Sortie / Crew Management Flashcards
These are all the “unique” Pubs you want to reference for answers
DoD Accepted Host Nation List: Tells you whether or not a country has accepted “programs” or procedures… Which U.S. agency is responsible for that acceptance and when it expires.
NAT Doc 007: The bible for north atlantic airspace operations, this is how to cross the pond and what the expectations of us are while crossing… contingencies etc.
Global Operational Data Link (GOLD): The source for all things CPDLC and navigation system requirements.
AMCI11-208 MAF Management: Source for AMC management questions, big picture mobility regulations, policies, safety procedures etc.
AFI11-401 AMC Supp Aviation Management: The details of flight authorizations, logging flight time, who can travel on the aircraft, MAJCOM responsibilities etc.
Flight Duty Period (FDP)
FDP is the period of time starting at mission report time and ending immediately after the aircrew completes the final engine shutdown of the day. SQ/CCs shall form aircrews based on worst-case FDP in the mission directive.
Once enroute, the mission directive or C2 agent will inform the PIC of expected FDP at show time. (T-2). Reduce FDP when the autopilot fails after departure IAW information below. If the autopilot fails after departure, consider mission requirements and determine the best course of action to preclude further mission delays due to reduced FDP.
The best course of action may include diverting to an airfield with maintenance capability. Contact C2, coordinate intentions, and comply with limitations.
Crew Duty Time (CDT)
Arming
Storage of COMMSEC / Guns
BASIC Crew FDP
The maximum FDP for a basic aircrew (including Basic +1) is 16 hours (12 hours when the autopilot and/or autothrottles are inoperative). All Air to Air Refueling (AAR) and tactical events will be accomplished within the first 14 hours of the FDP. (T-3)
Extending a Basic FDP notes/caveats
- Extended enroute ground times, non-optimum routing/winds, weather delays or other extenuating circumstances will increase a basic to an augmented FDP. When this occurs, a PIC with an augmented crew may accept an augmented FDP as long as the C2 agent or PIC discovers the extenuating circumstances before the first takeoff of the day and the PIC verifies all augmenting aircrew members can get adequate rest enroute.
- A PIC with a basic crew may seek mission execution authority approval to extend the FDP as much as 2 hours to complete a scheduled mission. If requested, give consideration to also coordinating a CDT extension to allow for completion of post-mission duties within maxium CDT. Only use this provision to recover from unscheduled/unplanned enroute delays. C2 agents cannot direct PICs to exercise this option.
Augmented Crew FDP
Maximum FDP for an augmented aircrew is 24 hours* (16 hours when the autopilot and/or autothrottles is/are inoperative).* All Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) and tactical events will be accomplished within the first 18 hours of the FDP. (T-3).
SQ/CC need only augment the pilot portion of the aircrew when the autopilot is inoperative.
When do you need 2 aircraft commanders?
- Two aircraft commanders are required if AAR is accomplished after 14 hours flight duty period. (T-3). Intent is to manage rest cycles to have one AC accomplish any AAR prior to the 14 hour point, and the second AC accomplishes the AAR past the 14 hour point. The second aircraft commander fulfills the requirement for an additional pilot.
When will a Sq/CC plan for an augmented crew?
SQ/CC will augment an aircrew when FDP exceeds 16 hours and the mission profile will allow augmenting aircrew members adequate time to rest enroute. (T-3).
What are the things that determine an augmented FDP? Ie: the sortie durations & segments etc…
As a minimum, the mission profile must provide the following:
- At least one 6-hour leg or two 4-hour legs. (T-3).
- If the mission profile does not meet the leg length criteria in paragraph 2.5.2.2.1, but includes at least one 5-hour leg or two 3-hour legs, the maximum FDP is limited to 18 hours. (T-3).
- All AAR and tactical events will be accomplished within the first 14 hours of the FDP. (T-3).
- Only MAJCOM/A3 may extend to a 24-hour augmented day once an augmented crew begins an 18 hour day. (All other restrictions apply).
Does AAR / Airdrop count as an intermediate stop?
Any AAR or airdrop shall count as an intermediate stop. (T-3). Exception: Multiple drops conducted within 1 hour of each other are considered to be 1 airdrop for the purpose of “intermediate stop”.
How many intermediate stops can you have after 14 hours of FDP?
No more than 3 stops
When may the PIC swap a ground time for a leg time?
PICs validate planned leg times based on actual conditions. PICs may swap an extended ground time (4-hours) for a mission leg when conditions afford aircrew members a chance for rest.
What is Crew Duty Time CDT?
CDT is that period of time an aircrew may perform combined ground/flight duties. Plan the mission so aircrew members may complete post-mission duties within maximum CDT. An aircrew member may perform mission-related duties for other missions when approved by member’s home station SQ/CC or equivalent.
Maximum CDT is 18 hours and 0 minutes for a basic aircrew (which is 2+00 hours longer than that specidic FDP) and 24 hours and 45 minutes for an augmented aircrew (which is just 00+45 minutes longer than THAT specific FDP). (T-3).
Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Special Air Missions (CVAM)-directed special assignment airlift missions (SAAM) aircrew require 89 AW/CC approval for CDT/FDP extensions.
