Basic Flight Instruction Manual

Written by T. Coffman

A Brief Message:

The world of aviation is vast and has countless opportunities to further change the field of war. To be an Aviator in the military institution is a large responsibility and above all a privilege. Each and every pilot of the JSF must understand that the position of an aviator is and always will be a privilege that can be revoked at a moments notice. That is why we few must work as a team with zero tolerance for errors. Do not take your position for granted. We are the guardians of the sky that keep the boots on the ground safe. As you read through this manual, expect to be held to the highest of standards and hold yourself responsibly and honorably as you represent an elite branch of the Joint Strike Force.

Chapter 1: The Basics

This section of your manual will cover basic flight information and callouts. Your ground instructor will walk through the diagrams and information with you.

The three basic types of aircraft movement are: pitch, roll, and yaw. Your pitch and roll are controlled with elevators and stabilizers. Yaw is controlled with rudder. As a rotary pilot, yaw is your biggest friend and foe. Your yaw is controlled with your tail rotor. Yaw, in a rotary aircraft, greatly increases your turning ability while in a still position.

There are several basic forms of measurements in aviation. There is Altitude (ALT, FL, and AGL), Speed (MPH, KIAS), Heading (HDG), Pitch (FPM), and Bank (DEG) Altitude: Altitude will be abbreviated and referenced in several different ways. Altitude itself is distance above or below sea level, sea level being 0. ALT is often the abbreviation for Altitude. Another common reference is Flight Level, abbreviated FL. Flight level is used extremely often in combat situations to shorten the callout. Flight level works like so: 30,000 ft., would equal flight level 30. AGL is Air to Ground Level; this is a measurement of how high you are based on the level of the ground below you. For example, if youre over the Rocky Mountains, which usually have an altitude of 12,000, and flying at 15,000 youre only 3,000 feet off the ground. So AGL is a good comparison to use when in mountain terrain. Speed: Speed is notated either in Miles per Hour (MPH) or Knots (KIAS). Knots are a system used by pilots to help round miles to a number that is easier to use. However, you will notice little to no difference in speed between MPH and KIAS. Heading: Heading is abbreviated HDG and is something that from this point forward needs to be engraved in your brain. Its a measurement of 360 degrees. The Cardinal directions are as follows; 000 = North, 090 = East, 180= South, 270 = West. All heading readouts should be a 3 digit number. Pitch: Pitch is measured in Feet per minute. Most commercial aircraft ascend and descend at 1800 FPM

Bank: Bank is measured in Degrees from zero to 180. 90 means wings are perpendicular to the ground. 180 mean youre upside-down.

Ch1. Sec2: Callouts are an essential part of the aviation field. Communication is the biggest factor in the process of getting the mission accomplished. Therefore, we need to all be on the same page. ALL NUMBERS SHOULD BE STATED INDIVIDUALLY, AND ALL LETTERS SHOULD BE PHOENETIC. For example, if I wanted to pronounce N125 over the radio, I would say: November, one, two, and five.

Ch1.Sec3: Callouts: Bandits Enemy Air Unit OClock Used to describe a position based on your relation to that of the position of a clock. Contacts Ground units Radio check Asking if comms are clear and readable, for example: You- Tower this is Widowmaker 4 radio check, over. Tower- Widowmaker 4 this is Tower loud and clear. You- Roger Tower I also have you the same, OUT. Break Interrupt a transmission in progress or a break in the current transmission. Read Back Repeat my transmission. Master Arm Weapons good to go (Manual fire in ArmA) Weapons hot Ready to fire immediately When Ejecting EJECT-EJECT-EJECT! --

Fixed Approach Pattern:

Chapter 2: Air Traffic Control

ATC is the vital communication medium that keeps us from running around like chickens with our heads cut off.
Id like to start out by saying, just because you are a military flight does not make you immune to FAA and civilian flight rules. You take no priority over a civilian flight.

CH2.Sec1: Pre Flight coms. As a rotary pilot you do not load up your cargo at the gate like other flights. As a rotary pilot, you spool up hover taxi onto the taxi-way and load cargo there. The following is your pre-flight process and communications. Your call sign is NXX for this demonstration. Requesting Clearance: You- XX Tower this is NXX, requesting departure to the North Tower NXX you are clear for departure to north read back all instructions. After takeoff climb and maintain an altitude of XX feet and a heading of XX. Notify when ready to taxi. You RGR Tower clear for departure to north after takeoff climb and maintain XX feet and heading of XX. Notify when ready to taxi. (You can summarize instructions here) Tower- NXX read back correct clear for engine startup. --

CH2.Sec2: It is important to note, at this point that if you are a flight of more than one plane once in the air. You become XX Flight for example if you are Shark 4-1 an Shark 4-2 once you get into the air you become Shark Flight instead of individual call signs the flight lead will only talk to the tower and refer to the group as shark flight. It is also worth noting, that once you are 40 Miles from the field you are no longer in their airspace.

