1. TERRAIN FLIGHT MISSION PLANNING

2. 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

3. REFERENCES TC 1-237 Aircrew Training Manual
Ft. Rucker Terrain Flight Mission Planning Guide
TC Tactical Flight Procedures
TC Night Flight
FM 90-4 Air Assault Operations

4. HOW THE UNIT RECEIVES THE MISSION
Aviation Support Request
Warning Order
Operations Order (OPORD)
Fragmentary Order (FRAGO)

5. 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.

6. ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T
MISSION - The Air Mission Commander analyzes the mission and determines the:
What
Why
When
Where
How of the Operation

7. ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T
ENEMY-
Identification
Location
Disposition
Strength
Morale
Capabilities
Composition
Probable courses of action

8. ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T
TERRAIN -The AMC must consider the following factors:
Dominant Terrain
Natural Features
Possible enemy attack points.
Built up areas
Hazards to flight
Friendly / Enemy Units.
Weather and Visibility.

9. ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T
TERRAIN - OCOKA
Observation and Fields of Fire
Cover and Concealment
Obstacles and Movement
Key Terrain
Avenues of Approach

10. ANALYZE THE MISSION METT-T
TROOPS - the missions of the supported units and other units that may have an impact on the mission.

11. 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 pre-mission planning to the present time.

12. PERFORM MAP OR PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE
PHOTOGRAPHY
TACTICAL :50,000
JOG :250,000
BEST WHEN CHUMMED AND HAZARDS UPDATED
VFR SECTIONAL 1:500,000
FLIPS
USE CAUTION WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE MAP TO ANOTHER

13. MAPS AND PHOTO RECON TARGET IMAGERY

15. MAP AND PHOTO RECON 1:250,000

16. MAP AND PHOTO RECON 1:50,000

17. PERFORM MAP RECONNAISSANCE
THESE FACTORS MUST BE CONSIDERED DURING A MAP RECONNAISSANCE
Dominant Terrain
Natural Features
Possible Enemy Attack Points
Built-Up Areas
Crossroads
MSR’s
Hazards to Flight
Friendly and Enemy Units

18. SELECT MODES OF FLIGHT
Low Level
Contour
Nap of the Earth

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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)

22. SELECT PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE ROUTES
Start Point/ Release Points
Air Control Points
Communication Points
Check Points
Rally Points
Downed Aviator Pick-up Points
Preplanned Artillery and Tac Air

23. 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 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

24. MAKE YOUR MAP LOOK LIKE THIS EXAMPLE

25. START POINT AND RELEASE POINT
SYMBOLOGY
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
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

26. GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING
Route Planning - Tactically sound & ease of Navigation
Avoid brightly lit areas, roads, populated areas
Avoid open areas or large bodies of water where terrain permits
Avoid navigational aides and airports
Plan the route to take advantage of cover and concealment
Plan to negotiate large valleys on lit or shadowed side depending on threat
Avoid flying into rising or setting sun or moon
Do not follow man-made linear features

27. GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING
Route Planning - Continued
During multi-aircraft operations, avoid turns greater than 5 degrees once past the RP for landing
Avoid turns greater than 60 degrees
Select intermediate reference points with ETAs
Cross roads close to 90 degrees
Do not fly near populations or major roads
Compute time, distance, & headings for route, and use barriers & prominent map features
Plot time for prominent intersecting features

28. GENERAL ROUTE AND ACP PLANNING
Route Planning - Continued
Anticipate wires on roads, towers, & buildings in open fields
Plan alternate routes. At a minimum for any leg flown at contour or NOE
Minimize turns, ascents and descents, and airspeed changes during multi-helicopter operations
Conduct map reconnaissance to determine safe altitude

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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 common abbreviations and symbols (e.g., Heading (hdg), Kilometers (km), Degrees (°), Feet (‘), and Knots (kt)
Use remarks to describe pertinent information

32. 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)

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. OBTAIN AND EVALUATE WEATHER BRIEFING
Sunset and Sunrise
Density Altitudes
Temperatures
Winds
Visibility Restrictions
Moonset and Moonrise
Ambient Light Levels

37. PERFORM MISSION RISK ASSESSMENT
Apply the five steps of the risk management process
Hazards to terrain flight
Physical Hazards
Natural Hazards
Weather Hazards
Human Hazards
Other Factors

38. 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
Description
Direction
Distance
Speed

39. MISSION PLANNING AND 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

40. MISSION PLANNING AND 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

41. REVIEW OF THE MISSION PROCCESS
Preparation and planning
Briefings
Rehearsals
Execution

42. QUESTIONS?

43. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS Most up to date Objective area Holding area ACP
Triple check coordinates
Accurate North arrow depiction
Orient in direction of approach if possible
Objective area
Holding area
ACP
Time and assets will determine if photos are feasible

44. 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

45. ROUTE PLANNING CARDS
Route planning cards include navigation card, en route card, and LZ or objective card. Most knee board packets contain much more information though.

46. SAND TABLES AND TERRAIN BOARDS
Valuable for night Ops
Time permitting
One board for AO
One board for Objective
One board for en route portion
Must be accurate to be of value

47. DIGITAL MISSION REHERSAL SIMULATORS
Top Scene
Valuable for no fail Ops
Time permitting
Requisition of Shelved hot spots
Route need not be detailed
Objective Area must be detailed to the point of shadow casting and hazards
Equipment Availability
Must be accurate to be of value