80T-122 Air-Capable Ships NATOPS Flashcards
Control zone of air-capable ship?
Control area?
ZONE: 5NM radius 2500ft MSL Gives way to aviation ships, airfields, and special use airspace
AREA: 50NM radius upper limit as assigned
When is positive control mandatory?
- Ceiling less than 500ft
- Forward flight visibility less than 1 mile
- All flight operations between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise except as modified by the OTC or the commanding officer.
What is the required lateral separation for Helos outside 50 miles of an air capable ship?
Withing 50?
Outside: 5 mile minimum
Inside: 3 mile minimum
Whats required Vertical Separation?
500ft from other rotary wing, 1000ft from fixed wing.
What are the 3 levels of operations for air-capable ships?
- Level 1: IMC day/night
- Level 2: VMC day/night
- Level 3: VMC day only
List the different class certifications for Air Capable Ships.
- 1- Landing area with support facilities for types of aircraft certified
- 2- Landing area with service facilities for types of aircraft certified
- 2A- Landing area with limited service facilities for types of aircraft certified
- 3- Landing area for types of aircraft certified; no service facilities
- 4- Vertrep/hover area minimum hover height 5ft for types of aircraft certified
- 5- Vertrep/hover area minimum hover height 15ft for types of aircraft certified
- 6- HIFR facility capable of delivering a minimum of 50gal of fuel per minute at a px of 20psi to a height of 40ft
- 6R- HIFR facility capable of delivering 25-49gal per minute at a px of 20psi to a height of 40ft
- 7 (HOSTAC): Facility for transfering personnel or light cargo (eg mail bags) by means of the aircraft hoist.
What are the ship’s Saftey Boat Crew Requirements Day / Night?
DAY: Safety boat ready, crew assigned and on immediate call
NIGHT: Safety boat ready, crew on station; or Plane guard ship monitoring land/launch frequency and in position and crew assigned and on immediate call.
NOTE
The ship itself or its rescue boat are the primary rescue assets during routine operations. If sea state would prevent rescue by ship or boat, a SAR-equipped helicopter in Alert 30 must be available
What is required to be a SAR Helicopter per the 122?
- Operable hoist with rescue device
- Operable searchlight (for night SAR)
- Sufficient liferafts to support passenger rescue equipment
Define Shipboard Landing Environment (Verbatim)
That phase of the approach, nominally from the Missed Approach Point (MAP) to flight deck landing during which the aircrew transitions from an instrument reference scan to a visual reference scan.
Define the shipboard takeoff environment (Verbatim)
Phase of departure from an air capable ship flight deck to the briefed level altitude or 150ft during which aircrew transitions from a visual scan to an instrument scan
For departures from single spot ships, PAC transfers from a visual to an instrument scan after positive rate of climb is established and obstruction clearance is obtained
When is TACAN required? (Verbatim)
For aircraft equipped with a TACAN, ship’s TACAN system SHALL be operable for all shipboard launches and recoveries in IMC.
When is the Horizon Reference System (HRS) required? (Verbatim)
Without a visible horizon, an operable HRS bar (when installed) SHALL be utilized for single-spot ship operations
Do all Visual Landing aids need to be operating for night ops?
What if conducting Aided ops?
All shipboard VLA Lighting equipment SHOULD be operative for night/low visibility operations.
When conducting aided operations all shipboard lighting SHALL be NVD compliant
What is the SGSI Breakdown?
How do you fly it?
- 9° total
- 1.5º Green
- 1º Amber
- 6.5º Red
- With a 40º Azimuth it is visible out to 3 miles away during optimal conditions
The pilot flies the amber/red interface which is fixed at a 3º Glideslope. If the accuracy of the SGSI is in doubt continue on the normal approach profile.
When is the SGSI required to be on?
When must it be energized?
