TERRAIN FLIGHT MISSION
PLANNING
Terminal Learning Objective: At the completion of
this lesson the student will be able to discuss and
apply the concepts of terrain flight mission
planning
Condition: As a UH-60 student pilot.
Standard: In accordance with TC 1-237, Fort
Rucker Terrain Flight Mission Planning Guide
Safety Requirements: None
Environmental Considerations: None
REFERENCES
• TC 1-237 Aircrew Training Manual
• Ft. Rucker Terrain Flight Mission
Planning Guide
• TC 1-201 Tactical Flight Procedures
• TC 1-204 Night Flight
• FM 90-4 Air Assault Operations
HOW THE UNIT RECEIVES
THE MISSION
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Aviation Support Request
Warning Order
Operations Order (OPORD)
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO)
TACTICAL FLIGHT MISSION
PLANNING – TASK 2012
• Correctly analyze the mission
• Perform a map or photo reconnaissance, and ensure
hazards to flight are plotted
• Select the appropriate terrain flight modes
• Select appropriate primary and alternate routes
• Determine the distance, groundspeed and ETE of
each leg of the flight
• Determine fuel required
• Obtain and evaluate the weather briefing
• Perform mission risk assessment per unit SOP
• Conduct a thorough crew mission briefing.
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
MISSION - The Air Mission Commander
analyzes the mission and determines the:
o What
o Why
o When
o Where
o How of the Operation
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
ENEMYo Identification
o Location
o Disposition
o Strength
o Morale
o Capabilities
o Composition
o Probable courses of action
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
TERRAIN -The AMC must consider the following
factors:
o Dominant Terrain
o Natural Features
o Possible enemy attack points.
o Built up areas
o Hazards to flight
o Friendly / Enemy Units.
o Weather and Visibility.
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
TERRAIN - OCOKA
o Observation and Fields of Fire
o Cover and Concealment
o Obstacles and Movement
o Key Terrain
o Avenues of Approach
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
TROOPS - the missions of the supported
units and other units that may have an
impact on the mission.
ANALYZE THE MISSION
METT-T
TIME - develop a time table for the flight.
To do this, back plan from the mission
time (H Hour) back through premission planning to the present time.
PERFORM MAP OR PHOTO
RECONNAISSANCE
•PHOTOGRAPHY
•TACTICAL
1:50,000
•JOG
1:250,000
BEST WHEN CHUMMED AND HAZARDS
UPDATED
•VFR SECTIONAL 1:500,000
•FLIPS
USE CAUTION WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE
MAP TO ANOTHER
MAPS AND PHOTO RECON
TARGET IMAGERY
MAP AND PHOTO RECON
1:250,000
MAP AND PHOTO RECON
1:50,000
PERFORM MAP
RECONNAISSANCE
THESE FACTORS MUST BE CONSIDERED DURING A
MAP RECONNAISSANCE
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Dominant Terrain
Natural Features
Possible Enemy Attack Points
Built-Up Areas
Crossroads
MSR’s
Hazards to Flight
Friendly and Enemy Units
SELECT MODES OF FLIGHT
Low Level
Contour
Nap of the Earth
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
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
NAP OF THE EARTH
• 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
• Not to exceed 40 KIAS (IAW the 1/212TH SOP,
this pertains to both day and night
operations)
SELECT PRIMARY AND
ALTERNATE ROUTES
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Start Point/ Release Points
Air Control Points
Communication Points
Check Points
Rally Points
Downed Aviator Pick-up Points
Preplanned Artillery and Tac Air
MISSION MAP PREP
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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
MAKE YOUR MAP LOOK
LIKE THIS EXAMPLE
SYMBOLOGY
AIR CONTROL POINT
START POINT AND RELEASE POINT
LZ/PZ/OBJ
048
Heading to next ACP/waypoint
3+45
Time to next ACP/waypoint in minutes + seconds
14.5
Distance to next ACP/waypoint in KM
Course Line – A solid line placed on the map to
mark routes flown at low level and contour. A
dashed line is used to mark route segments
flown at NOE
GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP
PLANNING
• Route Planning - Tactically sound &
ease of Navigation
o Avoid brightly lit areas, roads, populated areas
o Avoid open areas or large bodies of water where
terrain permits
o Avoid navigational aides and airports
o Plan the route to take advantage of cover and
concealment
o Plan to negotiate large valleys on lit or shadowed side
depending on threat
o Avoid flying into rising or setting sun or moon
o Do not follow man-made linear features
GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP
PLANNING
• Route Planning - Continued
o During multi-aircraft operations, avoid turns greater
