Background
Air Combat Maneuvering
SYMBOLOGY
You will see and use the following symbols from
1. FIGHTER
Figure 6 in diagramming an ACM engagement.
2. BANDIT
ACM TRAINING RULES
The following ACM training rules apply to all ACM
3. CLIMBING TURN
training and shall be strictly observed. These
rules include those found in OPNAVINST 3710.7.
4. DESCENDING TURN
Because you will hear these rules before each
flight, their meaning may become just “so many
words.” For the most part, they will be the same
5. EXTENSION
rules you hear in the fleet. But it is important to
note that these rules were developed over a long
6. PITCHBACK
period and each is based not only on common
sense but on situations where pilots were guilty
7. PURE VERTICAL
of making serious and even tragic mistakes.
GENERAL
Figure 6: ACM SYMBOLOGY
1.
ACM training shall be conducted only in
designated areas. ACM is too dynamic to coexist with any other kind of flying activity. You
must identify interlopers as well as make sure that you stay within the designated area.
2.
All ACM participants shall attend face-to-face briefings and debriefings for each flight. Brief
items shall include the conduct of the flight, the CNATRA training rules, selected safety of flight
aspects, the maneuvers flown, and spin avoidance and recovery procedures. ACM is learned
well only through constant practice and experience. Because each experience in ACM is
unique, all aspects of the flights need to be briefed and debriefed thoroughly.
3.
Termination of maneuvering shall be signaled by “[Call sign], knock it off.” When you hear a
“Knock it off” call, level your wings and acquire sight as soon as possible. If you do not
reacquire sight, make sure you say so by transmitting “Lost sight.”
4.
The minimum altitude (deck) for ACM is 10,000 ft AGL. The engagement shall automatically
cease when any aircraft descends below 10,000 ft, and that aircraft shall be considered a “kill.”
5.
An aircraft pursuing another aircraft in a descent shall monitor the defensive aircraft’s altitude/
attitude and break off the attack with a turn away prior to either aircraft descending through the
hard deck.
6.
Aircraft configuration changes are limited to the use of speed brakes, i.e., use of flaps is not
allowed.
7.
If either the radio or the ICS is lost, ACM shall be terminated and the flight will return to base
according to the following procedures: 1) lost 2-way radio COMM, a. terminate maneuvering, b.
rock wings, and c. set up 30-degree AOB rendezvous turn. 2) lost ICS with good radio, a.
terminate maneuvering, b. transmit “Call sign” and “Knock it off”, and c. set up 30-degree AOB
rendezvous turn. If you are in a lost-sight situation, you will head to a briefed rendezvous point
until you reacquire sight. All aircraft will monitor guard frequency.
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(10-98) Original
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