STOVL CASE 1

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Short Summary

Fixed-Wing

Departure

• Take off and turn left.
• Fly outbound until 7 NM DME.
• Push Tactical (Ch 3)

Recovery

• Flight leader contacts Marshal (Ch 16) at ~50 nm DME. Report flight members, position, altitude and lowest fuel.
• Approach the carrier, making sure you're on assigned altitude before 10 nm DME.
• When visual (typically 10 nm DME) report "see you at X nm". Switch to Tower (Ch 1). Go Fingertip Left formation.
• Tangentially enter the 5 nm diameter port hold (see image) at 250 kts at any point in this circle. Maintain Fingertip Left formation. The port hold circle is located to the left of the ship, with its rightmost point (point 1) being right above the boat.
• Flights at angels 2 commence at point 3 in the hold, going Echelon Right formation and accelerating to 350 kts, slowly descending to 800'.
• As flights commence, the flights above descend in 1000' steps maintaining SA by looking around, aircraft sensors and (if absolutely necessary) comms.
• Break at 800 ft and 350 kts shortly after the bow. 17 second intervals between each break.
• Aim for 1.2 nm from the boat when abeam, at 600 ft. Turn final immediately (i.e. when you got the boat on your 9 o'clock) and land.

Rotary-Wing

Departure

• Take off to a hover and perform a small clearing turn to end up close aboard port side of the ship.
• Turn left and fly outbound to 0.5 NM DME.
• Arc left.
• Fly outbound on departure radial until 7 NM DME.
• Push Tactical (Ch 3)

Recovery

• Flight leader contacts Marshal (Ch 16) at 10 NM DME. Report flight members, position, altitude and lowest fuel.
• Approach the carrier, making sure you're on assigned altitude before 5 NM DME.
• When visual, report "Ship in sight".
• Switch to Tower (Ch 1) at 5 NM.
• Enter overhead Delta pattern from astern.
• Wait for the "Charlie" call, if not briefed, then decend to Alpha pattern.
• Break shortly after the bow. Pilots within flight extends upwind for proper intervals between each break.
• Land at assigned spot.

Detailed Instructions

Fixed-Wing

Departure

On The Boat

• Set radio to Tower (Ch 1)
• When your flight is ready to depart:

- If vertical takeoff, taxi to the forward slots (1-4).

- If short takeoff, taxi to the aft starboard slot (9) area.

- Do not request taxi. Only use comms if needed to sort out issues.

Takeoff

• With ~10 second intervals, call out your launch, ex "400 (Four Zero Zero), salute!" and take off.
• Turn left 10 degrees.
• Climb on relative radial 350 to 500 ft and accelerate to 300 kts.
• At 7 nm DME, start climbing to desired altitude.
• Flight lead decides when to leave the frequency and go to the package channel.
• Form up with your flight.

Recovery

Arriving to the Carrier Control Zone

Entering the Port Hold

Exiting the Port Hold

Entering the Break

The Final Turn

Bolters and Waveoffs

On the Deck

Rotary-Wing

Departure

On The Boat

• Set radio to Tower (Ch 1)
• When your flight is ready to depart, taxi to the forward slots (1-4). Do not request taxi. Only use comms if needed to sort out issues.

Takeoff

• Take off to a hover at 50ft and perform a small clearing turn to end up close aboard port side of the ship. If on spot 3 and 3A, make sure spot 2 and 4 are clear before takeoff.
• Turn left 10-100 degrees and fly outbound on relative radial 260-350 to 0.5 NM DME.
• Arc left at 0.5 NM DME until interception of departure radial.
• Fly outbound on departure radial until 7 NM.
• Push Tactical (Ch 3)

Recovery

Arriving to the Carrier Control Zone

Entering the Port Hold

Exiting the Port Hold

Entering the Break

The Final Turn

Bolters and Waveoffs

On the Deck