Rotary Aviation

This page is intended as a supplement to the Rotary Wing Training. It will not work as a replacement for live training sessions.

Before joining your first training session

For Copilots and Pilots

If you wish to enrol in the rotary flight programme you need to have full membership (meaning you need to have the infantryman qualification).

Before joining the first flight training read up about the flight models and configure your game accordingly. Those who only intend to do the copilot’s certification are strongly encouraged to use the basic flight model.

If you wish to do so you can train on your own instead of joining the rotary training regularly. However, a requirement for taking the pilot’s or copilot’s certification test is having participated in at least one training session shortly before asking for the test (since they take quite some time, and we want to make sure that you could pass it before trying). The requirements for both the pilot’s and copilot’s certification are listed on the qualification page of the handbook.

For Copilots

If you only intend to fill the copilot’s seat during our operations the requirements are drastically lower than for pilots. Your main job will be assisting the pilot while he is doing his job, but there are also certain tasks only you can perform, such as operating the helicopter-mounted camera for scouting and laser designating targets. You will also be learning how to perform the gunner’s role in a combat helicopter.

However, a copilot is also required to learn how to fly and land a helicopter. The requirements for both tasks are much below what is expected from a pilot. You will, for example, only be asked to make landings in open spaces while not under fire (which is what you would do if the pilot gets shot). You should be prepared to invest a bit of time between training sessions into training these fundamental skills.

Copilots are usually certified during training sessions once they have proven the ability to perform their duties.

For Pilots

Learning how to fly helicopters is not easy. When flying in an operation you are responsible for the lives of your passengers. Flying in a dangerous way to impress passengers or due to lacking skill might cause the helicopter to crash and delay the operation for up to twenty minutes while everyone is respawning and setting up again. Deploying a helicopter’s weapon systems in an unsafe, not-communicated manner is similarly dangerous to ground units. This is why we require helicopter pilots to earn their licence before being allowed a seat in the cockpit.

Please remember that learning how to fly requires a significant investment of time from your side, and training only during the training sessions will not be sufficient. If you are a new pilot it is expected that you invest at least one additional hour each week into training on your own. If you can not make this kind of time investment you will probably not be able to learn how to fly and the training instructor and you yourself will just be wasting everyone’s time.

Certifications for Pilots are conducted on a 1-on-1 basis and will be scheduled once both you and the instructor feel that you are likely to pass.

Helicopter Crew

Depending on the Helicopter and the Pilot, the crew consists of up to two people.

• Pilot - Flies the Helicopter and is generally in charge, including his cargo. He is responsible for everything in regard to the helicopter from route planning, selection of landing zones and deployment of the guns unless he delegates duties to the Co-Pilot.
• Co-Pilot - Responsible for assisting the Pilot. Generally takes care of communication and operates the guns. Furthermore, he assists with navigation and marks spotted targets.

Preflight Checklist

1. Destination - Make sure to have a plan for ingress and know where you need to go.
2. Sensors and GPS - Have your normal GPS, your MicroDAGR and your helicopter’s sensory systems readied.
3. Copilot - Release Controls if you have a copilot who has a rudimentary understanding of how to fly a helicopter.
4. Night vision - Check the clock, if it’s going to be dark soon you will need to equip your NV-Goggles now as you can’t in a vehicle.
5. Zero Collective - Avoids dangerous sliding or unwanted liftoffs.
6. Engine on
7. Transport Helicopter: Wait for passengers - If you are transporting crew, wait until all are in. You need to wait for clearance from the senior ground leader on board.
8. Stable Rotor RPM - All helicopters have an instrument that shows this, you can also hear it. Collective is still at zero.
9. In Formation: Request liftoff - If in formation with other helicopters wait for the group leader to give clearance for liftoff.
10. Liftoff

