CNATRA LEAD SAFE BRIEF

1. CNATRA LEAD SAFE BRIEF NAS Key West / USS Harry S. Truman February 2011

2. Overall CNATRA OIC – CDR Doster, VT-7 CNATRA CVOIC – CDR Griffith, VT-9 TW-2 OIC – CDR Kelsey, VT-21 TW-1 AOIC – LT Moore, VT-7 TW-2 AOIC – LT Brant, VT-22 Leadership

3. WX Recce • WX Recce Procedures - As per the smart pack • Verify distance to ship from divert • Bases, tops? Sections vs. Divisions? • Ship may request recce of other area’s for better wx. Don’t launch late • Over fly divert to verify field status and weather • Ensure Field LSO is on station • Climb to bingo altitude once distance is known and check winds • May have to pre-stage aircraft at another field due to morning WX forecast

4. General Lead Safe Responsibilities • Safety of flight to and from the carrier • Give thorough CNATRA STAN CQ brief to students (i.e. use the CNATRA PowerPoint brief) • Advise and update the Boss on weather conditions • Monitor SNA fuel states and position in the pattern – PRIMARILY UPWIND • Advise Boss and/or direct action if an unsafe situation develops • Monitor Bingo/Divert student departure from pattern. Don’t let them cut someone off in the pattern or at the initial • Escort Bingo/Emergency SNA to the beach

5. The Brief • As per the CNATRA STAN • Additional points: • SNA’s: Normally hook-up for 2 T&G’s initially unless told otherwise by the tower. After that, stud is hook down unless told otherwise • Make sure the studs know their requirements and flight time/man-up limitations

6. Lead Safe Conduct • If a student’s jet goes down • Lead/safe shall not delay take-off due to student jet issues • Stud should go in the next available division • If next available division is full, stud should go with the late safe • Studs should have each division lead and late safe’s info including side number and TAC freq

7. Timing – 1st Division • Try to verify ships position prior to walking via POTS line or email. • 1st division per wave take-off time = Dist/4 + 10 min • Assumes 4 nm/minute (approx 12 units) • If late, speed-up if fuel available (i.e. able to show up Bingo + 600lb), and strike/marshal is telling you “expect charlie on arrival”

8. Timing – follow-on divisions • The goal is to have 3 new studs in the break every 15 minutes. Hence, for follow-on divisions: • Communicate with the other divisions • If each division is flying 4 NM/min and the division/flight preceding…. • …had 3 studs, take-off 15 minutes later • …had 2 studs, take-off 10 minutes later • …had 1 stud, take-off 5 minutes later

9. Timing (cont.) • If unable to make an on time departure or make your ramp as the first division of your wave, let CNATRA base and the ship know • DO NOT BUSTER TO MAKE THE ASSIGNED RAMP TIME AND THEN END UP WITH LESS THAN BINGO + 600LB ON THE BALL • NOTHING GAINED BY BEING ON-TIME AND OUT OF GAS!!!!!!!

10. Enroute • Inform divisions behind you of ships position and your speed • Keep apprised of your fuel and timing • Feet Wet Checks!!!! • Make sure YOU and your studs complete • Relay any weather updates • Stay in high holding if told to “Max Conserve”

11. 20 miles from ship • Switch division to lead safe common. De-conflict with other divisions • Time the flights descent as appropriate. Don’t be at 20,000FT and 20 miles out • As soon as you see the ship, press Marshall to let you switch to BTN 1. • May be able to “charlie” immediately

12. “Charlie” • Once you get the call from the Boss: • “IF” sufficient gas, accelerate. It should not take more than 8 minutes to be in the break • Penetrate 210º relative to BRC. Make a commencing call on lead/safe common (BTN 17) and start descent • Commence the flight from point 3, turn at 6-7 DME to arrive at 5 miles behind the ship.

13. Spinning • Be extremely precise and smooth • Spin at the bow • Don’t confuse depart and re-enter with spinning • Don’t balloon • Potential for a mid-air with a lead safe at 2k. • Make sure the studs come with the lead • Review hand signals/radio calls in the brief • Remember! – even if directed, don’t spin 2… Dash 3 stud is not allowed to lead anything

14. Lead Safe Stack – Case I • Holding Altitudes - 2K, 3K, 4K, 5K; unless WX dictates. • WX considerations • 3K layer, still Case I. • Tac wing? • CVOIC/Boss will manage

15. 1- 3 SNAs in Pattern 4 nm 4000’ L/S Fuel conserve just outside of pattern 2 nm 2000’/3000’ L/S 3K should be across circle from 2K

16. Lead Safe Responsibilities if: 1- 3 SNAs in Pattern • 2000’ Lead/safe • Primary Control of upwind Pattern • 3000’ Lead/safe • Backup other L/S (cross circle), maintain Big Picture • 4000’ Lead/safe • Max Endurance • Stay just outside of pattern (not 5 miles away!!!) • Maintain big picture • If told to “hawk” – Lead/safe in best position, not necessarily lowest altitude, should take the hawk unless directed by the tower

17. > 4 SNAs in Pattern 4 nm 2k L/S 4k L/S Just outside of pattern 2 nm 3k L/S

18. Lead Safe Responsibilities if: > 4 SNAs in Pattern • 2000’ Lead/safe • Help direct pattern greater than 2nm fwd bow • Primarily responsibility - interval • 3000’ Lead/safe • Watch pattern from bow to 2 nm fwd • Primarily responsibility - keeping SNAs from cutting out their interval • 4000’ Lead/safe • Max Endurance • Stay just outside of the pattern • Maintain Big Picture SA • Help low and middle Lead/safes where needed

