FM/C78 - Vehicles - Fixed-wing aircraft

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The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

If you identify a target outside of your controller’s sight, inform them immediately. Do not engage any targets without explicit clearance, regardless of perceived threat level or risk to friendly forces.

Pilots must maintain continuous communication with their assigned controller, providing regular updates on status and capabilities. Controllers will relay updates on ground and air situations and coordinate target assignments.

Key communication practices include:

• Checking in with your controller upon handoff and reporting any status changes.
• Receiving situation updates after check-in and when conditions evolve.
• Accepting target designations and guidance during attack phases.
• Obtaining clearance before engaging targets.
• Receiving Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) feedback and mission clearance when tasks are complete.

Aircrew operate under ground control restrictions at all times. Outside the area of operations (AO), pilots report to an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). Inside the AO, control is passed to a Forward Air Controller (FAC). An exception is when performing Combat Air Patrol (CAP) duties, where control is maintained by an ATC or Air Battle Manager (ABM).

Game masters may divert aircraft to other areas to maintain mission flow or populate areas without interference. This is due to Arma’s performance limits. Pilots should avoid unprompted engagement and work with mission staff to simulate realistic behaviour instead of acting on everything they see.

If an AO isn’t populated, simulate using radio communications with mission support. Ask what would realistically be seen, then report accordingly. This preserves immersion and supports the scenario. Good pilots enhance the mission by staying in sync with the bigger picture, not exposing technical boundaries.

Fixed-wing aircrew support ground forces and are often a small part of the ORBAT. Missions are built around infantry, not aircraft. Seeing enemy units early (such as game master-spawned threats) doesn’t mean they should be engaged. Only act if the threat is imminent to ground forces or on instruction. Early action can disrupt mission pacing.

Takeoff from a runway using the following method:

1. Line up along the centre line of the runway
2. Lower the flaps to the halfway position; if the aircraft has capability.
3. Smoothly throttle up to 100%
4. After reaching the aircraft specific rotation speed, smoothly pull the nose up to achieve 10 degrees of climb.
5. Retract the landing gear after achieving a positive rate of climb.
6. Retract the flaps.

• Maintain assigned holding altitude within ±50 meters.
• Apply smooth, minimal control inputs to prevent oscillation or overcorrection.
• Anticipate aircraft pitch and power changes to stabilize climb/descent trends early.
• Utilize onboard Altitude Hold systems when available to maintain consistent altitude.
• Continuously cross-check altitude instruments while in holding patterns.

• Maintain assigned heading within ±2 degrees during CAS runs, cargo drops, and paradrop operations.
• Establish heading prior to run-in and minimize lateral corrections once stabilized.
• Use available heading references (DUI, MFD, or compass display) to confirm alignment.
• Apply smooth roll inputs to prevent overcorrection and heading oscillation.
• Utilize onboard Heading Hold systems when available to maintain directional stability.

• Climb or descend to assigned orbit altitude prior to entering orbit pattern.
• Navigate to the assigned focal point and establish the required orbit radius.
• Maintain assigned orbit direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) without reversing unless directed.
• Apply small, smooth control inputs to preserve stable turn rate and altitude.
• Continuously monitor altitude, radius distance, and ground reference point during orbit.
• Anticipate aircraft drift and correct early rather than applying large corrections.

Land on a runway using the following method:

1. Visually align with the runway centerline when possible.
2. Reduce throttle and use air brakes to reach approach speed while remaining above stall speed.
3. Lower flaps fully and extend landing gear prior to final approach.
4. When crossing the runway threshold, reduce throttle to 0% and slightly raise the nose to reduce descent rate.
5. Slowly lower the nose to allow the nose wheel to make contact with the runway.
6. Apply wheel brakes and air brakes to slow the aircraft (if available).
7. Maintain runway alignment while decelerating to taxi speed.
8. Follow Air Traffic Control instructions and exit the runway using the directed taxiway.

• Position cargo close to the aircraft loading point, typically the rear cargo access area.
• Load cargo using one of the available interaction methods:
• Use the cargo interaction menu to select Load and then select the aircraft as the target.
  • Use the interaction scroll menu on the aircraft, select cargo, then select Load/Unload as required.
• For unloading cargo:
  • Interact with the aircraft, select the cargo inventory, then select Deploy/Unload.