The SGSI (if operable) SHALL remain energized during the entire period of night (aided or unaided) operations
The SGSI system must be energized in standby mode a minimum of 4 hours before scheduled flight operations
Permissible lighting degradation’s for Unaided Operations (Verbatim)
May be conducted in the event of a failure of not more than one of the light subsystems required for the ships facility certification provided:
- A visible horizon exists and is discernible by aircraft commander in the shipboard landing/takeoff environment
- The ships CO and the embarked OIC (aircraft commander for non-embarked evolutions) concur that the failed lighting system is not critical to scheduled mission.
Permissible lighting degradation’s for Aided Operations (Verbatim)
May be conducted in the event of a failure of more than one of the light subsystems required for the ships facility certification provided:
- A visible horizon exists and is discernible through NVDs by the aircraft commander in the shipboard landing/takeoff environment
- The ships CO and the embarked OIC (aircraft commander for non-embarked evolutions) concur that the failed lighting systems are not critical to the scheduled mission.
- The following lighting subsystems remain operational and available:
- Overhead/forward structure floodlights
- Deck surface/ hanger wash floodlights
- Associated lighting control panels
- Advanced stabilized Glide Slope Indicator (if installed)
- Aviation Lighting System Control Panel Set (if installed)
What are the sequence of lights from engine start to take off?
- Engine start: Position lights Steady DIM / Smacks Uppers
- Rotors: Position lights Flashing DIM
- Take-Off: Position lights steady BRIGHT
What is the Alpha Pattern and when do you use it?
A 300ft/80kts Clockwise Pattern
Used in the event of hung forward firing ordnance
Overhead delta for air-capable ships?
500ft left hand pattern around the ship flown at optimum speed
Where do you land on a Landing lineup and circle to ensure clearance?
Main mounts in the landing circle and fuselage aligned with the landing lineup line
What are Helo minimum visual operating parameters?
What about IMC App Mins?
VMC: 500-1
IMC: Mins for the Tacan App are 200-1/2
How do you execute an Offset Approach?
Who Flies it?
5° offset from BRC at .25 mile increasing on approach to arrive at 25° to 40° over flight deck (Min offset is 18°)
The Aircraft SHOULD land in the PORT RSD or on a clear deck to ensure that landing gear fits on the flight deck.
The Offset Approach SHALL be flown from the right seat only during day or night VMC. Visual ques, especially over the deck, are inadequate from the left seat
An actual ELVA SHALL NOT be conducted unless?
Weather minimums are below 200-1/2 and the aircraft does not have adequate fuel to divert to a GCA equipped field / CCA ship
Describe the ELVA profile
What do you do if you need to do a missed approach?
- Appraoch starts 4 miles 400ft AGL 70 kts
- Slow to 40 kts at 1/2 mile
- MAP: 50ft AGL 100 yards vis
If a missed approach occurs, the aircraft will make a 30° heading change to the left (right for port approach) and climb to 400ft
For starboard approaches, final approach heading will be BRC minus the flight deck approach angle, for port approaches, it will be BRC plus flight deck angle, and for straight-in approaches, it will be the BRC.
What are 4 things you should consider before performing a smoke light approach?
- Return to ship early
- Maneuver ship into better visibility
- Vectoring the aircraft to another ship where visibility is better
- Vectoring aircraft to suitable alternate field
What is required to conduct a smokelight approach?
How do you do it?
This approach is used as a last resort when available equipment will not allow ELVA procedures to be used, or when the ship cannot be visually acquired using ELVA procedures.
Both the commanding officer and the PIC (or detachment OIC) must have agreed to attempt procedure.
2 miles astern of the ship descending at Pilot’s discretion to 40ft/40kts until flares of wake is found.
Flare is dropped every 15 seconds
When can you break EMCON?
- An overdue Aircraft
- Unplanned PIM Changes
- Rapidly deteriorating weather
- Safety of Flight
When are 2-way communications mandatory?
- At night
- During periods of low ceiling and visibility
- For flight beyond visual range of the ship
Describe the lost comms triangle
Squawk 7600
120° degree turns every 2 mins
What is the Radius of action for aircraft on air-capable ships.
How much does that work out to be for us?