19. Lead Safe COMM • Good Calls: • “at xx dme, continue upwind. You are cutting out your interval” • “at xx dme, turn” • “approaching the bow, your wide” • Bad calls/technique: • “turn” • “number one upwind, turn” • “back to the right/left” without a direction of who you are referring to. • “Level your wings”

20. Case II Considerations • Penetrate layers with sections only • Once in comms with marshal, descend through layers under marshal control. Let them de-conflict flights. • No heavy sections / No light divisions!! • Options: Depends on WX at the field and at ship. Beach / CVOIC will coordinate • Bucket brigade possible with Case II holding. • Lead/safe’s drop off dash 3/4 in holding. Penetrate with dash 2. Other lead/safes are sent to marshal to grab dash 3/4. Ship will need to be close to beach and bingo field for this method to work • Launch as singles and rendezvous in Whiskey Area. (If wx precludes division rendezvous after takeoff) • Lead/safe’s bring out single studs in sections

21. Case II Considerations cont. • Bottom two lead/safe’s can be in TAC Wing, opposite circle or lead follow: • Bottom line, only one Lead/Safe is actually doing the job. The second is responsible for safe separation. Make sure you define rolls over the radio. Also, don’t work TAC Wing too low. Advise tower if wx precludes this method • Third and fourth lead/safe should be above the layer, on deck, or part of the bucket brigade

22. BINGO Procedures • The Bingo should be taken by the lead/safe who is in the best position…NOT necessarily the one on the bottom of the stack • Communicate with each other and tell the Boss who has the Bingo, unless the Bingo has been specifically assigned to someone from tower • DIRECT the stud onto the bingo profile • “Re-select the back radio and switch to TAC-X, accelerate to XXX kts, turn to heading YYY, Squawk EMERG, climb to ZZ,ZZZ ft. Set your power at QQQQ lb/hr enroute. Feet dry checks!!!” • If directed to bingo, go to the designated bingo field

23. BINGO Procedures cont. • DO: • All radio calls and coordination with ATC • Call bingo tower ASAP to let them know you are inbound with a bingo and whether or not you need an LSO • Coordinate with the LSO on the radio, if required • Tell approach when you plan to descend so they can coordinate • DO NOT • Make the SNA join on you or level off to stay VMC • Lead the student into the break or direct them to go into the break. Stud should be doing a visual straight-in, downwind entry, etc. • Allow ATC to level you off at a lower altitude than the profile or ask you to deviate from the heading. You are on an EMERGENCY profile

24. Lead Safe Gotcha’s • Being late - Make your ramp time! • Not having pattern SA when divisions are at the initial/coming into the break (Lead safes help out leads at initial with pattern calls) • Watch your abeam distance and set the studs up properly. • Don’t go long in the groove • There is no Top 10 patch for CNATRA Lead Safes: • Be safe, fly the cresting ball, MRT/Speed brakes in!!! • Fair’s are acceptable. No grades/cut passes are not! • Take your bolter like a man(lady). Don’t be at idle when you touch down trying to catch the 4(3) on the fly.

25. Lead Safe Gotcha’s, cont. • Proper clearing turns. • Get the jet flying, then turn • 20º AOB for 20º HDG change • Give extra interval on a stud • shoot for 1+15 at a minimum because they are going to be TWA, Deep 90, LIG • Be smart on conserving gas overhead the ship. • Bring an overnight bag • Everyone is eligible. Warn your backseater! • Be ready to conduct AM boat brief if you stay aboard overnight • Bring your pubs (plates and smart packs). • Lead/safe common chat on BTN 17. Keep it clean, suitable for public consumption. The ship listens!

26. Late Safe • Responsible for taking any stragglers that could not launch with previous divisions • Do not launch until the last division of SNA’s has launched! (could be a division from the other TRAWING) • 1st Late safe of a period - “Late Safe Turning Spare” • Only launch if a stud falls out of the previous division. Then you will take them to the boat. Stay turning until last division is airborne.

27. Late Safe (cont.) • 2nd Late Safe of a period • Wait to launch until the last stud launches • Unlike the late safe spare, launch solo even if all studs got off the deck. You will be needed as the 4th lead safe overhead • If jet is down for maintenance, get another jet and go late • If you cannot make it for any reason…let the OIC/ship know. They may hold over an earlier lead safe as a spare

28. Guest flyer/Back seater considerations • If you are not comfortable flying guest fliers, let your det OIC/AOIC know. But not 5 minutes prior to the brief time. • Back seater review items • Strap-in Procedures / Proper leg position • Cockpit switches to watch for • Manual Fuel / Anti-Skid Switch • Comm / ICS use and adjustment • Seat Height and Rudder Pedal adjustment • Feet off brakes on cat and trap! • Lead safe workload • Overnight gear • Flight Deck Safety / FOD concerns • Mask on while taxing on flight deck • Ejection Procedures

29. December Boat Notables • Lead Safe’s: Lights on in the groove, poor approach turns, WX Recce not confirming LSO on station • Common SNA problems last several boats. • SNA’s not performing proper clearing turns on departure. • Walking late in the morning. All should be pre-flighting 45 minutes prior to launch from the ship. • Taxing too fast on the flight deck/taxiing with mask off • Not having S/B out on approaches.. Landing checks!!! • Poor wipeouts on the cat (rudder movement). • Wanting gas above “hold down”/calling “hold down” airborne

30. Keep’em safe