Purpose

This NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) establishes requirements, responsibilities, and procedures that will assist NASA Centers and other locations operating NASA aircraft to create local policies and procedures for the management of NASA aircraft resources, flight operations, and related matters. This NPR provides a standard approach for the management and use of the NASA Aircraft Operations program. The purpose of the NASA Aircraft Operations program is to directly support the Agency's mission in aeronautical research and development, space science and applications, space flight, astronaut readiness training, and related activities by providing operational flights in both manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). This NPR should be used in conjunction with other governing instructions, handbooks, and manuals.

Applicability

This NPR is applicable to NASA Headquarters (HQ) and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers, and contractors operating NASA aircraft/UASs. This NPR applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), other contractors, or grant recipients only to the extent specified or referenced in the appropriate contracts, grants, or agreements.

A requirement in this NPR is identified by "shall," a good practice by "should," permission by "may" or "can," expected outcome or action by "will," and descriptive material by "is" or "are" (or another verb form of "to be"). All requirements are numbered consecutively in brackets at the end of the applicable sentence. Requirements are compiled as a Compliance Matrix in Appendix K.

Note: This NPR alone is not sufficient to stipulate requirements for the contractor or grant recipient. The contract, grant, or agreement must state the requirements(s) from NPR 7900.4 and this NPR.