Chapter 4: Mission Planning Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is difference between VFR/IFR and VMC/IMC?
VFR/IFR are flight rules for conducting that type of flight.
VMC/IMC are meteorological conditions of ceiling, visibility, distance from clouds.
What must aircrew do before fly a sortie?
File a flight plan
What does the PIC certify by filing a flight plan?
- Flight authorized
- FPL is accurate
- Complies with ADIZ and special use airspace coordination
What mission planning is required?
- Check weather
- Activate (flight plan)
- NOTAMs checked (incl TFRs and SUAs)
- Fuel
- Bird advisories
- FLIP/airfield suitability and restrictions
- Special Departure Procedures (SDPs) if authorized by MAJCOM
When may aircrew file to or land USAF aircraft at US civil airports?
- Emergency
- Necessary to recover interceptor aircraft
- Alternate required and no other suitable airport available
- Wing commander or higher approves it and airfield manager grants permission
- US government tenant unit listed and have ground support equipment needed (P-coded field)
Can aircrew file to and land at a joint use airfield? What is joint use?
Yes. It is a field “owned” by the military which allows civilian use (like Charleston or C-springs)
What are the priorities on weather sources?
1) . MAJCOM approved (local weather shop or OSS, commercial websites etc)
2) . Regional OWS
3) . Other DoD military weather sources
4) . Other US government weather facilities
5) . Foreign civil or military weather sources
What are visibility priorities?
Runway visual range (RVR) for all takeoffs, landings, or straight-ins take precedence. Use static RVR if available. If not available, use prevailing vis.
What are RVR conversions?
1600' - 1/4 mi 2400' - 1/2 mi 3200' - 5/8 mi 4000' - 3/4 mi 4500' - 7/8 mi 5000' - 1 mi 6000' - 1 1/4 mi
Where should you obtain NOTAMs from?
DAIP website. If not available, contact FSS (1800WXBRIEF) or airfield manager
What is required to file to a destination?
Weather at destination for ETA +/- 1 hr forecast to be at or above lowest compatible published approach mins. Does not include TEMPO conditions.
For straight-in/sidestep, weather must meet visibility mins
For circling, weather must meet ceiling and prevailing visibility mins.
When must you file an alternate?
No compatible instrument approach procedure at airfield filing to.
Weather below 2000/3 at destination for ETA +/- 1 hr including TEMPO conditions.
Crosswinds outside of limits.
For selection of the alternate, what is needed?
WWWAGU - like the steak
- Weather below 1000/2 or 500/1 above lowest compatible approach minimums whichever is higher at ETA +/- 1 hr including TEMPO conditions, but not those caused by rain showers, snow showers or TS or allow descent, approach and landing VFR from MEA if no compatible instrument approach
- Weather reporting capability not there
- (Winds should probably not be out of limits)
- Alternate not authorized (ANA) on all compatible approaches
- GPS required at both alternate and location
- Unmonitored NAVAIDs
Are Air Force aircrew required to use the non-std alternate weather minima published under the A for alternate mins?
No. If it says 700-2 for CAT E for ILS, aircrew do not have to adhere to this. However, they must adhere to notes such as “NA when control tower closed” or “weather reporting capability does not exist” for their alternate planning criteria listed above.
You can operate VFR down to what ceiling?
1000’
When executing tactical operations, how should you file?
VFR
What must aircrew do upon landing from a VFR sortie?
Ensure the flight plan is closed.
How much fuel must aircrew carry?
Enough to get to destination or alternate if filed with desired fuel reserves OR between air refueling points and to destination
When an alternate airfield is required, what additional fuel must be included?
Fuel for a full approach and missed approach at destination if visibility only criteria used.
If use ceiling and visibility, do not need to use that.
What is the fuel reserve?
Enough fuel for 20 minutes or 10% flight time up to 45 minutes, whichever is higher
What fuel burn is used to calculate fuel reserve?
Max endurance at 10,000’ MSL
What is aircraft category based on?
Stall speed * 1.3 or stall speed * 1.23 at max landing weight in landing configuration
What is the cat E and D airspeeds? What must aircrew do if maneuvering at speed above category?
Cat D-141-165 kts
Cat E-166 kts or more
Must assume the category for the higher speed
What is considered two-way radio contact?
When callsign is used in the return call from ATC. For example, “DUDE34, standby” vs “Last aircraft calling, standby”. Two way radio comm is required to enter some airspaces. Class B requires “cleared into the XXX”
