77th JSOC / Public Servers / Guides / Pilot / Pilot Handbook

Previous

Pilot Handbook

This is a handbook for public players on the 77th JSOC servers, it will cover the function of the Pilot slot on our servers. It will mainly cover pilot behavior, responsibility and privileges but might extend to some tips and tricks to get the most out of your Pilot role.

The pilots have a key function of our servers, on top of providing transport for men and materiel and fly CAS and CAP missions they are expected to have a good knowledge of server standards and to help and support the acting HQ in maintaining order on the server.

An introduction and explanation of the different types of missions flown by the pilots and a short description of the different helicopters and their different carrying capacity will be found in the last section of this wiki.

Hierarchy, Criterias, Abilities and Quick Guide:

Hierarchy on the 77th servers:

1. Admins and Ambassadors
2. HQ
3. Pilots/Squad leads
4. Foot soldiers/squad members

Criterias needed to be fulfilled by Pilots:

1. Pilots must be on TS, in the correct TS channel for the server he/she is playing on.
2. Pilots should have the same name on Team Speak and in game.
3. Pilots must be able to communicate proficient with other players and specially with HQ and other pilots. (No requirement for a mic exist, proficient and good communication in writing is sufficient for pilots.)
4. Pilots must have read and understood the rules of our servers and inforce them to the best of his/here abilities.
5. If the player are to be a Pilot he/she need to be in one of the designated Pilot slots.
6. It's important to know that any DLC is not required to be a pilot. The base game and the aircrafts available in it are sufficient to be an efficient pilot on our servers.

Pilots special abilities:

1. The ability to use the artillery at base to help support the squads when requested to do so by a Squad leader.
2. The ability to use the Bobcat to repair/rearm helicopters and repair runways/remove debris.
3. The ability to operate rotary and fixed wing aircrafts.

Pilots quick guide:

1. A Pilot that's comfortable flying different types of aircrafts will be a great asset to the server.
2. The pilot are the highest ranking player in an aircraft.
3. Pilots must at all times follow the correct ROE when flying support.
4. A good Pilot will support and help his HQ to keep the servers organised and running smoothly.
5. Pilots are to step up and organise ungrouped player in the absence of an HQ.

The Function of a Pilot:

back to top

The pilot’s on the 77th JSOC servers function is to operate different types of air assets to support the ground combatants operations. This includes flying rotary wing transport, rotary and fixed wing CAS and CAP.

Pilot primary funktion:

The primary mission of all pilots is transport of troops and materiel. A transport air mission is initiated by either HQ or at an SL request. The objective is to deliver men and/or materiell to a designated LZ. When performing transport missions the pilots are expected to judge the situation and always take proper precautions to safeguard the aircraft and its cargo. This means that a pilot have to determine the safest route to a objektive and judge a safe LZ for the drop. In the end it's up to the pilot to determine the safest flight rout and LZ.

Pilot Secondary Function:

The secondary function of the pilots are as CAP support. In this role they are to operate different types of aircrafts in the Combat Air Patrol role. In this role the pilot's main objective is to protect friendly air and ground assets from enemy air assets. This type of mission is Air to Air only and can be initiated either by HQ, on Squad lead request or at the pilot's own discretion.

Pilot Third Function:

The third type of mission flown by pilots are CAS missions, these missions are flown by either fixed wing or rotary wing CAS aircrafts. Pilots are advised to follow the standard ROE for CAS missions. The ROE for CAS missions are found in the Rules and guidelines section in this wiki. The CAS missions are primarily a mission requested by Squad Leads in the field when they need the support from an CAS aircraft. When pilots are operating in an CAS role they are expected to take care to follow the directions of the SL requesting the CAS mission, since the SL usually are the closest observer to the strike area he will direct the CAS mission and judge the effectiveness of the mission.

Pilot Additional duties:

Additional duties are to assist and aid HQ in keeping the server in an orderly fashion.