Radius of action SHALL NOT exceed 45% of maximum range of aircraft, and may be further reduced at night under EMCON or IMC
120NM based on Datalink connectivity at 13,000DA and 10,000ft Oxygen Range
Whats the max fly-off distances and when can should they be conducted?
What does HSM-51 SOP say?
Flyoffs are more hazardous due to psychological factors.
They SHOULD NOT be in night/IMC and SHALL NOT exceed 75% of max range.
One way flights SHALL be limited to 150NM Ship-Ship/Shore-Ship and 200NM Ship-Shore
What is required for Dual Helo ops?
WingPAC SOP:
Detachments operating on single-spot ships with two manned embarked helicopters utilizing RSD SHALL NOT conduct concurrent flight ops UNLESS an emergency landing site (ship or shore) is available within 50NM for the duration of the evolution
This requirement applies to missions where the parent ship is the intended point of landing for both aircraft and does not apply to missions scheduled for termination at other than the parent ship. It does not apply to fly-ons for scheduled embarkation
Also does not apply to concurrent manned/unmammed flight ops
For APU starts what is required?
- OOD notification
- Fire bottle manned
- Flight deck clear of unnecessary personnel
Engine turn ups require what?
- FOD walk down complete
- Safety nets are down
- Firefighting equipment is on station
- Permission obtained from OOD
- Unnecessary personnel are clear
Alert 5
- Aircraft Spotted for immediate takeoff, blades spread. Required stores loaded. External power applied. Mission equipment warmed up.
- Aircrew Strapped in. Preflight checklist complete up to starting engines.
- Ship at flight quarters, fire party on station
- 4 hr max time
** Alert 5 is as fatiguing as actual flight and should normally be used only when launch is imminent.
Alert 15
- Aircraft Spotted for takeoff, blades spread, required stores loaded
- Aircrew Briefed for flight. Preflight inspection complete. Standing by on immediate call.
- Ship At flight quarters. Fire party in immediate vicinity.
- 8 hr max
Alert 30
- Rotors may be folded. Aircraft may be on deck or in hanger. Required stores loaded.
- Aircrew briefed for flight.
- Not at flight quarters
- 18/48***
*** Two aircraft detachments manning allows for unlimited alert 30 readiness. Daily and turnaround inspections will be required every 24 to 72 hours
Alert 60
- Aircraft in hangar secured for heavy weather. Minor maintenance may be performed
- Aircrew designated and available
- Not at flight quarters
- No Max time
Wind limit for blade fold/spread or pylon/tail?
45 knots in any direction
Wind limit for engaging rotors?
Steady course and 45 knots in any direction.
What are some precautions you can take against Hung droops stops?
Attempt to seat by reengaging rotors
Consider using blade heaters or spraying droops stops with a hose
If they do not engage, clear the flight deck of all personnel and ask the ship for minimum winds over the deck
Optimum winds for Normal operations?
Single Engine Operations?
AFCS/SAS/BOOST or other flight control degradation?
- Normal: Winds down the lineup line at approximately half the max speed allowed by the wind envelopes
- Single Engine: Winds as close as possible to being down the lineup line at max speed allowed by the wind envelopes
- Flight Control: winds in the most appropriate wind emergency envelope giving the most stable deck
What 4 categories do aircraft emergencies fall under as seen by the ship?
- Those cases that cause an aircraft to ditch/crash
- Those that require an immediate landing
- Those that require a precautionary shipboard landing
- Those that occur on the flight deck
Lost comms signal for “I require immediate landing”?
What about “I desire to land but can wait”?
Fly close aboard starboard quarter remaining clear of other traffic, with gear down, floodlight/landing light ON
Fly or hover by starboard side with Nav lights BRIGHT and FLASHING and anti collision lights ON
With a complete electrinal failure, fire a red flare seaward on a safe bearing away from the ship
How do you signal for HIFR if you are lost coms?
Fly by and return to hover on the port beam, give the hand signal for “Desire HIFR” and if necessary fire a flare seaward
Ideal HIFR winds?
300° - 360° rel
10 - 30 kts
What are the two types of HIFR Fittings?
