(a) On Board the Carrier and at Air Stations. He is responsible to Commander (Air) for the operational efficiency and administration of his flight.
(b) At Naval Establishments. To the Commanding officer of the establishment in which the flight is based. If more than one flight is operating from an establishment, the senior of the Flight Commanders will act as the Head of the Air Department.
(c) Ship Borne. He is directly responsible to the Commanding officer of the ship for all matters concerning his flight. For all other purposes, he forms the part of the executive department. He is to be designated as Head of the Department, if he is of the rank of Commander.
(d) Detached Flight. The duties of the detachment Commander will be the same as at (a) above when operating from Naval Air Stations.
When operating away from his parent ship/air station, he will be responsible to the local commander for all aspects of flying and administration of the detachment. The Detachment Commander is to carry written power of authorisation and appropriate instructions from his parent ship/establishment.
(e) Combined Detachments. When two or more detached flights are operating together, the senior most aircrewman present will be responsible for all the aircraft and aircrew, and their operations. He will take over the overall duties of them Detachment Commander.
(2) The Flight Commander’s duties on ships consist of the following: -
(a) The administration, discipline, training and operational efficiency of the flight. He is to issue orders for this purpose where none exists and they should be approved by the ships’ Commanding officer.
(b) The airworthiness and safety of the flight aircraft and any liaison required towards this object within the departments of the ship or with outside authorities.
(c) Accident prevention of the flight and aircraft accident reporting.
(d) Advising the commanding officer on tactics to be employed in order to obtain the best results from flight’s aircraft.
(e) The Maintenance of equipment and modification of the aircraft in accordance with the current regulations.
(f) Rendering routine reports and returns (including technical returns) in accordance with current regulations.
(g) Making recommendations concerning the improvement of aircraft maintenance, spares and facilities.
(h) The proper custody of confidential books and all classified material issued to the flight.
(j)The custody of an amendments to the flight publications.
(k)Lowering and hoisting of helicopter by crane, when required.
(l)Making available flight’s aircraft and publications, log books and records associated with their maintenance to the ship/ air station Air Engineer officers and the Air Electrical officers for independent inspection when required.
(m)Ensure that divisional duties, as laid down in regulations for the Navy, are carried out in his flight.
(n)Check any tendency towards laxity in flying discipline or good airmanship on the part of those under his command.
(o)Observe pilots under his command for any physical or psychological idiosyncrasies, which may affect their ability to carry out flying operations.
(p)Take necessary steps to ensure the safety of all aircraft under his charge on receipt of special meteorological warnings or gale warnings or when unfavourable weather conditions appear likely.
(q)Carry out duties in connection with aircraft maintenance as laid down in the Naval Aircraft maintenance Manual for Squadron Commander.
(3) The Flight Commander must be consulted when planning day to day ships’ programme so that adequate amount of flying is included to keep the aircrew in the required state of efficiency.
(4) The Flight Commander’s responsibilities concerning the preparation of airlaunched weapons are to ensure attachment of the weapons to aircraft and final preparation of weapons system and providing flight sailors.
(5) Whilst on board an aircraft carrier or at an air station, a number of duties mentioned above will be taken over by the specialist officers. Flight Commander’s responsibilities will thus be reduced.