Navigation & Task

• General - If navigation is offloaded to the Co-Pilot it is mostly handled by giving bearings and distances to upcoming waypoints, although landmarks to orientation can greatly increase the effectiveness. We use the MicroDAGR as a navigation tool (Guide for MicroDAGR).
  • Terrain Concealment - Utilise the terrain to mask your approach and limit your exposure to enemy locations.
  • Exit Route - Always have an exit route to quickly leave the area to a safe zone.
• Landing Zone - Avoid enemy locations. Plan the route avoiding obstacles if possible and select the route with minimal chance of getting spotted by enemies.
• Supply Drops - Same as Landing Zones, although due to the sling loaded supplies limiting the helicopter, you need to incorporate this factor when planning a route.
• Attack Runs - Proper Ingress is vital to ensure an efficient attack run.
  • Use terrain as cover and ensure that you will be spotted only at the last point possible when it cannot be avoided.
  • Ensure there is enough time for the Co-Pilot to spot the target.
  • For a missile run, align the helicopter with the target.
  • Preferably do not attack towards friendlies.
  • Choose an appropriate Weapon for the target. Conserve heavier, more limited weapons for the time they are most beneficial or if you have to refuel soon anyway.
• Overwatch - Circle above the ground teams and scan the area around them.
• Scouting - On request or whenever overwatch is not needed or possible, scout upcoming areas in advance of ground element arrival.

Communication

• General - Section 3 Communication applies.
• Requests - If the request by ground forces does not contain all desired information, do not hesitate to request the missing information.
• Spotting - When spotting enemy movements and positions mark them on the map and give a short report over the radio.
• Reports - Report fuel situation and weapon statuses before they become an issue. You should notify the ground elements before you have to return to base.

Sling Loading

The CH-47 is used as the lift helicopter capable of lifting supply crates and light vehicles. The following procedures and protocol must be observed when performing a sling load.

• Altitude - The flight altitude of the helicopter must take into account the rope’s length as well as the size of the cargo.
  • An example of this for transporting a Humvee would be: 30m Combat Altitude + 10m Rope Length + 2m Height of the Humvee, bringing the flight altitude to 42m.
• Speed - The flight speed of the helicopter must not exceed 170km/h.
  • This will risk the sling loaded cargo striking the helicopter should the pilot necessitate manoeuvres.
  • Helicopter movement must also take into consideration the movement of the sling loaded cargo.
• Navigation - The pilot may communicate with ground-based elements to guide the cargo into a safe drop zone.

Fast Roping

When approaching a designated landing zone, the pilot has the option of deciding on a fast rope insertion, should the situation be appropriate. The following procedure must be followed when performing a fast rope insertion.

• Before Takeoff - The pilot must designate a crew chief that will perform the handling of the FRIES system. It is recommended to remind him of his role during a FRIES insertion. It needs to be communicated clearly that the last guy roping out of the helicopter needs to make a corresponding callout.
• Before Arrival at DZ - When at an appropriate distance from the insertion point, the pilot will alert the crew chief to prepare the FRIES system. This can happen as far out as ~1km.
• Over DZ - When the helicopter is in position and static, the pilot will then call for the crew chief to deploy the ropes. The Crew Chief then makes the callout of “Go go go!” roughly one second after deploying ropes.
• Egress - Before waving off, the pilot must wait for the call from the last man to leave the helicopter. Give the last guy enough time to descend the ropes, then the pilot, or copilot if available, cuts the ropes and leaves the area.

With regard to the methodology for performing a fast rope insertion, the following factors must be observed.

• Speed - A maximum speed of 10 km/h must be adhered to, as exceeding it will risk a rope break. In general, you should be completely static when deploying the ropes.
• Altitude - The maximum altitude for fast roping is 25m-30m.

