NVG Pre-Mission Planning

1. NVG Pre-Mission Planning CW2 Steve Kaye

2. Introduction • CW2 Steve Kaye • Develop understanding and familiarization of the Pre-Mission planning required prior to NVG Operations. • References: AR 95-1, FM 1-204, TC 1-201, Operators Manual -10, ATM, FTG

3. Topics of Discussion • General Considerations • Cockpit Teamwork and Coordination • Aircraft Preparation and Equipment • Maps and Visual Aids • General Route and ACP Planning • Aided Night Mission Map Preparation • Aided Night Mission Planning and Briefing • Route Planning Cards

4. General Considerations • Psychological and Physiological Stress – Darkness – Stress – Fatigue – Impaired Judgement, Slowed Reactions, Degraded Flight Performance

5. General Considerations (cont) • Navigation • Difficult at night due to reduced visibility • Ground speed appears faster • Extra attention during pre-mission planning • NAVAIDs unreliable at terrain flight altitudes • Aircrews must be proficient in pilotage & dead reckoning

6. General Considerations (cont) • Terrain Flight • NOE - 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 and A/S not to exceed 40 knots indicated A/S

7. General Considerations (cont) • Terrain Flight (cont) • Contour 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 and A/S not to exceed 70 knots indicated A/S

8. General Considerations (cont) • Terrain Flight (cont) • Low-Level 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 and A/S not to exceed VNE

9. General Considerations (cont) • Radio Communications are unreliable due to line of sight requirements • ID radio communications points • Detailed planning to eliminate commo needs • Use Visual signals

10. General Considerations (cont) • Battlefield Light Sources • High intensity light in combat • Fires, flares, weapon flashes • All should be avoided • Crew member least affected by light should take the controls

11. General Considerations (cont) • Obstructions (Man Made) • Wires • Towers • Other Aircraft • Slow down, no abrupt attitude changes • Obstructions (Natural) • Birds • Trees • Slow down, no abrupt attitude changes

12. General Considerations (cont) • Terrain • Size & shape (especially man made) • Contrast • Ambient light • Distance • Altitude • Seasons

13. General Considerations (cont) • En Route Data • Threat • Terrain • Illumination • Contrast • Visibility & WX • All used to determine Altitude & A/S

14. General Considerations (cont) • Altitude Changes • Descents should be gradual • Avoid rapid attitude changes, they may degrade viewing perspective outside the aircraft and induce vertigo

15. Cockpit Teamwork & Coordination • Critical for successful operations • Blind cockpit drills with emphasis on immediate action EPs • Thorough crew briefings and brief backs • Rehearsals for all contingencies

16. Aircraft Preparation & Equipment • Lighting • Aircraft • Personal • NVG compatible

17. Maps and Visual Aided • Assemble many different maps • 1:250,000 (JOG) • 1:500,000 (VFR Sect) • 1:50,000 (Tactical) • Use caution when changing from one map to another

18. Aircraft Preparation & Equipment • Aerial Photographs • Most up to date • Objective area • Holding area • ACP • Time and assets will determine if photos are feasible

19. Aircraft Preparation & Equipment • Sand Tables and Terrain Boards • Valuable for night Ops • Time permitting • One board for AO • One board for Obj • One board for en route portion • Must be accurate to be of value

20. General Route & ACP Planning • Route Planning - Tactically sound & ease of Navigation • Avoid brightly lit areas, roads, populated areas • Avoid Airports • Avoid large areas of low contrast • Plan to negotiate large valleys on lit or shadowed side depending on threat • Avoid flying into rising or setting moon

21. General Route & ACP Planning • Route Planning - Continued • Avoid turns greater than 60 degrees • Select intermediate reference points • Cross roads close to 90 degrees • Cruise A/S near populations or major roads • Compute time, distance, & headings for route, and use barriers & prominent map features • Plot time for prominent intersecting features

22. General Route & ACP Planning • Route Planning - Continued • Anticipate wires on roads, towers, & buildings in open fields • Plan alternate routes • Minimize turns, ascents and descents, and airspeed changes during multi-helicopter operations • Conduct map reconnaissance to determine safe altitude

23. ACP & Checkpoint Planning • Select unique features easily detectable • Checkpoints with high contrast • Select points away from towns • Select points away from bright lights • Select points easily confirmed with other features • Select points 5-20 kilometers apart

24. ACP & 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

25. Aided Night Mission Map Prep • 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

26. Aided Night Mission Planning & Briefings • Planning considerations • Training missions should be as realistic as possible & all crew members should be involved with mission planning • Navigator should make final route selection • Charts & diagrams should be to scale & TDH should be double & triple checked • Remember to consider worst case situations

27. Aided Night Mission Planning & Briefings • Briefing Considerations • Formal brief should allow time to adjust for problems raised during the brief • Final brief should be just before departure to update WX, confirm times, discuss changes • Brief entire mission in detail & hold individual flight briefings after formal brief. Each crew member should be able to discuss mission • Conduct final check on equipment & fix

28. Route Planning Cards • Route planning cards include navigation card, en route card, and LZ or objective card. Most knee board packets contain more though.

29. Route Planning Cards • Navigation Card • Contains essential navigation info (TDH) • Use suitable ink compatible with NVDs • Make all letter/number at least 1/4 inch high • Use these abbreviations: Heading (hdg), Nautical Mile (NM), Degrees (°), Feet (‘), and Knots (kt) • Use remarks to describe pertinent information

30. Route Planning Cards • En Route Card • Used to reinforce a map reconnaissance • Should display all essential information for each phase of the flight or mission • May be constructed for all phases of flight and landings • Should be as accurate as possible • Should use good contrast colors

31. Route Planning Cards • Landing Zone or Objective Card • May use to reinforce a map reconnaissance • An illustrated LZ or objective card provides a graphic picture of the landing area • Should depict size of LZ or objective area, landing & takeoff headings and hazards • Accurate as possible • Use standard symbols (TC 1-204, Fig 6-2)

32. Conclusion • General Considerations • Cockpit Teamwork and Coordination • Aircraft Preparation and Equipment • Maps and Visual Aids • General Route and ACP Planning • Aided Night Mission Map Preparation • Aided Night Mission Planning and Briefing • Route Planning Cards

33. Questions