Taxi and Takeoff: (Rotary, at this point, must taxi to the taxiway to load up personnel. normally theyd just give you taxi instructions to the runway. You- Tower, this is NXX Ready for taxi to load cargo. Them- NXX RGR, taxi via Alpha 1, to Alpha position and hold on Alpha for cargo. (Taxi ways are named with letters and numbers like Alpha 1. Position and hold means to position yourself in the center of the taxi way and hold there until further instructions are given) Once Cargo is loaded you are ready for takeoff. You- Tower, NXX cargo loaded, requesting clearance for vertical takeoff. Them- NXX clear for vertical takeoff to the north, follow previous instructions after takeoff. Once in the air if you are multiple planes you may want to re-inform them that you are now Shark Flight etc. If no tower is present you simply announce your position. IE: Shark flight positioning on alpha, Shark flight taking off, etc.

When you leave tower airspace, the tower will inform you, that you are no longer in his airspace, and you may break comms with him at this point.

Ch2.Sec3: Re-entry When re-entering airspace you initially call out your location and the tower gives you radar vectors to land. Once again we will be following a rotary point of view. You- XX Tower this is NXX, entering your airspace XX miles to your North currently at XX Feet, heading of XX En Route for landing. Them- NXX RGR maintain current heading descend to XX feet reduce speed to XX. You are X in line to land. (At this point the tower will guide you in and can end up having you circle for a while so others can land.)

If you have cargo you will request a vertical landing on the taxiway, if not you will request a normal landing we will do the scenario as if we do have cargo. You- Tower this is NXX requesting a vertical landing on taxiway Alpha 1 for cargo unload. Them- RGR NXX clear for vertical landing Once you have landed simply request a taxi to the gate of your choice. (Gate or helipad can be used interchangeably a gate just means a parking spot essentially.)

Side notes: This is a field of information that must be known by heart, and will take practice to be on the same page.

Chapter 3: Rules and Regulations

We have zero room for error, crashing even once can result in loss of abilities for an extended period of time.

Ch3.Sec1: Flight group rules In a flight group the flight leader always has command and can delegate specific tasks to each of the members of the flight. You may not do anything without permission from the flight leader. The flight lead is in charge of navigation, and will change course by notifying first. Then executing with a command of Ready... Hit it. On the word it, you are to execute his command, for example: Lead- Turning left 30 degrees HDG 020 bank of 45 degrees Flight- RGR Lead- Ready hit it. (Execute turn) -Flight leader also commands the fire of weapons; he will call master arm on first, then weapons hot when he is about to fire. Clear to engage is similar to fire at will. When firing weapons there is different callouts. Machine gun- Guns, guns, guns!

Release of a bomb- Pickle! Missile- Rifle! This helps the flight lead keep track of who is firing, and helps to know if an enemy is firing, at you. Ch3.Sec2: Clearance Levels Clearance levels help us determine who is cleared to fly what. Clearance level 0 (CL0) is grounded, and barred from any flight what so ever. CL0 Grounded CL1 Clear for training, and civilian level flight CL2 Clear for Passenger flight in harsh terrain (essentially for just transportation) CL3 Clear for Passenger flights to Hot zones (Militaristic transport ops.) CL4 Clear for military ordinance and weapons CL5 Clear for Carrier operations, and all other flying aspects.

Ch3.Sec3: Misc. Flight formations are always similar to that on the ground you can fly in a line, staggered column, wedge, diamond, and modified diamond. COC: Tower > Flight Lead > Pilot > Crew Chief > Gunner -Some Basic Rules & Tips: -Always leave yourself room for evasive maneuvers -You as the pilot command your aircraft; you dont have to put yourself in a position where you are in danger. If you need to adjust a drop zone DO IT! -Dont do acrobatic maneuvers unless cleared to do so. -Dont do anything to purposely put your aircraft in danger. -If unsure about anything always ask. -Read back all instructions given to you. -Hold yourself respectably and treat others with respect, NO MATTER WHAT!

-If you cant see, you cant fly. This includes lag and poor view distance.

--This manual is to be updated. Last update: 1JAN2013

Credits: All images and diagrams go to Google images. Information above was summarized personal knowledge and written by Tyler Coffman, and may be updated further by others.