TERRAIN FLIGHT MISSION PLANNING

Terminal Learning Objective: At the completion of this lesson the student will be able to discuss and apply the concepts of terrain flight mission planning

Condition: As a UH-60 student pilot.

Standard: In accordance with TC 1-237, Fort Rucker Terrain Flight Mission Planning Guide

Safety Requirements: None

Environmental Considerations: None

• TC 1-237 Aircrew Training Manual

• Ft. Rucker Terrain Flight Mission Planning Guide

• TC 1-201 Tactical Flight Procedures

• TC 1-204 Night Flight

• FM 90-4 Air Assault Operations

REFERENCES

• Aviation Support Request • Warning Order• Operations Order (OPORD)• Fragmentary Order (FRAGO)

HOW THE UNIT RECEIVES THE MISSION

• Correctly analyze the mission• Perform a map or photo reconnaissance, and

ensure hazards to flight are plotted• Select the appropriate terrain flight modes• Select appropriate primary and alternate routes• Determine the distance, groundspeed and ETE of

each leg of the flight• Determine fuel required • Obtain and evaluate the weather briefing• Perform mission risk assessment per unit SOP• Conduct a thorough crew mission briefing.

TACTICAL FLIGHT MISSION PLANNING –

TASK 2012

MISSION - The Air Mission Commander analyzes the mission and determines the:

oWhatoWhyoWhen oWhereoHow of the Operation

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

ENEMY-o Identificationo Locationo Dispositiono Strengtho Moraleo Capabilitieso Compositiono Probable courses of action

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

TERRAIN -The AMC must consider the following factors:

o Dominant Terraino Natural Features o Possible enemy attack points.o Built up areaso Hazards to flighto Friendly / Enemy Units. o Weather and Visibility.

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

TERRAIN - OCOKAo Observation and Fields of Fireo Cover and Concealmento Obstacles and Movemento Key Terraino Avenues of Approach

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

TROOPS - the missions of the supported units and other units that may have an impact on the mission.

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

TIME - develop a time table for the flight. To do this, back plan from the mission time (H Hour) back through pre-mission planning to the present time.

ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T

•PHOTOGRAPHY•TACTICAL 1:50,000 •JOG 1:250,000

BEST WHEN CHUMMED AND HAZARDS UPDATED

•VFR SECTIONAL 1:500,000•FLIPS

USE CAUTION WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE MAP TO ANOTHER

PERFORM MAP OR PHOTO

RECONNAISSANCE

MAPS AND PHOTO RECON TARGET IMAGERY

MAP AND PHOTO RECON 1:250,000

MAP AND PHOTO RECON 1:50,000

THESE FACTORS MUST BE CONSIDERED DURING A MAP RECONNAISSANCE

• Dominant Terrain• Natural Features• Possible Enemy Attack Points• Built-Up Areas• Crossroads• MSR’s• Hazards to Flight• Friendly and Enemy Units

PERFORM MAP RECONNAISSANCE

Low Level

Contour

Nap of the Earth

SELECT MODES OF FLIGHT

• Generally carried out above obstacles, but at an altitude where detection by a threat force is avoided or minimized. It usually is performed at a constant indicated altitude and A/S.

• 80-200’ AHO

LOW LEVEL FLIGHT

• Low altitude conforming generally to, and in proximity to, the contours of the earth. It is characterized by varying airspeeds and altitude as dictated by vegetation, obstacles, and ambient light.

• 25-80’ AHO

CONTOUR FLIGHT

• Varying A/S as close to the earth’s surface as vegetation, obstacles, and ambient light will permit, while generally following the contours of the earth.

• 0-25’ AHO • Not to exceed 40 KIAS (IAW the 1/212TH

SOP, this pertains to both day and night operations)

NAP OF THE EARTH

• Start Point/ Release Points• Air Control Points• Communication Points• Check Points• Rally Points• Downed Aviator Pick-up Points• Preplanned Artillery and Tac Air

SELECT PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE ROUTES

• Critical for mission success• Highlight hazards to flight with suitable

pen• Enter route and ACPs on the map first• Mark lit towers, beacons, etc, out 10-15 k• Avoid over preparing the map• Transfer other map’s key features to JOG• Avoid exaggerating map features• Orient all notes in direction of flight

MISSION MAP PREP

MAKE YOUR MAP LOOK LIKE THIS EXAMPLE

Course Line – A solid line placed on the map to mark routes flown at low level and contour. A dashed line is used to mark route segments flown at NOE

Heading to next ACP/waypoint

Time to next ACP/waypoint in minutes + seconds

Distance to next ACP/waypoint in KM

048

3+45

14.5

SYMBOLOGY

LZ/PZ/OBJ

START POINT AND RELEASE POINT

AIR CONTROL POINT

• Route Planning - Tactically sound & ease of Navigationo Avoid brightly lit areas, roads, populated areaso Avoid open areas or large bodies of water where

terrain permitso Avoid navigational aides and airportso Plan the route to take advantage of cover and

concealmento Plan to negotiate large valleys on lit or shadowed

side depending on threato Avoid flying into rising or setting sun or moono Do not follow man-made linear features

GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING

• Route Planning - Continuedo During multi-aircraft operations, avoid turns

greater than 5 degrees once past the RP for landing

o Avoid turns greater than 60 degreeso Select intermediate reference points with ETAso Cross roads close to 90 degrees o Do not fly near populations or major roadso Compute time, distance, & headings for route, and

use barriers & prominent map featureso Plot time for prominent intersecting features

GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING

• Route Planning - Continuedo Anticipate wires on roads, towers, &

buildings in open fieldso Plan alternate routes. At a minimum for any

leg flown at contour or NOEo Minimize turns, ascents and descents, and

airspeed changes during multi-helicopter operations

o Conduct map reconnaissance to determine safe altitude

GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING

• Select unique features easily detectable at a distance

• Checkpoints with high contrast• Select points away from towns• Select points away from bright lights• Select points easily confirmed with

other features– Terrain association

• Select points 5-20 kilometers apart

ACP AND CHECKPOINT PLANNING

• Select points with good barriers• Ensure first and last points are easily

identified and 3-5 kilometers from Start/End• Note MSL of each point• Select point for final approach leg offering

alignment with landing direction• Choose prominent features in low visibility• Ensure points don’t fall in shadows• Should start time at initial takeoff and

count cumulatively throughout the route

ACP AND CHECKPOINT PLANNING

• Navigation Cardo Contains essential navigation info (TDH)o Use suitable ink compatible with NVDso Make all letter/number at least 1/4 inch

higho Use common abbreviations and symbols

(e.g., Heading (hdg), Kilometers (km), Degrees (°), Feet (‘), and Knots (kt)

o Use remarks to describe pertinent information

ROUTE PLANNING CARDS

• Landing Zone or Objective Cardo May use to reinforce a map

reconnaissanceo An illustrated LZ or objective card provides

a graphic picture of the landing areao Should depict size of LZ or objective area,

landing & takeoff headings and hazardso Accurate as possibleo Use standard symbols (TC 1-204, Fig 6-2)

ROUTE PLANNING CARDS

• Mission. Determine if the mission can be accomplished from the selected LZ.

• Location. Consider the distance of PZ/LZ from the supported unit or the objective.

• Security. Consider size and proximity of threat elements.

LZ/PZ SELECTION

TACTICAL

• Size. Determine if the size will support number of aircraft for the mission. Minimum recommended size 50 meters for a UH-60.

• Landing Formation. Plan landing formation for size and shape of LZ.

• Barriers. For mission requiring sling loads near maximum gross weight of aircraft, select LZ which have barriers of minimum vertical development.

• Surface Conditions. Consider slopes; blowing sand or snow; concealed hazards; sources of rotor wash signature.

• Obstacles. Plan approach and departure over lowest obstacles.

LZ/PZ SELECTION

TECHNICAL

• Ceiling and Visibility• Winds. Consider the effects of winds

when selecting approach and departure paths.

• Pressure Altitude and Temperature. May limit loads and require more sorties.

• Sun and Moon. Avoid planning approach or departure routes into a rising or setting sun or moon.

LZ/PZ SELECTION

METEOROLOGICAL

• Sunset and Sunrise • Density Altitudes• Temperatures• Winds• Visibility Restrictions• Moonset and Moonrise• Ambient Light Levels

OBTAIN AND EVALUATE WEATHER BRIEFING

• Apply the five steps of the risk management process

• Hazards to terrain flighto Physical Hazardso Natural Hazardso Weather Hazardso Human Hazardso Other Factors

PERFORM MISSION RISK ASSESSMENT

• The ability of individual crewmembers to work as a team is crucial to the success of the mission

• The ability of the crew to interact collectively with other aircraft is crucial to the success of the mission

• Inflight cockpit communicationso Descriptiono Directiono Distanceo Speed

CREW BRIEFING

• Planning considerationso Training missions should be as realistic as

possible & all crew members should be involved with mission planning

o Navigator should make final route selection

o Charts & diagrams should be to scale & TDH should be double & triple checked

o Remember to consider worst case situations

MISSION PLANNING AND BRIEFINGS

• Briefing Considerationso Formal brief should allow time to adjust for

problems raised during the briefo Final brief should be just before departure to

update WX, confirm times, discuss changeso Brief entire mission in detail & hold individual

flight briefings after formal brief. Each crew member should be able to discuss mission

o Conduct final check on equipment & fix

MISSION PLANNING AND BRIEFINGS

• Preparation and planning• Briefings• Rehearsals• Execution

REVIEW OF THE MISSION PROCCESS

QUESTIONS?