R 021356Z MAY 12

ALCOAST 206/12
COMDTNOTE 3710
SUBJ: POLICY CHANGE TO COAST GUARD AIR OPERATIONS MANUAL
A. COAST GUARD AIR OPERATIONS MANUAL, COMDTINST M3710.1 (SERIES)
B. THE COAST GUARD DIRECTIVES SYSTEM, COMDTINST M5215.6 (SERIES)
1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED TO UPDATE POLICY, REMOVE
AMBIGUITY, ADDRESS EXPANDED CAPABILITY, AND PROPERLY SUPPORT CG
FORCES THAT REQUIRE CG AIR MOBILITY.
2. A COPY OF THIS POLICY CHANGE MESSAGE SHALL BE PLACED AFTER THE
RECORD OF CHANGES PAGE AS A PERMANENT REFERENCE UNTIL THE NEXT
REVISION OF REF A IS PUBLISHED.  IAW REFERENCE B, A CHANGE NOTICE
WILL BE PROMULGATED.
3. THE FOLLOWING CHANGES SHALL BE MADE TO REF A:
    A. PG 7-5, PARA B.1, PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE- DELETE-NOTE AND
ADD THE FOLLOWING TEXT TO THE END OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH: FOR
PASSENGERS, ONLY INFLATABLE MILITARY AIRCRAFT TYPE PFDS ARE
AUTHORIZED. APPROVED AUTOMATIC INFLATABLE VESTS MAY BE WORN BY
DEPLOYABLE SPECIAL FORCES PERSONNEL. THE VESTS SHALL REMAIN DISARMED
UNTIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE MEMBER DEPLOYS FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
AUTOMATIC INFLATABLE VESTS SHALL NOT BE TRANSPORTED ABOARD COAST
GUARD AIRCRAFT UNLESS THEY ARE DISARMED.
    B. PG 7-7, PARA D.1.A, EXCEPTIONS- ADD THE FOLLOWING TEXT TO THE
END OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH: EXCEPTIONS MAY BE GRANTED BY THE AIR
STATION COMMANDING OFFICER FOR MISSION ESSENTIAL TEAMS (OR PERSONNEL)
WHOSE CAPABILITY WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADED OR OTHERWISE
AFFECTED. THIS EXCEPTION SHALL NOT BE USED FOR CONVENIENCE.
4. DIRECT QUESTIONS AND/OR INFORMATION REQUESTS TO ASTCM CHRISTOPHER
S. WALKER, HELICOPTER RESCUE SWIMMER PROGRAM MANAGER, COMDT (CG-711),
AT (202) 372-2219 OR BY EMAIL AT CHRISTOPHER.S.WALKER (AT) USCG.MIL.
5. RELEASED BY RDML MARK E. BUTT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR
CAPABILITY.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.