1. Air Navigation & Mission Planning
CAP SWR-TX-176 Prepared by: Maj Steve Barati Graphics by: Maj Ray Hischke 11/17/09
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2. CAP SM Class Air Navigation and Mission Planning
Opening Skit - MP asks MO "are you ready" the reply is a lackadaisical and funny "yes". MP & MO take off, climb out and Pilot asks MO "which way"? Answer - I don't know! A scramble for the map, open fully, in cockpit, blinds Pilot, air nav ensues, both lost due to no prior planning, Pilot lands plane, mission scrubbed.
(After Skit) - You can see that without proper mission planning, you could end up with a situation like this and cause a mission failure. So
This is why you, the Mission Observer/Scanner, are required to know about air navigation and mission planning.
Technically, you are the person responsible for the mission. The Pilot is responsible for the safety of the crew and flying the aircraft. The Mission Observer/ Scanner is responsible for navigation, radios, search, and log keeping.
Therefore, it is important that you learn what is represented on a Sectional for navigation and planning purposes and how to plan a grid search so you can adequately assist your Pilot on any given CAP Mission.

3. Use legend of sectional to find and define each item.
Airport
Info
Airport
Data
Airspace
Info
Comm
Info
Use legend of sectional to find and define each item.
Nav
Info
Obst
Info
Topo
Info
Misc
Info

4. Houston Sectional
Airfield
River
Lake
Towers
Road
Power Line
Towns
Look on map and find things on the map that can be seen on the ground:
Roads - Note not all roads are portrayed - so be careful when navigating by road
Power lines - only major lines are on map - be sure it is the right one
Towers - note the height of each - some can be higher than you are, i.e. Cleveland, TX area
Lakes - small tanks are usually not on the map
Rivers - fairly accurate, but they must fit the map to be usable
Oil fields - many are not displayed. Some no longer exist.
Small towns - used for location only, does not give good definition
Small airfields - why - engine failure
Look on the map and find things that can be seen on the ground:
Roads - Note not all roads are portrayed - so be careful when navigating by road
Power lines - only major lines are on map - be sure it is the right one
Towers - note the height of each - some can be higher than you are, i.e., Cleveland, TX area
Lakes - small tanks are usually not on the map
Rivers - fairly accurate, but they must fit the map to be usable
Small towns - used for location only, does not give good definition
Small airfields – why? - engine failure

5. Things on the map that are not on the ground:
Spot elevations - helps identify search altitude
Air routes - aircraft follow these air "roads" in the sky - someone could fly right by
VOR rose - Good navigation opportunity if used
Control zones - remind the Pilot if appropriate
Airspace lines - changing altitude of control zone could cause issues
Restricted airspace - must stay out unless properly approved for entry
MOAs - be aware of use and restrictions, could have a fast mover fly under you
Intersections - good nav point, if it applies
Radio frequencies - comes in handy for fast reference
Military training routes (IR127, VR 142) - military a/c use at low level - Watch out !
Maximum Elevation Figures - easy reference for clearance of obstacles
Latitude and Longitude lines - for finding grids and other locations
Compass deviation lines - to correct for magnetic headings
State and International boundaries - nice to know you are still in the country
Contour lines - help navigate the ground

6. So why must we, the Observer and Scanner know about these things?
To complete mission planning without causing hardship on the Pilot and becoming aware of any hazards that may exist in the Grid.
To assist the Pilot in navigation, being aware of airspace requirements, hazards, and direction of flight.

7. Section II - Mission Planning
Why Mission Planning:
You the Observer/Scanner are responsible for conducting the search and must be able to plan the mission. A grid sheet is a useful tool used to conduct an area or point-based search. Remember, the Pilot flies the aircraft. He does not search the ground or navigate the search area. He is responsible for the aircraft, maintaining altitude, airspeed, and safety of flight.
Task:
Plan a mission to perform a standard grid search of 30/095ACC departing from CXO and returning to CXO using form 104 for information.

