NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 7900.3D Effective Date: May 01, 2017 Expiration Date: May 01, 2024

Subject: Aircraft Operations Management

Responsible Office: Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

Table of Contents

Change History

Preface

P.1 Purpose
P.2 Applicability
P.3 Authority
P.4 Applicable Documents
P.5 Measurements/Verification
P.6 Cancellation

Chapter 1. Flight Operations, General Overview

1.1 Concept of Operations
1.2 Assignment of Authority and Responsibility
1.3 Operational Use
1.4 International Aircraft Operations
1.5 Special Operational Requirements
1.6 Waivers

Chapter 2. Airworthiness and Maintenance

2.1 Purpose
2.2 Airworthiness General Requirements
2.3 Airworthiness Certification Requirements
2.4 Airworthiness Roles and Responsibilities
2.5 Airworthiness Review Board Membership
2.6 Airworthiness Review Process
2.7 Airworthiness Documentation and Records
2.8 Maintenance Program

Chapter 3. Flight Operations

3.1 Operations
3.2 Flight Planning
3.3 TCAS and TAWS Systems
3.4 Electronic Publications
3.5 Oxygen Requirements
3.6 Personnel Authorized to Operate NASA Aircraft
3.7 Crew Complement
3.8 Flightcrew Qualifications, Proficiency, and Currency
3.9 Flightcrew and Maintenance Technician Training
3.10 Evaluation and Exam
3.11 Flightcrew Documentation Requirements
3.12 Flight Readiness Reviews and Mission Readiness Reviews
3.13 Tobacco
3.14 Drugs and Alcohol

Chapter 4. Passenger Transportation

4.1 Purpose
4.2 Policy
4.3 Classification of Passenger Transportation Flights
4.4 Approval of Flights
4.5 Responsibilities Associated with Passenger Transportation Flight Operations
4.6 Reporting Requirements
4.7 Reimbursement for Nonofficial Travel Use
4.8 Operations
4.9 Use of NASA Aircraft for Passenger Transportation Flight Purposes
4.10 Waivers and Supplements
4.11 Flightcrew Qualifications Specific to Passenger Transportation
4.12 Crewmember Training
4.13 Ground Training
4.14 Flight Training Phase
4.15 Overdue Training
4.16 Minimum Currency Requirements
4.17 Overdue Recent Experience
4.18 Evaluation Phase
4.19 Coordination and Scheduling for Passenger Transportation Flights
4.20 Crew Complement
4.21 Crew Duty Time
4.22 Crew Rest
4.23 Maximum Flight Time Limitations
4.24 Hazardous Cargo
4.25 Sterile Cockpit Procedures
4.26 Crew Briefings
4.27 Flight Planning Considerations
4.28 Takeoff and Departure Procedures
4.29 En Route Procedures
4.30 Arrival, Approach, and Landing Procedures
4.31 Post-flight Procedures
4.32 Specific Operational Restrictions

Chapter 5. Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations

5.1 Policy
5.2 Planning
5.3 Preflight Planning
5.4 Flight Operations
5.5 Airworthiness Reviews
5.6 UAS Flightcrew Requirements
5.7 UAS Classifications

Chapter 6. Aviation Safety

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Aviation Safety Roles and Responsibilities
6.3 Center's Aviation Safety Program
6.4 Mishap Preparedness and Contingency Plans Involving Aircraft

Chapter 7. Aviation Medical Program

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Primary Aircrew Medical Requirements
7.3 Flight Physical Records
7.4 Review Boards
7.5 Waivers

Chapter 8. Aircraft Acquisitions and Dispositions

8.1 General
8.2 Aircraft Inventory
8.3 Aircraft Acquisition
8.4 Aircraft Materiel Acquisition Procedures
8
.5 Aircraft Disposition

Chapter 9. Inter-Center Aircraft Operations Panel Review

9.1 Purpose
9.2 Responsibilities
9.3 Procedures

Chapter 10. Commercial Aviation Services (CAS), Including UAS Operations

10.1 General
10.2 CAS Management and Administrative Roles and Responsibilities
10.3 CAS Aircraft Maintenance Requirements
10.4 Safety Requirements
10.5 CAS Surveillance and Inspections

Chapter 11. Flight Operations Performance Measurements and Reporting

11.1 Purpose
11.2 Responsibilities
11.3 Aircraft Data Reporting Requirements

Chapter 12. Assignment and Removal from Flight Status, Including UAS Operations

12.1 Purpose
12.2 Assignment Procedures
12.3 Removal Procedures

Chapter 13. NASA Airfield, Ramp, and Movement Area Operations

13.1 General Requirements
13.2 Contents of Airfield Operations Manual
13.3 Safety and Emergency Requirements
13.4 Wildlife Hazard Management
13.5 Noncomplying Conditions
13.6 Deviations

Appendix A. Definitions
Appendix B. Acronyms
Appendix C. Compliance Matrix
Appendix D. Flight on Public Aircraft

D.1 Flying on Public Aircraft (Crewmembers and Qualified Non-Crewmembers)
D.2 Flying on Public Aircraft (Passengers)

Appendix E. Inter-Center Aircraft Operations Review Plan
Appendix F. NASA Inter-Center Aircraft Operations Program Review Sheet
Appendix G. Certificate of Airworthiness for Aircraft
Appendix H. NASA Aircraft Cost and Performance Worksheets
Appendix I. Sample Approval Request to Acquire/Transfer/Dispose of Aircraft

List of Tables

Table 4-1 Mission Requirements
Table 4-2 Minimum Currency Requirements for Pilots
Table 4-3 Maximum Flight Time Limitations
Table 4-4 Minimum Runway Length for Mission Management Operations
Table 4-5 Wind Restrictions
Table 4-6 Minimum Landing Fuel
Table 13-1 Wildlife Hazard Assessment

List of Figures

Figure 4-1 Mission Required Travel Where Passenger Transportation Is the Primary Purpose of the Flight
Figure 4-2 Mission Required Travel Where Passenger Transportation Is Not the Primary Purpose of the Flight
Figure 4-3 Approval Flow for Other Official Travel Without Senior Federal Officials, Families of Such Senior Federal Officials, or Non-Federal Travelers Aboard
Figure 4-4 Approval Flow for Other Official Travel With Senior Federal Officials, Families of Such Senior Federal Officials, or Non-Federal Travelers Aboard

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