Downed Aircraft Procedures

Question 1

Downed aircraft procedures description

Answer 1

Aviation mission planning is not complete without a detailed plan for aircraft recovery.
Recovery operations are supported by the unit’s SOP and use internal unit resources to the
greatest extent possible as the primary means of returning aircraft back to home station or to
the nearest location to facilitate repair. Aircraft recovery is time sensitive within the tactical
situation and the ground force commander’s intent. An efficient response requires properly
trained and resourced maintenance and operations personnel.

Question 2

Aircraft Recovery

Answer 2

Aircraft recovery is the action taken to extricate damaged or disabled aircraft for return to friendly control or repair at another location

Answer 3

Aircraft Recovery Types - Aircraft recovery is the action taken to extricate damaged or disabled
aircraft for return to friendly control or repair at another location:
● Self-Recovery: the action required for the aircraft to fly from the current position under
its own power to rejoin the mission or to a maintenance repair facility for additional
repairs or inspections. This is the preferred aircraft recovery method.
● Immediate Recovery: performed by organic assets within the flight mission. These assets
may include the aircraft’s crew requiring recovery, other aircrews participating in the
mission, or DART personnel accompanying and supporting the flight.
● Delayed Recovery: performed by a DART not in the flight. Delayed recoveries are
categorized as deliberate and hasty.
● Dedicated Recovery: Dedicated recovery is the extraction of an aircraft by means of an
aerial or surface recovery vehicle to a maintenance facility for repairs or inspections.

Question 4

Aircraft Recovery Types

Answer 4

● Self-Recovery
● Immediate Recovery
● Delayed Recovery
● Dedicated Recovery

Question 5

Self-Recovery:

Answer 5

● Self-Recovery: the action required for the aircraft to fly from the current position under its own power to rejoin the mission or to a maintenance repair facility for additional repairs or inspections. This is the preferred aircraft recovery method.

Question 6

Immediate Recovery:

Answer 6

● Immediate Recovery: performed by organic assets within the flight mission. These assets may include the aircraft’s crew requiring recovery, other aircrews participating in the mission, or DART personnel accompanying and supporting the flight.

Question 7

Dedicated Recovery:

Answer 7

● Dedicated Recovery: Dedicated recovery is the extraction of an aircraft by means of an aerial or surface recovery vehicle to a maintenance facility for repairs or inspections.

Question 8

DART

Answer 8

Downed Aircraft Recovery Team

Question 9

Downed Aircraft Recovery Team:

Answer 9

The DART is initially formed from aviation brigade or aviation task force assets and is comprised of preselected ASC and/or AMC/AMT personnel.

The DART may respond to an aircraft recovery mission from within the unit, a supported adjacent unit, or
an aircraft platform within the operational area.

Upon notification of a downed aircraft, commanders must immediately send a quick reaction force (QRF) to the aircraft location to secure the area, assist downed aircrew/passengers, provide medical support, and conduct an initial evaluation of the aircraft condition.

Question 10

Battle Damage Assessment and Repair:

Answer 10

Battle Damage Assessment and Repair: BDAR is the use of specialized aircraft damage assessment criteria, repair kits, and trained personnel to assess damage, conduct repairs, and facilitate maintenance evacuation of damaged aircraft.

Question 11

Reference:

Answer 11

Reference: ATP 3-04.1 Ch. 9

Question 12

Actions to be taken by the downed aircraft:

Answer 12

(1) Select a suitable extraction site based on the tactical situation. Establish initial contact on UHF guard on the CSEL radio IAW current SPINS. Subsequently, switch to preset “A” frequency (SAR-A).

(2) Be prepared to transmit your location in reference to the “SARDOT” IAW current SPINS.

(3) Be prepared to give threat warnings to inbound rescue aircraft.

(4) Be prepared to provide Forward Air Control for attack helicopters or TACAIR.

(5) Be prepared to authenticate IAW current SPINS and / or mask your location.

(6) Be prepared to Escape and Evade the crash site and find a suitable hide location if rescue
assets are not immediately available.

(7) Following an emergency landing, the crew must immediately determine the security of the area. If secure and the aircraft can be safely recovered, remain with the aircraft, establish communication on aircraft radios or CSEL radio, and coordinate aircraft / personnel recovery efforts.

Question 13

If the area is hostile and capture is possible, the following immediate evasion action steps and
responsibilities must be executed:

Answer 13

Pilot / Co-Pilot:
1. Zeroize ASE / Radios if equipped
2. Secure Sensitive Items
As Briefed:
1. Coordinate security and aircraft sterilization of ASE equipment.
2. Utilize CSEL radio data and voice to request immediate extraction

Question 14

If immediate extraction is not possible,

Answer 14

initiate CSEL IMM, establish essential sensitive item
accountability (NVGs, Weapons, Evasion Bag(s), and CSEL radios), and immediately depart the area in order to execute the briefed EPA. (To include 9 line MEDEVAC as necessary)

Question 15

Reference:

Answer 15

Reference: Army Aviation SOP and Supplement Merge Ch. 5