C-5

AFTO FORM 781 HANDBOOK

Jul 07

60 OSS/OST

Completing the AFTO 781

Flight time is very important to everyone. It can affect our pay, upgrade or career progression. While the aircraft commander is ultimately responsible for the completion of the 781, everyone who helps complete the form should be knowledgeable in completing the 781 correctly. Instructions for completing the 781 are in AFI 11-401 dated 7 Mar 2007 and in 11-2C-5 vol 3 with Travis Supplement. In an effort to improve everyone’s 781 knowledge and decrease the amount of mistakes, this guide will explain each block on the form and provide examples for training and operational missions.

Purpose: The AFTO 781 provides maintenance, inspection, and flight operations records for the management of each weapon system. It is the source document for recording and reporting the operational flight for each individual authorized to take part on a mission. It is the primary record of personnel and aircraft flying hours. Finally, it is the official, auditable basis for validating flight pay eligibility.

Responsibilities: Completion of AFTO 781 is a joint responsibility between maintenance personnel and the pilot in command (PIC). The crew chief completes items 2 through 5 and the PIC dates and completes pertinent flying information for all authorized personnel, i.e., flight orders.

SAMPLE 781


Item-by Item Description:

ITEMENTER

1DATE: Use numerical digits for year, month and day. All dates and times on the 781 must be the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) date. (20010530)

2MDS: Found on 781F, item 3. (C-5A, C-5B)

3SERIAL NUMBER: Last two digits of the year, followed by a dash, and then the last four digits of the tail number. (89-0123)

4UNIT CHARGED FOR FLY HOURS/HARM-CODE: Organization to which the aircraft is assigned. Show command designation in parentheses and the four-letter code of the Host Aviation Resource Management (HARM) which serves that organization (obtain from the unit HARM/SARM Office). This is the HARM that processes and files the original forms. The HARM code is on the cover page of the aircraft forms. (60AMW (AMC) / XDAT)

5LOCATION: The base the aircraft is assigned. (TRAVIS AFB, CA)

6MISSION NUMBER: Mission number for each leg of the mission. Found on GDSS2 Mission Papers,Form 59 or Flight Authorization. Ensure all 12 digits are included.

7MISSION SYMBOL: Authorized mission symbol for each flight. Found on MIS, last page of Wing Operations Plan (WOP), Flight Authorization (flight orders), and/or Form 59. Aircrew may enter all flights on same GMT date on single AFTO Form 781. Mission symbol information changes frequently. The current monthly Wing Operations Plan (WOP) contains a matrix from which you can determine your mission symbol using your mission number. Be aware that the mission number and mission symbol on the authorization is normally for the first leg only. A common mistake is to use the same mission symbol for positioning, execution, and depositioning legs.

8FROM: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code for the base or airport where the aircraft takes off. If a flight is continued from a previous entry, enter "INFL."

9TO: Base ICAO code for the base or airport where the aircraft lands. If a flight is terminated without landing for a change in mission symbol, enter "INFL."

10TAKE OFF TME (Z): 24-hour GMT clock time. The takeoff time is when the aircraft begins to move forward on takeoff roll.

11LAND TIME (Z): 24-hour GMT clock time. The landing is when the aircraft is on the ground after being airborne and any of the following conditions occur:

(a) The engines are stopped and shutdown occurs at or before five minutes after touchdown.

(b) The aircraft has been on the ground for sixminutes after touchdown.

(c) A change is made in the crew where a crewmember enplanes or deplanes. A series of practice landings is considered one sortie; for a series of practice landings, close out the flight after five minutes on the ground and begin a subsequent flight IAW item 10.

NOTE: When a flight starts before 2400 GMT and ends after GMT midnight (2400Z), record and report the flight on the date of takeoff. A separate AFTO Form 781 is not necessary.

12FLIGHT TIME: Subtract takeoff time from landing time, convert to hours and tenths and enter the result. The conversion table for minutes to tenths of an hour is on the reverse side of the 781.

13LANDINGS: Number of touch-and-go’s, full stops and total landings.

14SORTIES: Number of sorties accomplished. A sortie covers a flight from first take off to landing as described in block 11; however, if any flight entry is split (INFL), the sortie will be recorded on the flight that lists final landing.

15SPECIAL USE: Used for landing gear cycles. Normally the number of touch and go’s, full stop landings, and go around’s added together. May also include cycles for maintenance troubleshooting.

16OPERATING UNIT: Unit designated to perform the mission (MAJCOM option). (22AS)

NOTE: For AMP missions, place “AMP” in the gray shaded area. For sims, simply write “AMP Sim.”

17FLYING ORGN: Four-digit unit number to which the crewmember is assigned/attached for flying. Use leading zeros when the unit number has fewer than four digits. (0022)

18SSN: Complete crewmember’s SSN. An error in this entry will result in time being lost or credited to another crewmember.

19LAST NAME: Crewmember’s last name (printed).

20FLT AUTH DUTY CODE: Flight Authorization (FA) Duty Code assigned on the FA to the crewmember for the mission. This code cannot be higher than the individual’s current qualification or what the individual crewmember will be performing on the mission. For example, if the individual is an IP, but is scheduled to perform MP duties on a mission, the individual will be listed as an MP on the Flight Authorization.