How do they break away?
Wiggins/North Island: Requires T-Handle manual emergency breakaway. Ensure you attach the correect side to the aircraft.
NATO High Capacity: Automatic breakaway at 450+-50psi No AWR intervention required
Aircraft shall not be refueled if fuel is?
- Not clean and bright
- Contains more than 2 mg/L of particulate matter
- Contains more than 5 ppm of free water.
When can you do Night HIFR?
What is Required?
Because of the inherently greater risks to aircrew and flight deck crew, practice night HIFR evolutions SHOULD NOT be performed. When operational necessity dictates the conduct of night HIFR, the following conditions SHALL exist:
- A visible natural horizon as viewed by the pilot
- Ship motion SHOULD NOT exceed 5° pitch and 10° roll
- Turn on the HIFR heading lights and position the LSE with both amber wands at the helicopter control point
- Establish radio contact with the helicopter and pass the ship’s course and speed, pitch and roll, and relative wind
What color are HIFR lights?
Yellow/Red
What are the Acceptable/Optimum winds for VERTREP from Air-Capabale ship to Air-Capabale ship?
What if an aviation ship is involved?
For Nonaviation/air capable ships you want 15-30kts from 330°-030° (Acceptable) or 270°-330° / 030°-090° (Optimum)
For a CV you want 15-30kts from 270°-330° / 030°-090° (Acceptable) or 330°-030° (Optimum)
What are SOP and NATOPS power margins for VERTREP?
A power margin of 10% SHALL be available for training per WingPAC SOP
NATOPS requires 6% between power required and IRP with C-Power selected
Name and the 4 Types of Vertrep Lines and how you use them
-
Type 1: Box with a dashed line in the center
- Fly with centerline of the aircraft aligned directly over the line
-
Type 2:”T” Line
- Main and tail Rotor hub on or aft of the T line
-
Special Type 2: Ball and “T” Line
- Provides clearance for larger rotor craft when Main and tail rotor hub on or aft of the line
-
Type 3: Two “T” lines facing each other
- Helicopter hovers with Main and Tail rotor hubs between the two “T” lines
How far apart should ships be stationed for night VERTREP?
Ship stationing for night VERTREP for an air capable receiving ship SHOULD be abeam at a distance of 300-500yds
Whats is the max length for retrograde return?
Max retrograde load length is limited to two pendants with legs (approx 35ft)
Whats the Min weight for retrograde return?
Four wood or six metal pallets or equivalent min weight (approx 100lbs)
When would you carry retrograde internally?
Retrograde can be carried internally if the receiving ship is further than 25NM or the equipment is too light to carry externally
When is a bag required to transfer materials via the hoist?
When the materials weight less than 30 lbs
What are your recommended VERTREP altitudes?
100-150ft short distance
500ft for long distance
What is considered long distance and when can you do it?
35NM for heavy, high-density loads and over 25NM for light, low-density loads. SHOULD NOT be considered as a standard VERTREP procedure, but rather as a capability that is reserved for high-prioity cargo that justifies the time involved.
You can reduce oscillations by slowing airspeed
What is a non-standard VERTREP load?
What are some considerations?
A load that has a 2:1 height to width ratio OR weighs less than 500lbs
These loads are susceptible to rotor downwash and need to be prebriefed before operations. Practice pickup without the hookup man present or bundle it between two standard loads.
What requirements must be met for night vertrep?
Ships that are certified Level I or II or are operating under a waiver may conduct VERTREP at night. One or more of the following conditions SHALL exist prior to conducting night VERTREP to appropriately certified ships
- A natural horizon is present
- The drop/pickup zone of the ship to be worked is clearly visible from the aircraft’s cockpit when over the drop/pickup zone of the transferring/receiving ship
Per 80T-122 When are you allowed to hoist Passengers at night?
Transfer of passengers by hoist at night is PROHIBITED except in emergency situations
What are the exceptions in the 80T-122 to passenger transfers at night to and from air capable ships?