If no HQ is online the duties of organizing player into squads and trying to keep the server in an orderly fashion falls directly on the pilots.

Pilots vill also have the ability to use the fixed artillery in base. This is to be utilized when a fire mission is requested by a SL. If HQ are online he may prioritize and decide if he or a pilot should perform the fire mission requested. If no HQ is online the pilots vill have to internally within the pilot group decide on the fire mission priority.

Pilots are one of a handful players on the servers able to utilize the Bobcat engineer vehicle, this is used to clear wreckage and holes on the runway and repair/rearm/refuel damaged aircrafts.

Pilot Behavior:

back to top

The pilots on the 77th JSOC servers are like the HQ, hold to high standards. They are expected to behave appropriately and to help uphold the servers standards to the best of their abilities.

Pilots are expected to be able to handle themselves in a aircraft and possess the basic skills to take of, fly and land different types of aircrafts. A player unable to handle the basic tasks placed on pilots will be removed from the pilot slot by administrative personnel.

Pilots should know that some behaviors are frowned upon when playing on the 77th servers. These behaviors are all subject to reprimands from administrative personnel. Some of the behaviors not seen as good behavior from a pilot is as follows:

1. “Buzzing the tower”: Low and fast flying over the airfield, primarily in a fixed wing aircraft.
2. Any kind of barrel roll/loop with a rotary wing aircraft.
3. Landing/low flying/hovering an aircraft/sling loading over the assembly/spawn/squad lineup area.
4. Intentionally crashing/suiciding any kind of aircraft into ground, objects or enemies.

When a pilot operates an aircraft he is solely responsible for his actions and the wellbeing of the airframe and its cargo, this means that it's up to the pilot to judge his skill level and fly accordingly. The fact that the pilot is solely responsible for what happens to his aircraft makes him the highest ranking officer in it. This means that a pilot have the right to refuse or move a LZ marked by any SL if he do not feel it's safe to land. In the aircraft, a pilot's word is final.

77th JSOC server specific info:

back to top

In this section we will cover some general information relevant for pilots that will hopefully help with day to day operations on our servers.

1. There is a sett amount of aircrafts in base available for the pilots.
2. Most rotary wing aircrafts will respawn within 1 to 2 minutes after being destroyed.
3. The fixed wing aircraft (AA Buzzard) will respawn 15 minutes after being destroyed.
4. Aircrafts left in the field will stay where they were left until retrieved or destroyed.
5. The liftable equipment such as Medical/repair/refuel containers and ammo boxes needs to be airlifted to an LZ and then airlifted back to base after beeing used. They will not respawn if players move away from them. Hence the importance to mark their location on the map if they are left out of base.
6. You can repair/refuel/rearm an aircraft with the bobcat engineering vehicle, with the fuel/ammo/repair containers or by landing on any of the repair pads at base.
7. The Huron and Taru are the only two helicopters able to lift the Medical/Repair/Refuel containers.
8. The pilots are able to lock/unlock the turrets on the Ghost hawks. They are as a default locked when the helicopter spawns.

Rotary wing aircraft types:

All aircrafts have different characteristics and carrying capacity. The following is a short description of the different types of rotary wing aircrafts that are supplied as standard equipment at the base.

MH-9 Hummingbird:

The Hummingbird is a small transport helicopter, lightly armored, fast and agile. Its got a basic main rotor and boom/tail rotor configuration. This helicopter is good when a small and nimble helicopter is required for a mission. The hummingbird is extremely lightly armored and will carry four of its passenger on external benches, the lack of protection means both pilots and passengers are at a considerable risk when engaged by enemy fire, extra care is to be taken to stay away from small arms fire when flying close to enemy ground forces. The Hummingbird does not carry any flares.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Light personnel transport.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 6 passengers.
4. Countermeasures: No.