Approach to LZ and Formation Flight

• Plan your approach - Use terrain, memorise it beforehand, fly high or low depending on terrain and threat profile in the area. As lead pilot make sure all pilots know what to do. Also make sure that all other helicopters are ready before lifting off from base. Choose a formation beforehand (staggered column or echelon left / right). The order in formation should be so that the most skilled pilots lead, the least skilled trails.
• Travel at Travel Speed (>130km/h) - Try to keep within 100-150m of the pilot in front of you and do not fly directly behind him. If you’re lead make sure that stragglers can keep up (unless this would cause additional risks to you). Notify others of course changes at least one second before you make them. If anyone for whatever reason needs to break formation then do not try to re-establish original order, instead queue up at the rear. In general, you should communicate a lot. Keep it brief and precise however.
• Transition to Balanced State (~90-130km/h) when approaching the LZ (depending on chopper and skill of pilots in the formation between 1km and 2km away). Announce that you will switch to Balanced State before you do it. Scan the terrain and find your LZ, remember that other pilots need to land here as well.
• Transition to Final Approach Phase (~30km/h) - This phase should be very short and only happen immediately before you land. Notify others. Land so that other pilots don’t have to fly over you.
• Land - Disembark all units, communicate with ground team and lift off once you’re empty. Don’t wait any longer than necessary.
• Leave the area as quickly and safely as possible. Go to Travel Speed and try to re-establish the formation once you are out of the danger zone.

Rules of Engagement

The Pilot can further restrict the ROE. Gunners only fire upon clearance from the Pilot or in order to fight an immediate danger to the Aircraft. Friendly Fire and Civilian Casualties are to be prevented at all times.

• No Permission Required - Situations the helicopter is free to engage with “inexpensive weapons” e.g. Gatling Guns, no Rockets.
  • Beyond 150m from ground teams.
  • Within 1000m of ground team (target is or will shortly become relevant to ground team e.g. in a position to attack or attacking)
• Permission Required - Situations the helicopter is free to engage after receiving permission from command.
  • Within 150m of ground teams.
  • Beyond 1000m of ground teams.
  • Deployment of “expensive weapons” e.g. rockets.
  • Targets within 250m of fragile objectives e.g. hostages.
• Not to Engage - Targets not allowed to be engaged.
  • Hospitals, Refugee Camps or the like.
  • Medical Vehicles and Personnel.
  • Places of Worship (churches or mosques).
  • Within 50m of fragile objectives.
  • Within 50m of ground teams.
  • Historic Sites / Cultural Treasures / Safe Zones

Any engagement can be called off by the command / ground teams at all times.

Emergency Procedures

• General - All Emergency Procedures have to be conducted in a short time frame. Immediate reaction by the Crew is required.
• Main Engine Failure - Helicopter will descend. Emergency Landing required.
  • Make distress call (“Mayday”).
  • Perform Autorotation (read below).
• Fuel Leak - Helicopter is losing fuel at rapid rate, due to penetrated fuel tank.
  • Perform emergency landing somewhere close by.
  • If fuel runs out completely perform Autorotation (read below).
  • Once landed and fuel is still present try to return to base.
• Tail Rotor Failure - Loss of the tail rotor.
  • Phase 1:
    • High Velocity (above 130 or at least 80) - Increase speed to reduce spinning.
    • Low Velocity (below 80) - Rapidly increase forward movement. Alternatively gain altitude while spinning before pulling the nose down to force rapid speed gain.
  • Phase 2: Find a safe landing zone. Maintain speed to limit spinning.
  • Phase 3: One of the following:
    • Fly at safe altitude and slowly decelerate until spinning starts. Turn off engine and perform Autorotation (read below). Avoid spinning.
    • Perform a Rolling Landing. Turn off wheel brakes and land with speed on a flat surface.
    • Find the sweet spot when to rapidly decelerate the helicopter to hold while landing before it spins too fast.
• Autorotation - Landing manoeuvre without active engine.
  • Immediately put throttle to 0.
  • Find proximity emergency landing zone.
  • Reach landing zone and reduce forward velocity.
  • Before impact put throttle to maximum to reduce vertical speed.

Glossary

• Ingress - Approach to an Objective
• Egress - Path away from the AO or Objective
• RTB - Return to Base
• WP - Waypoint
• LZ - Landing Zone
• DZ - Drop Zone
• Travel Speed - State of the helicopter where its behaviour resembles that of a plane (>130km/h)
• Balanced State - Flight Behaviour of a helicopter below ~130km/h (depending on helicopter)
• FRIES - Fast Rope Insertion & Extraction System