Not to preclude troop movement in support of amphibious exercises, VBSS LvL3 Operations, or SPECOPS missions
Who normally provides inflatable flotation and cranial protection with goggles to Passengers?
The aircrew and they SHALL be donned prior to departing the sheltered area and exposure to the flight environment
Do you have to chock and chain during hot seats?
Pax transfers?
When changing pilots or hot refueling, the aircraft SHALL be chocked and chained
The aircraft SHOULD be chocked at a minimum for passenger loading
Personnel being transferred via hoist shall be provided what?
SHALL be provided an inflatable lifejacket and protective headgear with eye protection they SHOULD wear gloves if available
What should be the heaviest weight hoisted?
Cargo hoisted aboard the helicopter SHOULD NOT exceed 200lbs because of crewman limitations
When can you conduct Helicopter transfers from uncertified ships?
Helicopter transfers SHALL NOT be conducted from surface ships that are not certified or waivered except in extreme situations such as emergency MEDEVAC
When can you execute Night Passenger transfer from a submarine?
How can you mitigate the evolution?
SHALL NOT be attempted except in cases of Operational Necessity
If necessary, the relative wind parameters should be the same as those used for daylight operations. The sub SHALL attempt to rig lighting that will illuminate the top of the sail, sail planes, and afterdeck. A small light SHOULD be attached to the highest point of the sub.
The helicopter may illuminate flood or hover lights to provide visual reference
What are the three locations for submarine transfer in decreasing order of preference?
What are their required winds?
Not a routine operation, effects of the environment and lack of adequate pilot visual reference to the sub creates a challenging environment even under favorable conditions.
- Center of main deck (SSBN only)
- Winds 320° to 350° at 15-20 kts
- Port sail plane/ top of sail (primary method for SSN)
- Winds 010° to 040° at 15-20 kts
- Starboard sail plane
- Winds 160° to 200° at 15-20 kts Min winds of 10 kts
*A transfer should not be attempted in a sea state above 4
What are the three types of polar plots?
What increments are they measured in?
Up to 8ft Significant Wave Height
8-10ft Significant Wave Height
10-12ft Significant Wave Height
5kts increments
What does the Yellow region of the Polar Plot indicate? The red?
When are you allowed to opperate in these regions?
- Yellow regions indicate a hazard of 2ft of water over the flight deck which may wash personnel overboard of damage aircraft.
- CO approval (informed by recommendation from the OIC/Senior HAC) is required prior to ops within the yellow regions when personnel or aircraft are in the flight deck.
- Red regions present a significant risk of sea water impacting the engaged H-60 rotor system. Contact between the rotor system and the sea can result in catastrophic rotor damage and loss of aircraft and flight deck personnel.
- Operations in the red region of the wave hazard plots are PROHIBITED with personnel or aircraft on the flight deck.
What does the Blue Hashed region of the polar plot indicate? The Black?
Blue: 2° pitch or more
Black: 8° roll or more
Polar plots do not account for what?
- Wave run up
- Ships changing course or speed
- Sea spray
- Wake-wave interaction
What is Ship squat and when does it occur?
A Hydrodynamic phenomenon which occures when increased water flow causes pressure differentials at the stern of the ship, resulting in a decrease in aft freeboard as the ship accelerates.
Above 15 kts
Ship Squats 6in per knot above 15kts
What is the Rooster Tail and when does it occur?
What are some safety concerns, and how can you mitigate the approach?
The ship wake extends above flight deck level at ship speeds greater than approximately 25 knots
During night launch/recovery operations aft extended lineup lights may be obscured by the large ship wake
Mitigate the approach by flying a higher than normal approach until over the flight deck
How much water is required to wash a Sheltered Aircraft? Unsheltered?
100gal sheltered
500gal unsheltered
Define the following and when they are used.
Initial, Permanent, and Heavy Weather tiedowns
- Initial: 4 chains total, and 2 chocks (main gear)
- Used for launch and recovery of aircraft, re spotted, prior to movement.