UH-80 Ghost Hawk:

The Ghost hawk is a medium Utility/Transport helicopter, it combines some basic defensive armament with good maneuverability to create a well rounded helicopter able to complete most transport needs. Its got a basic main rotor and boom/tail rotor configuration. This helicopter will carry most normal sizes squads into battle and will be able to fend of any enemies armed with small arms due to its two passenger operated minniguns. The crew and passenger are more protected in comparison with the hummingbird and all seated internally of the helicopter. The Ghost hawk are equipped with flares for added protection.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 2.
2. Type: Medium Utility/Transport Helicopter.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 10 passengers.
4. Countermeasures: Yes.

CH-49 Mohawk:

The Mohawk is a Utility/Transport helicopter with a main rotor/tail rotor configuration, its equiped with a aft ramp that will increase the load/unload capacity and enable the two last passenger to shoot out of the helicopter when the ramp is lowered. The addition of a ramp calls for a higher position of the tail rotor, this in turn will make the helicopter less prone to tail rotor strike during landings, on the other hand, the tail rotor will ride higher at high speed flight. The Mohawk is equipped with flares for added protection.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Utility/Transport Helicopter.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 16 passengers.
4. Countermeasures: Yes.

CH-67 Huron:

The Huron is a large cargo/heavy lifting helicopter designed with a tandem rotor design. It is one of two helicopters able to lift heavy equipment/vehicles on our servers. The Huron have a large carrying capacity and are well suited for large extractions from safe LZs. Due to its size and cumbersome nature the huron is not suitable for stealth missions and flights into cramped LZs. The huron is a big target, it's able to sustain heavy fire and keep on flying, with this said you still need to be mindful of enemy forces. To help the huron survive in a hostile environment it's equipped with flares.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Heavy Cargo/Lift Helicopter.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 18 passengers.
4. Countermeasures: Yes.

MI-290 Taru:

The Taru is a heavy lift helicopter with a coaxial rotor system design. It is specifically designed for sling load operations and it is one of two helicopters on the server able to lift any of the repair/refuel/medic containers available. The coaxial rotor design removes the possibility of a tail rotor strike during landing and reduces the danger of an anti torque failure. The The Taru is a fast and agile helicopter for its size as long as it's not slinging any cargo. To improve the helicopter's survivability in combat situations it is equipped with flares.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Heavy Lift Helicopter
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 1 loadmaster.
4. Countermeasures: Yes.

Fixed wing aircraft types:

All aircrafts have different characteristics and carrying capacity. The following is a short description of the different types of fixed wing aircrafts that are supplied as standard equipment at the base.

Y-32 Xi’an:

The Xi’an is a fixed wing VTOL aircraft fitted with two lifter fans imbedded in the wings and two rear mounted engines for stability and forward propulsion. The Xi’an is a medium to large infantry transport aircraft capable of high speed level flight. The design do not lend itself to the same amount of maneuverability as a traditional rotary wing aircraft, this in combination with its high speed characteristics gives the Xi’an a primary role of long distance transport. The limited maneuverability during the approach and landing phases prevents the Xi’an to be utilized in the same manner as a rotary wing aircraft. Any pilot flying the Xi’an should take these limitations into consideration when planning his flight route and selecting an LZ. The Xi’an are a well armored aircraft with all passengers carried internally, for quick and easy deployment it's equipped with a rear mounted loading ramp. For additional survivability in hostile environments the Xi’an is equipped with flares.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Medium/Large troop transport VTOL.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 16 passengers.
4. Countermeasures: No.

V-44 X Blackfish:

The Blackfish is a large cargo aircraft with VTOL capabilities. It is equipped with two large turboprop engines mounted in pivoting nacelles on each wingtip. It got a large cargo door on the aft end that makes it possible to load vehicles into the fuselage.The size of the Blackfish makes it a big and easy target for enemies, during takeoff and landings it is slow, sluggish in maneuvers and cumbersome. To increase its survivability the Blackfish is equipped with flares.