than 5 degrees once past the RP for landing
o Avoid turns greater than 60 degrees
o Select intermediate reference points with ETAs
o Cross roads close to 90 degrees
o Do not fly near populations or major roads
o Compute time, distance, & headings for route, and use
barriers & prominent map features
o Plot time for prominent intersecting features
GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP
PLANNING
• Route Planning - Continued
o Anticipate wires on roads, towers, & buildings in
open fields
o Plan alternate routes. At a minimum for any leg
flown at contour or NOE
o Minimize turns, ascents and descents, and
airspeed changes during multi-helicopter
operations
o Conduct map reconnaissance to determine safe
altitude
ACP AND CHECKPOINT
PLANNING
• Select unique features easily detectable at a
distance
• Checkpoints with high contrast
• Select points away from towns
• Select points away from bright lights
• Select points easily confirmed with other
features
– Terrain association
• Select points 5-20 kilometers apart
ACP AND 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
• Should start time at initial takeoff and
count cumulatively throughout the route
ROUTE PLANNING CARDS
• Navigation Card
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Contains essential navigation info (TDH)
Use suitable ink compatible with NVDs
Make all letter/number at least 1/4 inch high
Use common abbreviations and symbols (e.g.,
Heading (hdg), Kilometers (km), Degrees (°),
Feet (‘), and Knots (kt)
o Use remarks to describe pertinent information
ROUTE PLANNING CARDS
• Landing Zone or Objective Card
o May use to reinforce a map reconnaissance
o An illustrated LZ or objective card provides a
graphic picture of the landing area
o Should depict size of LZ or objective area,
landing & takeoff headings and hazards
o Accurate as possible
o Use standard symbols (TC 1-204, Fig 6-2)
LZ/PZ SELECTION
TACTICAL
• Mission. Determine if the mission can be
accomplished from the selected LZ.
• Location. Consider the distance of PZ/LZ
from the supported unit or the objective.
• Security. Consider size and proximity of
threat elements.
LZ/PZ SELECTION
TECHNICAL
• Size. Determine if the size will support number of
aircraft for the mission. Minimum recommended
size 50 meters for a UH-60.
• Landing Formation. Plan landing formation for
size and shape of LZ.
• Barriers. For mission requiring sling loads near
maximum gross weight of aircraft, select LZ which
have barriers of minimum vertical development.
• Surface Conditions. Consider slopes; blowing sand
or snow; concealed hazards; sources of rotor
wash signature.
• Obstacles. Plan approach and departure over
lowest obstacles.
LZ/PZ SELECTION
METEOROLOGICAL
• Ceiling and Visibility
• Winds. Consider the effects of winds when
selecting approach and departure paths.
• Pressure Altitude and Temperature. May
limit loads and require more sorties.
• Sun and Moon. Avoid planning approach
or departure routes into a rising or setting
sun or moon.
OBTAIN AND EVALUATE
WEATHER BRIEFING
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Sunset and Sunrise
Density Altitudes
Temperatures
Winds
Visibility Restrictions
Moonset and Moonrise
Ambient Light Levels
PERFORM MISSION RISK
ASSESSMENT
• Apply the five steps of the risk
management process
• Hazards to terrain flight
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Physical Hazards
Natural Hazards
Weather Hazards
Human Hazards
Other Factors
CREW BRIEFING
• The ability of individual crewmembers to
work as a team is crucial to the success of
the mission
• The ability of the crew to interact
collectively with other aircraft is crucial to
the success of the mission
• Inflight cockpit communications
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Description
Direction
Distance
Speed
MISSION PLANNING AND
BRIEFINGS
• Planning considerations
o Training missions should be as realistic as
possible & all crew members should be
involved with mission planning
o Navigator should make final route selection
o Charts & diagrams should be to scale & TDH
should be double & triple checked
o Remember to consider worst case situations
MISSION PLANNING AND
BRIEFINGS
• Briefing Considerations
o Formal brief should allow time to adjust for
problems raised during the brief
o Final brief should be just before departure to
update WX, confirm times, discuss changes
o Brief entire mission in detail & hold individual
flight briefings after formal brief. Each crew
member should be able to discuss mission
o Conduct final check on equipment & fix
REVIEW OF THE MISSION
PROCCESS
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Preparation and planning
Briefings
Rehearsals
Execution
QUESTIONS?