, or failure of the helicopter

(2) to obtain early basic information regarding the military potential of new models of helicopters and the operability of all their equipment

(3) to obtain quantitative information on safe limits for operation by Fleet pilots.

The demonstration of a specific model of helicopter begins with the first contract work performed by the contractor in compliance with provisions of this general specification, (i.e. submittal of demonstration planning information, preparation of a helicopter for demonstration, or conference with representatives of the government concerning actual details of the specified demonstration, whichever occurs first) and ends with satisfactory completion by the contractor of all specified tests, submittal by the contractor of all required reports and data, and acceptance by the Government of all reports and data concerning the demonstration, that are required to be submitted for acceptance.