Paradrop troops/cargo using the following method:

1. Identify and confirm the designated LZ prior to approach.
2. Calculate drop alignment point above the LZ, accounting for wind strength and direction. Flying into the wind is preferred to improve drop accuracy.
3. Establish level flight at low, stable airspeed during approach to the drop point.
4. Perform the drop
   1. For cargo drops: initiate drop sequence approximately 7 seconds before reaching the drop point using the cargo interaction menu
   2. For troop drops: announce drop status over comms:
      1. Communicate “RED LIGHT” to the Jump Master 20 seconds before reaching the LZ.
      2. Communicate  “GREEN LIGHT” to the Jump Master 10 seconds before reaching the LZ.
5. Maintain steady flight path through drop execution.
6. After release, immediately egress from the drop zone and resume mission flight profile.

Used when anti-air threats are possible. The aircraft approaches, fires ordnance (typically rockets), then immediately turns away before crossing over the target. The distance of the break depends on enemy threat range, reducing exposure to return fire.

Used when enemy anti-air threats are minimal or absent. The aircraft flies directly at the target, fires forward-facing weapons like rockets or cannons, and exits by flying over or near the target. Other ordnance such as bombs may be dropped using this method.

Dive attacks improve accuracy for rockets, bombs, and cannon fire by tightening the impact pattern and reducing timing errors.

Two primary dive attack profiles are used:

• A high-altitude dive begins with a run-in at altitude, followed by a nose-down dive onto the target.
• A pop-up attack uses a low-altitude terrain-following approach to mask the aircraft, then a sharp pull-up into a steep climb and immediate dive onto the target.

Steeper dives increase accuracy but reduce reaction time. Balance dive angle, speed, and weapon type for safe, effective strikes. Laser-guided bombs benefit from altitude; cannon fire spreads more at longer ranges.

• Maintain continuous terrain awareness during ingress and egress
• Utilize terrain features to reduce line-of-sight exposure to threats
• Maintain safe obstacle and terrain clearance at all times
• Transition from masked ingress to attack profile in a controlled manner
• Execute egress while minimising threat exposure

• Acquire and confirm positive target identification prior to release
• Maintain effective sensor or targeting pod management
• Release guided munition within approved weapon parameters
• Maintain target designation or tracking as required
• Maintain stand-off positioning during employment
• Execute controlled egress following weapons release

• Conduct low-altitude ingress while maintaining terrain clearance
• Initiate pop-up manoeuvre at the planned reference point
• Acquire and engage targets during the climb or attack phase
• Maintain controlled aircraft parameters throughout the manoeuvre
• Execute rapid egress following weapons employment

• Maintain stable altitude, heading, and airspeed during the attack run
• Establish correct release parameters prior to weapons employment
• Release ordnance within the planned delivery window
• Maintain aircraft control throughout attack and egress
• Execute safe departure from the target area following release

• Align aircraft accurately with the target area during the attack run
• Maintain controlled closure rate and adhere to the firing window
• Manage exposure to avoid oversaturation of the target area
• Execute controlled pull-off and disengagement after weapons release
• Maintain awareness of friendly positions throughout the attack

• Establish correct dive angle for the selected attack profile
• Maintain stable attack parameters throughout the dive
• Release weapons within the planned release window
• Execute controlled pull-out above minimum recovery altitude
• Maintain orientation and situational awareness during recovery

• Employ weapons only from stable attack profiles
• Confirm positive target identification prior to weapons release
• Maintain stable aircraft parameters throughout delivery
• Comply with rules of engagement, attack restrictions, and clearance requirements
• Maintain aircraft control during all phases of weapons employment
• Abort attack when conditions become unsafe or non-compliant

• Coordinate laser codes and timing prior to attack execution
• Maintain continuous communication with designating aircraft or ground elements
• Confirm target designation prior to weapons release
• Monitor weapon guidance throughout the attack sequence
• Execute coordinated egress following weapons employment