The Blackfish main purpose is high speed vehicle transportation and airdrop, it have the capability to airlift vehicles internally and to drop these with a parachute over a desired location. The internal carrying capacity will allow the Blackfish to carry eyther one Marshall IFV, one Hunter MRAP or two Prowler LSVs. All of the aforementioned vehicles are able to be loaded and airdropped with a full compliment of crew.

Basic data:

1. Amount available at base: 1.
2. Type: Large vehicle transport VTOL.
3. Carrying capacity: 2 pilots, 2 passengers.
4. Cargo capacity: 1 AMV-7 Marshall or 1 Hunter MRAP or 2 Prowler LSVs.
5. Countermeasures: No.

Tips and tricks:

back to top

A good pilot does not overestimate his skills, he knows his limits and stays within them. Pilots failing to recognise their limits and constantly crashes or misbehaves on our servers are running the risk of being removed temporarily or permanently from the pilot slots or the servers.

To start with, a good pilot knows when to adopt a specific flight profile, especially a helicopter pilot needs to know when and where to fly with a specific flight profile. What most pilots must remember is that a helicopter is highly maneuverable at slow to moderate speeds, high speed flight in a helicopter is mostly used to cover ground when no threats is present, if engaged by enemies a helicopter pilot will have to rely on the helicopters maneuverability, not its speed. This is especially true if engaged by enemy fixed wing aircrafts.

Flight phases:

In an ordinary rotary wing transport mission flight there will be a couple of different stages in the mission. The basic ones are: takeoff phase, transport phase, combat phase, approach phase and landing phase.

Takeoff phase:

The first part of a flight will be the takeoff, during this phase you are either at base or at the LZ, during this phase you will eyther be in a busy base or may be in a cramped LZ squeezed in between trees/buildings. It is important for the pilot to keep his situational awareness and keep track of the helicopters extremities to minimize the risk of hitting obstacles and risking the integrity of the airframe. If you are at a LZ and find yourself coming under small arms fire it's recommended to turn the helicopter so that the cockpit will not be hit to minimize the risk of a shot killing the pilot.

Transport phase:

The majority of the flight is going to be in the transportation phase, during this phase a pilot will have to adjust his altitude and flight profile to the threats presented to him. This is usually when you will fly your helicopter at max speeds, there is usually no need for high maneuverability and a high speed is desirable to cover as much ground in an short a time as possible. If there is no threats present there is no need for extreme maneuvers or extreme low flying, this will only put the aircraft and its cargo in unnecessary danger. Flight in a safe area without any threats should be conducted at such an altitude as to guarantee no risk of colliding with any objects or the ground.

Combat phase:

This phase will be more prominent the closer to the AO you get or when engaged by a enemy air or ground asset. When entering into a hostile AO or close to it it's expected to see an increase in hostile forces, it's advised to start scanning the area ahead and to have a rough idea of what to do when engaged by enemy forces. To be aware of any hills that might provide cover and to start slowing down for increased maneuverability is highly recommended. In the combat phase there will be an emphasis on maneuverability, high speed is therefore counterproductive in most rotary wing cases.

Approach phase:

When flying a rotary wing mission into a LZ, especially into an unknown area the key to success lies in situational awareness. If the pilot have done his planing correct he will be landing into a good LZ and his only concern would be for enemy troops engaging his aircraft during the last sections of the flight. During the approach the pilot should take his time to evaluate the LZ when it enters into his field of view and make final adjustments in preparation for landing. A good practice is to fly perpendicular to any hostile threats reported or detected since this will make the aircraft a lot harder to hit for enemy forces.

Landing phase:

During the landing it's important to keep vigilant and mind the surroundings. At base there will be a lot of activity going on and it's important to be aware of other aircrafts and obstacles close to your airframe. Keep in mind when in a rotary wing aircraft the rotor is lot larger than the fuselage and they might hit objects causing damage to men and materiel.

