Operational Navigation Flight Training Instruction
Two-Plane Road Reconnaissance
GENERAL FLIGHT CONDUCT
All the road recce routes we fly are IR routes per the AP-1/B so you will be on an IFR flight plan on the
route no matter where your flight originates. The routes in Kingsville and El Centro are contained in the
local In-Flight Guide named KING-135 (NQI) and CNATRA-7 (NJK). The clearance can be placed on
request through Dispatch the same as any other local stereo route. In El Centro, it is a good idea to
contact ground or clearance to ensure a CNATRA-7 has been placed in the system prior to taxiing.
Remember, these flights will likely be the first in which you will lead a flight in a dynamic arena utilizing
normal and tactical formation skills in concert with weapons delivery principles and the introduction of the
pop-up attack maneuvers. The stereo route details and the IR route targets, turns, and sequence must be
committed to memory to free the mind for the tactical dynamic portion of flight. Inter-plane communication
is critical to the success of any target attack and regaining mutual support once off target. It is highly
recommended that partners get together and walk through attacks practicing the required communication
calls and thinking through the procedures that will be discussed later.
To begin, you or your partner will be the designated lead on your first road recce as determined by being
listed first on the flight schedule. The designated lead will lead the flight from startup through the first half
of the route. Once halfway through the route, there will be a lead change and the wingman on the first half
will lead the remaining portion of the route, exit off the route, and return to base. Whoever leads on ON-9
from the field will be the wingman on ON-10X.
The designated lead will marshal, taxi, and takeoff in accordance with SOP. Once airborne, clean and
passing the departure end of the runway, lead will reduce power to 94-95% and slowly accelerate to 250
KIAS. Contact departure/center and be prepared to give route entry and exit times in Zulu and any other
times they may request. Once your wingman is aboard in parade, kick him into cruise and adjust power to
smoothly level at the appropriate altitude. Try to be smooth as the lead, especially with respect to roll
rates. At this point, once cleared, you are expected to proceed direct to the entry point or as filed. Re-
member you are on an IFR clearance, so maintain your assigned altitude. You may also fly to/from the IR
route with VFR Flight following at the appropriate cruising altitude, making sure to avoid any special use
airspace. Your job as lead on the first portion is to establish clearance onto the route via the controlling
agency. ATC may tell you to switch frequencies to contact the appropriate ARTCC sector. Check your
wingman on the new frequency and if you were cleared to switch to tactical frequency by ATC, you may
deselect COMM1; the IPs will monitor center frequency. In Kingsville, the route crosses the VFR corridor
between the Kings I and Kings III MOA airspace which will require clearance from center to cross in your
altitude block, how this will be handled will be covered in your brief.
Once you are cleared for the IR route and altitudes, prepare to enter by aligning the flight to the initial
course of the route on the selected ground reference feature you will be following. Approaching the first
point, accelerate to 300 KIAS, then push the wingman into combat spread. After combat spread is estab-
lished, complete your air-to-ground combat checks and wingman (or lead if the wingman fails to) should
initiate the "fenced in" call to ensure the flight is ready to begin attacking targets. The lead going to the
route will be the only person calling targets for the first half of the route and vice versa once the lead
change has occurred.
Approximately half way through the route you will execute a lead change over the radio in which you will
pass the lead, change altitudes from lead (low) to wing (high) and perform any required radio calls or
frequency changes depending on the route you use. Prior to passing the lead to your wingman make sure
the section is in good combat spread and headed in the correct direction. The lecture or brief should cover
your specific lead change procedure.
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