NOTE: The only time the FA code will not match the scheduled duties on the FA is for extenuating circumstances. The AC must document the reason in the remarks of the AFTO Form 781. For example, a pilot was scheduled to perform IP duties in conjunction with upgrade training for a second pilot; however, the upgrading individual was DNIF and did not fly, so the pilot only performed primary duties. MP is logged with primary time and the AC documents the reason in the remarks section. When using the FA for more than one day, log FA Duty Code actually performed and annotate in remarks if different from the FA. If an examiner is listed with an EP duty code on the FA for the mission, he or she will log EP time on the AFTO Form 781 for the duration of that mission. When the examination is complete, the examiner will log Instructor, Primary, or Secondary time, as appropriate, and will have a duty position as appropriate. If someone coded EP only logs instructor time, the duty code on the 781 should be IP with remarks on the back side of the 781 to explain why evaluator duties were not performed. Refer to AFI 11-401 Table A2.3for a complete list of duty codes.

21-26FLIGHT TIME: Times in hours and tenths for each category as defined below. The total time in item 26 cannot exceed the total in item 12. The total of items 21 through 25 cannot exceed item 26.

Logging Time

Primary Flight Time: Time logged by a member occupying a designated duty station and actively performing the duty associated with their aircrew specialty. Only qualified aircrew members, aircrew members obtaining qualification in the aircraft can log primary time when performing in-flight duties. Non-rated aircrew members and operational support personnel who do not have an established crew duty station will only log primary time when actually performing their in-flight duty.

EXCEPTIONS: Pilots in inactive status who are authorized to fly under the provisions of AFI 11-401 paragraph2.16and commanders and key supervisors under the provisions of paragraph 3.7.1will logprimary time only when actually controlling the aircraft.

Pilots: Primary time is time actively controlling the aircraft excluding hands-on-timeflown while instructing and evaluating (log such time under instructor or evaluator). It is not predicatedon which set of controls is being used, or on the duty position indicatedon the flight authorization. Pilots receiving instruction while controlling the aircraft will logprimary time.

Other aircrew specialties: Log primary flight time only when performing duties at aduty position established for that specialty. Where more than one station is established for thesame specialty, one member at each such station may log primary time while actually performingthe duties associated with that station. Except under conditions in this paragraph, the total primarytime for any specific aircrew specialty must not exceed the total flight time.

Secondary Flight Time: Flight time logged by a crew member who is performing in-flight duties related to the crewmember’s specialty, but who is not controlling the function of that specialty. Except as listed below, the total secondary time logged in each specialty may not exceed the totalflight time. When in excess to the crew complement, a remark will be placed in the remarks of theAFTO Form 781 depicting the secondary duties performed by additional aircrew. For FE’s logging a TERP sortie, Secondary time must be logged.

NOTE: The member must be maintaining or obtaining qualification in the aircraft to log secondarytime.

Pilots: Log secondary time while occupying a duty position having a set of flight controls,yet not actively controlling the aircraft, instructing or evaluating.

Other aircrew specialties: Log secondary time when actually performing in-flight dutiesof the specialty, but not at the primary duty station established for that specialty, when dictated by mission requirements.

Annotate specific in-flight duties performed and circumstances that require additionalcrewmembers (in additional to basic crew complement) to perform the mission in theremarks section of the AFTO Form 781.

Total secondary time logged in each specialtymay not exceed the total flight time.

Instructor Flight Time: Flight time logged by a designated and qualified member whileactively performing authorized instructional duties (Includes "hands on" time during demonstrationactivities which are part of instructional duties). The member does not have to be occupying a primaryduty station established for that specialty but must be actually performing instructor duties. Total instructor flight time for each aircrew specialty may not exceedthe total flight time.

NOTE: Member must be current and qualified in the aircraft to log instructor time.

Only the amount of time used to train a specific event may be loggedas instructor time. If more than one instructor of like specialty are on the aircraft, to provide simultaneousinstruction of different specialties, both instructors may log instructor time (e.g., twoinstructor pilots are on the same aircraft, one is instructing a jump seat and the otheris instructing NVG left seat). In this case, total instructor time logged may exceed total flighttime logged. A remark must be entered on the back of the AFTO Form 781 explaining rationale.

Two instructors of the same specialty may fly together and each loginstructor time; however, total instructor time logged may not exceed total flight time logged.

Qualified instructor pilots may log instructor time when participating in missions whereAFI 11-202V1 senior officer qualification and performance requirements apply.

Instructors will log primary, secondary, or other time, depending on their activity, whennot performing instructor duties.

Log simulator console time as instructor time if the crewmember is qualified as aninstructor in the aircraft.

Evaluator Flight Time: Flight time flown by a designated and certified flight evaluator whileactively performing authorized flight evaluation duties (Includes "hands on" time if coincident withperformance of flight evaluator duties.). The member does not have to be occupying a primary dutystation established for that specialty, but must be actually performing evaluator duties. Evaluators willalso log instructor, primary, secondary, or other time, depending on their activity, when not performingevaluator duties.