When landing at an LZ it's important to take obstacles like power lines, wall sections, ditches and slopes/uneven terrain into consideration. If a pilot are to perform a landing on a steep hillside with a single rotor helicopter the best way to do this is to land with the nose of the helicopter uphill, this is to prevent the tail rotor to hit the hillside. With a tandem or a coaxial rotor helicopter this practice is not necessary. Keep in mind that the practice of landing on a steep hillside is extremely dangerous if the hillside is too steep. It may cause the airframe to uncontrollably slip downhill. If there is no other option than to do a drop/pickup at a LZ with extreme gradients the pilot are recommended to do a low hover close to the hillside and keep his eyes on the rotor disk checking so it won't hit the hillside.

Flight Planning:

back to top

Pilots should never underestimate the importance of planning their flight. A properly planned flight will have a greater chance of success. The following are basic guidelines to consider when planning a flight:

LZ Selection:

A pilot are expected to know how to select a safe LZ. To determine a good location for an LZ the pilot are advised to review their maps before a mission and pay special attention to terrain features and elevation. What you are looking for in a good LZ is a sufficient distance to any eventual enemies and cover from direct line of sight of any expected enemies.

As a rule of thumb: If the enemies can't see you they can't kill you. This is applied to both visual and radar signature. Hence, a pilot's best friend is hills and ridgelines. To put hardcover between you and a suspected enemy area is always the best approach to selecting an LZ.

Flight route planning:

As mentioned before, a flight should always be performed in the safest way as possible. Hence the importance of flight planning cannot be underestimated. Once again the threat level in the area of operation will determine the safest way to conduct aerial operations. The most important thing to remember when flying close to a hostile area is to stay in cover. When planning the flight route pilots should pay extra attention to ridgelines and hills to use as cover to place between their aircraft and any enemies. Additionally a flight path running perpendicular to any enemies will make the helicopter harder to hit and increase survivability.

Evasive maneuvers:

back to top

Depending on what the pilot is flying and what it is that's engaging them the procedures will wary slightly. Some basic procedures can be applied when a pilot find themselves in a situation in where they are taking fire. The following will be a basic explanation to the different types of threats and how to try and counter them.

Rotary wing engaged by ground forces:

When flying rotary wing aircrafts a pilot need to know its weaknesses and strengths, the aircraft are highly maneuverable at slow to medium speeds and a good pilot can utilize the terrain and fixed objects to shield his aircraft from incoming fire.

As mentioned previously the most efficient way to stay safe when being engaged by ground AA is to fly with a speed that gives the pilot most maneuverability out of his aircraft, to find hills, ridgelines, building and other obstacles to break the line of fire between the enemies and the aircraft. This is one of the few efficient ways of defending the helicopter from radar assisted gunnery, heavy vehicle mounted guns and ground to air AA rocket systems.

If cover are scarce flying perpendicular to enemies, in an unstraight line, weaving and dodging will increase the difficulties of hitting the aircraft.

To most efficiently safeguard from small arms fire a pilot are advised to never fly directly towards enemies firing upon the airframe. A helicopter canopy are seldomly bulletproof and one stray bullet can be enough to kill the pilot flying.

Rotary wing engaged by aviation:

When a helicopter pilot are being engaged by another aircraft his best defense is mainly maneuvering. When engaged by an enemy fixed wing aircraft there is no point in trying to outrun the enemy. The fixed wing aircraft will always outfly the helicopter in a straight line. A helicopter pilot's best defense is to start extensive maneuvering, this will make it difficult for the enemy pilot to engage with canons and to get a lock on with his rocket systems.

In the case of a enemy aircraft engaging, height will have a minor effect on the outcome of the engagement. In some cases the aircraft chasing will have the advantage of higher altitude and flying low will only increase the danger of hitting an obstacle or ground.

In other cases low flying will put a ridgeline or mountain in between the helicopter and enemy aircraft, this is more likely the case if the enemy are engaging with rotary wing aircrafts. The emphasis should be put on evasive maneuvers and maneuverability.

Situational awareness needs to be high and to identify if a low flight profile will be beneficial or not will aid in the selection of the flight path and evasive maneuvers.