CAS Qualification

The CAS qualification ensures that our pilots and JTAC’s follow the standard procedure set by MA regarding CAS. The CAS qualification aims to give our pilots who have received their wings another goal/milestone to work towards. Since CAS is a procedure where own troops and/or civilians are close to the target the pilot should have good knowledge about weapon delivery, navigation and passed the CAS qualification for the specific aircraft that will be used during CAS-missions. As a JTAC you should be well-informed regarding routines/procedures concerning laser tactics, target availability assessment and so on. A misdirected engagement could result in catastrophic consequences.

Qualifications

Basic Qualification CAS

BQ CAS focus on the basic of CAS procedures for a specific role and therefore divided in to three sections, all with its own qualification:

• CAS Pilot (Fixed Wing)
• CAS Pilot (Rotary Wing)
• JTAC

Passing the qualification allows you to carry out medium-high level CAS missions during daytime in the role that you qualified in.

Advanced Qualification CAS

AQ CAS focus on single procedures to expand the pilot's ability to perform CAS in all conditions. Prerequisites is BQ CAS in the same role/aircraft (e.g If you are a BQ CAS qualified pilot in a F-16 then you can only move on to Low-level procedures in a F-16. Same goes if you are a BQ CAS qualified JTAC you can only move on to Low-level procedures as a JTAC). Proceduers to be qualified in are:

• Low-level
• Night
• Killbox

CAS Pilot (Fixed Wing)

How to train

• Read the Tactical guide for Close air support (take notes of things that are unclear) -> Link
• Ask for help in our CAS channel in Discord to get the answer to your questions above.
• Ping @JTACs and ask anyone to occupy a JTAC slot and help you practice and work your way through the various parts of the CAS-syllabus (Fixed-wing section).

How to qualify

• Carefully go through the CAS-syllabus Fixed-wing section (WIP) and ask yourself for every item "Do I know how to do this thing?” This is the most crucial step, and we trust you to be fair to yourself. Be disciplined, but don't be overly self-critical.
• You are expected to have all your technical stuff working (SRS and such), show up on CP as briefed and be able to follow instructions given by JTAC.
• Ask somebody to act as your examinating instructor. It can be anyone who has completed the JTAC qualification.
• The instructor prepares a short sortie, called a CAS Qual checkride. Here you will fly a simple CAS-mission and engage 2-4 targets.
• If you did okay, you will qualify and your instructor will let us know on Discord.
• If you did not pass (meaning something went really bad, like you clearly didn't know how to employ a weapon), you are free to try again, as many times as you like, as long as you take responsibility for reading up on the stuff that didn't go so well.

If you qualify

• Your callsign will be added to the list in the Discord #CAS-quals channel.
• You will get to wear the _____ badge in TeamSpeak. WIP

CAS Pilot (Rotary Wing)

How to train

• Read the Tactical guide for Close air support (take notes of things that are unclear) -> Link
• Ask for help in our CAS channel in Discord to get the answer to your questions above.
• Ping @JTACs and ask anyone to occupy a JTAC slot and help you practice and work your way through the various parts of the CAS-syllabus (Rotary-wing section).

How to qualify

• Carefully go through the CAS-syllabus Rotary-wing section (WIP) and ask yourself for every item "Do I know how to do this thing?” This is the most crucial step, and we trust you to be fair to yourself. Be disciplined, but don't be overly self-critical.
• You are expected to have all your technical stuff working (SRS and such), show up on HA as briefed and be able to follow instructions given by JTAC.
• Ask somebody to act as your examinating instructor. It can be anyone who has completed the JTAC qualification.
• The instructor prepares a short sortie, called a CAS Qual checkride. Here you will fly a simple CAS-mission and engage 2-4 targets.
• If you did okay, you will qualify and your instructor will let us know on Discord.
• If you did not pass (meaning something went really bad, like you clearly didn't know how to employ a weapon), you are free to try again, as many times as you like, as long as you take responsibility for reading up on the stuff that didn't go so well.

If you qualify

• Your callsign will be added to the list in the Discord #CAS-quals channel.
• You will get to wear the _____ badge in TeamSpeak. WIP

JTAC

How to train

• Read the Tactical guide for Close air support (take notes of things that are unclear) -> Link
• Ask for help in our CAS channel in Discord to get the answer to your questions above.
• Ping @JTAC/@CAS-pilots and ask anyone to fly as a CAS asset and help you practice and work your way through the various parts of the CAS-syllabus (JTAC section).

How to qualify

• Carefully go through the CAS-syllabus JTAC section (WIP) and ask yourself for every item "Do I know how to do this thing?” This is the most crucial step, and we trust you to be fair to yourself. Be disciplined, but don't be overly self-critical.
• You are expected to have all your technical stuff working (SRS and such) and be ready to receive a Check-in on time as briefed.
• Ask somebody to act as your examinating instructor. It can be anyone who has completed the JTAC qualification. Ask any qualified CAS Pilot Fixed-wing and Rotary-wing to fly as CAS-assets or if the examinating instructor feels that he/she can be examinating and fly at the same time (JTAC needs to be CAS Pilot qualified for the asset he/she flies.)
• The instructor prepares a short sortie, called a CAS Qual checkride. Here you will receive two CAS asset and engage 2-6 targets. You will receive one fixed-wing and one rotary-winged asset.
• If you did okay, you will qualify and your instructor will let us know on Discord.
• If you did not pass (meaning something went really bad, like you clearly didn't know how to send a CAS-brief), you are free to try again, as many times as you like, as long as you take responsibility for reading up on the stuff that didn't go so well.

If you qualify

• Your callsign will be added to the list in the Discord #CAS-quals channel.
• You will get to wear the _____ badge in TeamSpeak. WIP

Instructor Guidelines

Preparations

• Schedule the checkride with the student.
• When on the server, Deploy units manually (Contact DeadGun for target positions)
• As a JTAC prepare:
  • Situation update
  • For fixed-wing:
    1. CP
    2. Echo point
    3. CAS-brief 1

       - BOC, Type 2, JTAC LASED, GBU-12, T-55

    4. CAS-brief 2

       - BOT, Type 2, TALK-ON, JDAM, T-55

  • For rotary-wing:
    1. HA and BP
    2. CAS-brief 3 (9-line)

       - BOT Type 2, Marked by smoke, SA-9

    3. CAS-brief 4 (5-line)

       - BOT Type 3, Engagement window ≈5min, 3xUral 375

• As a PILOT:
  • For the first sortie:
    1. Fly an aircraft suited for CAS with TGP, at least 1xGBU-12 and 1xGBU-38 or similar 500lb JDAM (No LJDAM)
    2. Prepare Check-In
  • For the second sortie:
    1. Fly a helicopter suited for CAS with Rockets/AT-missiles in order to take out 1xSA-9 ≈5nm and 3xTruck ≈1nm
    2. Prepare Check-In

Examination

(WIP)