CNAF M-3710.7 - NATOPS General Flight and Operating Instructions Manual

Scope

CNAF M-3710.7 prescribes general flight and operating instructions and procedures for the operation of all naval aircraft and related activities. The manual complements the platform NATOPS flight manuals. Marine aviation operates under it alongside Navy aviation. Special instructions and waivers issue from COMNAVAIRFOR or CMC as applicable.

Audience

• Commanders of Marine aviation reporting custodians. Own NATOPS program execution in the unit.
• NATOPS officers and aviation operations staff running evaluations, qualifications, and flight records.
• Aircrew and enlisted crewmembers subject to flight and qualification requirements.
• IGMC inspectors working Functional Area 3710.7.

Program assignments

Paragraph 2.2.1 of the manual assigns the NATOPS program roles.

• CNO N98. Overall NATOPS program sponsor.
• COMNAVAIRFOR. Overall management of the NATOPS program. COMNAVAIRFOR N455 serves as program administrator for daily administration of NATOPS policy.
• COMNAVAIRSYSCOM. Administration and maintenance of NATOPS publications through its Airworthiness and CYBERSAFE Office.

IGMC functional area

The IGMC NATOPS checklist, FA 3710.7, revised 8 June 2026, applies to aviation reporting custodians as defined by COMNAVAIRFOR Manual 3710.7. The checklist cites this manual 26 times across its 38 questions, beside MCO 3710.8, MCO 5100.29C Volume 4, NAVMC 3500.14F, and the platform NATOPS flight manuals. The commander oversight matrix links its FA 3710.7 row here.

Connections

• MCO 3710.7. A separate Marine Corps order sharing the 3710.7 number. Do not conflate the two.
• MCO 3710.8. Cited beside this manual in the FA 3710.7 checklist.
• OPNAVINST 3750.6T. Naval Aviation Safety Program. The FA 3750.6 checklist names CNAF M-3710.7 for its reporting custodian definition.

Status

Dated 7 February 2025. Supersedes the edition dated 1 September 2023. Distribution is electronic only. The manual lists the DON Issuances site, the NAVAIR Airworthiness site, and the NATEC site as distribution points. The link above opens a full copy hosted by the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute. Verified against the hosted copy on 2026-09-29.