Carrier Qualification
Carrier Qualification
MARSHAL HOLDING PATTERN DESCRIPTION
The overhead marshal pattern is a counterclockwise circling pattern tangent to the ship’s BRC with the
ship at the 3 o’clock position (Figure 17). The pattern is no more than 5 nm in diameter and no lower than
1,500 ft AGL. In marshal, the flight will remain at max conserve unless briefed otherwise. Flights in
marshal are separated vertically by a minimum of 1,000 ft.
MARSHAL PATTERN RECOVERY (CASE I)
Make all descents in marshal only when you are
abeam and aft of the ship (between positions 3 and
1, Figure 17). When given a “Signal Charlie,” the
lead will verbally switch the flight to tower (if not
already there) and depart the holding pattern and
lead the flight to initial. After receiving a Charlie,
BRC
the flight lead will depart marshal on a heading of
Pattern Climb
Area
approximately 210 degrees relative to BRC. The
lead will form the flight in right echelon and secure
2
lights prior to arriving at the initial.
PATTERN
FLOW
MARSHAL PROCEDURES
(CASE II)
The Case II Marshal procedures are used when
5 nm
3
1
weather is less than 3,000/5 but greater than
1,000/5 at the ship. It is used when a VFR pen-
3 nm
etration cannot be made. The approach to the
ship’s VFR pattern may be via radar vectors or a
TACAN fix on the ship. The case II recovery is a
Depart
4
Initial
Marshal
controlled IMC descent to the break and the VFR
Pattern
Pattern Descent
pattern. In no case will a section of more than two
Area
aircraft execute a Case II recovery.
As in CASE I Marshal procedures, each flight will
be led to the ship by a lead safe.
Following rendezvous, outbound, and entering the
warning area procedures, the flight will contact
“Marshal.” If a Case II recovery is directed by
Marshal, the flight will proceed to the Case II
Figure 17: CASE I MARSHAL PATTERN RECOVERY
marshal pattern holding fix. The fix is determined
and located along the ship’s aft BRC by adding the
marshal assigned altitude (angels), plus fifteen.
That formula will determine the distance from the
carrier to establish the fix (Figure 18).
(7-01) Original
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