NOTE: Member must be current and certified in the aircraft to log evaluator time.

Other Flight Time: Flight time flown by members who are on the flight authorization, but notoccupying a designated duty station or conforming to the requirements of primary, secondary, instructor,or evaluator time. For example: additional or extra crewmembers taking part in the flight, requiredfor the mission to augment the crew, or perform mission-related observation or evaluator duties (notqualified in the aircraft).

NOTE: Crewmembers will log other time during periods of crew rest or sleep.

27SORTIES: Total number of sorties for a crewmember. Entry is normally the grand total (14).

28-31FLT CONDITIONS: Hours and tenths of time performed in night, instrument, or simulated instrument conditions.

NOTE: Must be logged as defined below. This time can’t exceed primary time logged in block 21.

Night Time: That portion of primary, secondary, instructor, or evaluator flight time logged between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the American Air Almanac.See for data on civil twilight times. As a “rule-of-thumb,” the night time period starts about 30 minutes after sundown and ends about 30 minutes before sunrise. Since there is no discernable horizon, primary instrument is usually logged in conjunction with primary night.

Primary Instrument Time: The portion of primary, instructor, or evaluator flight time logged when external conditions require that the aircraft attitude be maintained primarily by reference to the flight instruments. Only pilots will log this time when performing duties in this flight condition. Primary instrument time maybe logged in the simulator if an IP is present.

NOTE: To log primary instrument time, an instructor or evaluator pilot must occupy a duty station with a set of flight controls, but does not have to actively (hands-on) control the aircraft.

Simulated Instrument Time: The portion of primary, "hands-on" instructor, or"hands-on" evaluator time logged by an individual controlling the aircraft attitude primarily by referenceto the flight instruments. Only pilots will log this time when performing duties in this flight condition. Simulated instrument time may be logged in the simulator.

PRIMARY INSTRUMENT TIME vs. SIMULATED INSTRUMENT TIME

The key here is a discernable horizon. If you are in IMC or there is no discernable horizon, log Primary Instrument Time. If you are practicing an instrument approach in VMC, log Simulated Instrument Time. You must log some instrument time (Primary Instrument Time or Simulated Instrument Time) to log instrument approaches.

Night Vision Goggle Time: The portion of time logged by an aircrew member wearing night vision goggles. Pilots, flight surgeons, and other crewmembers having NVG training requirements specified by Air Force or MAJCOM aircrew training publications will log this time (simultaneously with night time) when performing these duties.

32RESERVE STATUS: Air Reserve Component Flight Duty Status Code for the crewmember, if applicable. Ifused: 1=Active Duty, 2=Inactive Duty, 3=Flying Training Period, 4=Civilian Technician.

33COMBAT TIME: Log Combat Time in hours/tenths for each category.

Combat: Aerial activity, engagements, or attacks conducted by aircraft against an enemy of the US or an opposing foreign force when there is risk of exposure to hostile fire. Aerial activity in support of forces engaged in combat when there is risk of exposure to hostile fire.

NOTE: Once a combat zone is established, the Commander Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) will identify which portion constitutes hostile airspace, based on risk of exposure to hostile fire. To prevent an interruption in accurate aircrew documentation the COMAFFOR must do this as soon as possible. For the purposes of logging combat time the aerial activity must be accomplished in a designated combat zone within hostile airspace as defined by the COMAFFOR (EXCEPTION: In cases of aircrews that employ standoff weapons, the COMAFFOR under extraordinary circumstances can make an exception to allow aircrews to log combat time). COMAFFOR will publish guidelines specifying which aircraft missions may log combat/combat support flight time as well as identify the inclusive dates that the hostile airspace is activated for logging time. During contingencies where a combat zone is not designated but the use of force is authorized, COMAFFOR will coordinate with HQ USAF/XO to establish hostile airspace criteria and guidelines for logging combat/combat support flight time. COMAFFOR must issue new guidance and procedures every two years to ensure all Air Force units are aware of the current policy.

34COMBAT SORTIES: Number of Combat Sorties flown that meet requirements as defined.

35COMBAT SPT TIME: Log Combat Support Time in hours and tenths for each category as defined.

Combat Support: Aerial activity, engagements, or attacks conducted by aircraft against an enemy of the US or an opposing foreign force that operate outside the designated hostile airspace. Aerial activity directly supporting forces engaged in combat or directly supporting those who are actively supporting combat when the aerial activity occurs outside the designated hostile airspace. Hostile airspace is determined as described above under combat time.

36COMBAT SPT SORTIES: Number of Combat Support Sorties flown that meet requirements as defined.

NOTE: Combat or combat support time will be logged from takeoff to landing. Do not combine mission symbols; use one symbol for the entire flight.

37MAINT REVIEW: Initials of maintenance personnel at the debriefing who reviewed the form.

38PILOT REVIEW: Initials of the pilot in command who certifies form accuracy. For multiple sorties, thepilot in command initials for each sortie. Travis also requires each primary crew position to initial to ensure crew position accuracy.

39OPS REVIEW: Initials of the unit operations officer or Aviation Resource Manager (ARM) who verifies the accuracy and legibility of the form prior to entry into ARMS.