MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 14 January 2024
TIME: 08:00
SUNRISE: 05:32
SUNSET: 17:44
TASK: Area Familiarization
WX: 025@8 / 13,000 Scattered / T31 / QNH: 29.76
FLIGHT DURATION: 250 nm
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer x: 4 x F-14b
DEPART/ARRIVE:
Nellis AFB / Freq 132.55,327.0 [1] / TCN 12X "LSV" / ATIS: 270.1 [20]
SUPPORTING UNITS:
Nellis Range Control: “Blackjack” / 377.8 [2]
DIVERT:
Tonopah
Rwy: 14/32
TCN: 77X
ATC: 257.95 [19]
ATIS: 233.1
BULLSEYE: N/A
SITUATION
After returning from Operation Enduring Resolve, VFA-41 is commencing an inter-deployment turnaround training cycle (IDTC). The squadron will spend the next 6-10 weeks on detachment to Nellis AFB in order to conduct squadron and airwing level training.
Note to Mission Commander: Any pilots desiring to fly the F-14 should be placed in DEALER 3, for mission sequence/triggers to operate correctly.
MISSION
As this is our first time operating out of Nellis AFB, this first mission will be an area familiarization flight which is designed to get squadron pilots comfortable operating in and out of Nellis AFB, as well as a tour of the Nellis Range Complex. Part of this familiarization will include an introduction to the required departure and arrival procedures for getting yourself to and from the range complex. An introductory video and tutorial on reading and flying a standard arrival and departure procedure for those pilots who may not be familiar is available.
The mission will also introduce the use of various communication procedures utilizing the in-sim comm menu tree to receive instructions and activate required mission triggers. All pilots, and especially flight leads, will need to pay attention to in-sim prompts and instructions to get used to tuning to the correct frequency for each phase of flight/training. Commonly, you will be instructed to do one of two things when directed to change radio frequencies.
- "Monitor" or "switch" to a frequency means that you should tune your radio to the new frequency and simply listen for further instructions.
- "Contact" or "check in" implies that once you tune your radios, the flight lead should look for a COMM menu prompt (usually under F10 - Other) to select, in order to properly check in or make contact with the new controlling agency. Failure to do so will often prevent activating the next mission trigger.
Flights should take off with five minutes of separation to avoid getting bunched up along the route.
• Flight Leads: Once your flight is started up and ready for taxi, utilize the COMMS/F10 Other/ radio menu to inform tower that you are “Ready to Taxi”. This will trigger a briefing on Nellis AFB. Once the brief is complete, you may commence taxi with appropriate interval.
• All flights will fly the assigned DREAM SIX departure in order to enter the range. Utilize the appropriate kneeboard page for guidance.
• Upon entering the range, flight leads will be directed to contact Nellis Range Control (“Blackjack”) for further clearance. When told to do so, check in with Blackjack via the COMMS/F10 Other/ radio menu. This will become standard procedure for flight leads each week.
• Once established in the range complex, follow the sequence of waypoints as directed. The route is designed to be flown at ~350 KIAS, and recommended altitudes may be provided along the way.
• Various ranges and points of interest will be pointed out as you fly the route. Stay with your flight, but a loose cruise formation is authorized to allow pilots to look around and/or utilize the F10 map as desired to situate themselves along the way.
• Upon exiting the range, flights will be coached through the BEATTY arrival in order to return to Nellis. The last part of the arrival utilizes several visual reference points as you approach the airfield. Use the supplied voiceovers to help identify each visual reference – you will likely need to identify them again on future flights (without coaching).
LOADOUT
Squadron aircraft each week will typically be pre-loaded with the desired munitions and fuel required for the day's training. Missions where this is not the case will be annotated as such for loading as per Mission Commander discretion.
For today's mission, each Hornet will have one centerline fuel tank, a CATM-9 on one wing, TACTS pod on the other, and the standard ATFLIR. No other munitions are required. Tomcats will also be properly loaded by default.
THREATS
No threats exist along today’s familiarization flight. You may detect various SAM or radar emitters along the way for demonstration purposes only. Evasive action is not required.
ROE
Follow the prescribed route of flight and any directives issued by ATC/Range Control.
All aircraft are reminded that it is squadron SOP to monitor GUARD frequency (121.5/253.0) on COMM2. This will be required at all times in the range complex for high priority information and traffic deconfliction purposes.
Week 1 Mission Data Card
- Z_Nellis Wk1 MDC.png (93.38 KiB) Viewed 544 times
Week 1 Route of flight
- Y_NEllis Wk1 Route.png (2.92 MiB) Viewed 544 times
DREAM Departure (avail on kneeboard)
- DREAM Departure.png (798.02 KiB) Viewed 544 times
BEATTY Arrival (avail on kneeboard)
- Beatty Arrival.png (241.75 KiB) Viewed 544 times