- Permanent: 12 chains total, and 2 chocks (mains, highs, tails)
- When aircraft is not scheduled or expected to be launched or respotted
- Heavy Weather: 18 chains total, and 2 chocks (3 at each point)
- During high winds, heavy seas, or prolonged periods
When can you load ordnance in the hangar?
During operational necessity when the CO dictates acceptance of added risk of fire (applies primarily to rockets and missiles)
What ordnance are you allowed to hangar the aircraft with?
A helicopter may be hangared in an alert condition with the torpedoes, marine markers, sonobuoys, and CADs in place, but safety devices SHALL NOT be removed from launchers until the helicopter is ready for takeoff.
Can you load ordnance during an FCF?
Ordnance SHALL NOT be loaded on aircraft scheduled for functional check flights.
What does HERO stand for?
Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
What is HERP and what are the safe distances?
Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel
- FCS - 1950 ft
- Spy high power - 520ft
- Spy low power - 50 ft
Flight deck and personnel on the helicopter are safe
What frequency is FLT TAC?
277.8 Hz
Which 6 personnel are required to traverse?
Who count as Safety Observers?
- LSO
- FDD
- Brake rider
- 2 chock/chainers
- Power cable tender
For RAST-equipped air-capable ships, an LSO, or traverse-qualified member of the detachment, and power cable tender are required and will act as the two safety observers
When can you manually traverse a helicopter?
Manual movement is not routine. With an inoperative or degraded traversing system, manual movement is authorized in cases of emergency or operational necessity
For non-emergency situations, manual movement requires COMPACFLT commander approval
What does the 122 allow only with Operational Necessity?
LOOM-P-PON
- Liquid Oxygen Transportation (TYCOM approval or higher)
- Ordnance loading in the Hangar (CO Approval)
- Operations at a Non-Certified Ship (COMPACFLT Approval)
- Manual Helicopter Movement (Non-Emergency requires COMPACFLT Approval)
- Passenger Transfer to a Submarine at night
- Passenger Transfer in cold weather
- Overflight of a ship with an external load
- Night HIFR
What are some differences when operating at an LPD?
This all comes from the one time I did DLQs at an LPD:
- We were placed into Starboard D while waiting for them to set up the deck (same as LHA/LHD)
-
The ship has multiple spots 1-6. We did all of the Vertrep and DLQs to spot 2 (Probably because we were the only Helo)
- All of our approaches were angled approaches similar to a Flight I. We remained on our final heading when landing
- I reccomend finding a reciprocal heading so that you can extend on a “downwind”
-
All of their lights were NVD compatible, even their mast lights which we saw clearly under goggles, were almost invisible through them
- the LSE was also on goggles, so for the LOVE OF GOD, make sure your search light and flashlights are set to NVD
- There was no HRS Bar, they did however have an SGSI (maybe an ASGSI? we had them turn it off as we werent going to use it)
- They did however have a NVD compatible Line up line that served to get us perfectly on course
- The LSE stood in the same spot regardless on which seat was landing
- On take off we lifted, came slightly aft, pedal turned until we were perpendicular to Fox Corpen, then departed forward
What is a concern when operating with a tail wind on DDG 79 class ships?
The downwash from rotor systems may result in undesired lifting of safety nets during final approach phase of shipboard recovery. Pilots and LSE should exercise caution during launch and recovery operations with a tail wind.
What are we considered when in a hovered? (Think from a ships perspective)
How close can a ship get to us?
A vessel not under command
500 yds
What are the berthing requirements?
- Officers — Embarked pilots shall be assigned staterooms commensurate with their rank
- Chief Petty Officers (CPOs) — CPO quarters
- Enlisted personnel — Berthed in a common compartment located as near aviation facilities as possible and feasible, located so as to be undisturbed by other personnel carrying out the ship’s normal routine
Deck and SGSI hight for DDG?
What about a CG?
DDG
Deck: 14’ 10” SGSI: 37’
CG
Deck: 33’ SGSI: 51’
Flight deck fire party is composed of what?
2 AFFF hose teams and a backup team.
SHALL be comprised of ships company, but can be augmented with detachment personnel if necessary