8. Form 104 Part A

9. Form 104 Part B

10. Where is the Grid 30/095 ACC? - How do we find it?
Use grid finder - place bottom right corner on Lat/Long 30N/95W, look for A - C - C

11. Grid Finder Chart

12. Houston Sectional with Grid Overlay

13. Draw Grid on map under grid finder w/pencil
When finished - should look like this:
30/095 ACC (HOU 125C)

14. Grid Planning:
Using a blank grid sheet like this one, we can plan our entire mission and have all the information required.

15. Coordinates - Write Lat - Long on grid sheet01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

16. Terrain Features - draw all avail to assist in navigation Towns01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

17. Roads
10-A-3501 01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

18. Power Lines 10-A-3501 01 11/17/09 HOU 125C 30/095 ACC 30 37.5 30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

19. Railroads 10-A-3501 01 11/17/09 HOU 125C 30/095 ACC 30 37.5 30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

20. Rivers & Lakes 10-A-3501 01 11/17/09 HOU 125C 30/095 ACC 30 37.5 30.096
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

21. Airways 10-A-3501 01 11/17/09 HOU 125C 30/095 ACC 30 37.5 30.0 96 00.0
52.5
Roans Prairie
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

22. Towers
10-A-3501 01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie .
704
849
634
693
767
608 ..
884
1982
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake
657
735 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

23. Search Altitude - expected Altimeter reading 1000 ft AGL plus ground elevation, rounded up01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie .
704
735
849
657
634
693
767
608 ..
884
1982
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake E W
1 NM
1000’ AGL
465’ MSL
1500’ MSL 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

24. Course Lines in grid: Determine direction of flight in grid (consider sun, wind, visibility) for N-S or E-W. Insert lines of flight, turning points, and entry & exit points,
10-A-3501 01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie .
704
735
849
657
634
693
767
608 ..
884
1982
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake E W
1 NM
1000’ AGL
465’ MSL
1500’ MSL 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

25. Route to Grid: ID of entry point:
Why do we want to know the time, distance and direction to Grid?
Pilot busy on take off talking with Controllers, etc., and may not think about which direction to fly - You need to know the direction and remind him or point if he is busy on the radio. If you know the distance and approximate time in flight, you know when to expect arrival on site.
Determine Heading, Time and Distance to Grid, Direction of return flight, time and distance
ID of entry point:
How would you determine arrival at destination without GPS?
Air navigation (Time, Distance, Heading, Identify items on ground, and electronic navigation (VOR, ADF)
Why not GPS? GPS - if working, a great help. But - most of ours are outdated, not calibrated, limited in ability, of many different types, or may be a model you are not familiar with. Further, it may be inoperative or fail in flight - Don't plan you mission based solely on GPS. It is a good back up, but we need to know how to navigate without it.

26. Plot course on chart:
Houston Sectional

27. .. . Log Heading, Time and Distance on grid sheet 10-A-3501 01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie .
704
735
849
657
634
693
767
608 ..
884
1982
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake E W
1 NM
1000’ AGL
465’ MSL
1500’ MSL 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 28 26
300 18
108

28. Log mission times and radio call times to CAP Mission Base as they occur01
11/17/09
HOU 125C
30/095 ACC 30
37.5
30.0 96
00.0 95
52.5
Roans Prairie .
704
735
849
657
634
693
767
608 ..
884
1982
Shiro
Anderson
Gibbons Creek Lake E W
1 NM
1000’ AGL
465’ MSL
1500’ MSL 18
00 Z
18 Z
48 Z
58 Z 19 00 1 58 40 59 57 56 55 54 53 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 28 26
300
108

29. Mission De-brief:
Between your grid sheet and the 104, you have all the information needed to complete the paperwork necessary to fulfill CAP requirements
Form 104 Part C

30. Form 104 Part D

31. Air Navigation & Mission Planning
CAP SWR-TX-176 Prepared by: Maj Steve Barati Graphics by: Maj Ray Hischke 11/17/09
FLY SAFE !!