balance officer. The weight and balance officer is responsible, along with the pilot(s), for accurate computations when required.

AIRCRAFT INVENTORY REPORTING SYSTEM

The Naval Aircraft Inventory Reporting System (AIRS) provides the Chief of Naval Operations, the Naval Air Systems Command, and type commands with sufficient information to effectively manage naval aviation. All the information collected by the inventory system is used for specific purposes. No information is collected out of curiosity or out of incidental interest.

The capability to fight, or the actual use of armed aircraft on a combat mission, is the prime reason for naval aviation; aircraft are a prime element of naval aviation. Management of this element involves the following:

. Deciding what is to be accomplished

. Acquiring and distributing the means for doing it

. Regulating the use of the means

. Reviewing the overall program for possible improvement; to see why things failed to go as planned, what was overlooked, and what was unnecessary - to learn and benefit from experience

The accomplishment of these management functions depends almost entirely upon accurate feedback of service experience information of the use of aircraft and their current status.

Figure 6-23.-Form B-Aircraft Weighing Record.