Air Combat Maneuvering
Background
SYMBOLOGY
1. FIGHTER
You will see and use the following symbols from
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. Because
you will hear these rules before each flight, their
4. DESCENDING TURN
meaning may become just “so many words.” For the
most part, they will be the same rules you hear in the
fleet. But it is important to note that these rules were
5. EXTENSION
developed over a long period and each is based not
only on common sense but on situations where pilots
were guilty of making serious and even tragic mistakes.
6. PITCHBACK
GENERAL
1.
ACM training shall be conducted only in
designated areas. ACM is too dynamic to coexist 7. PURE VERTICAL
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
Figure 6: ACM SYMBOLOGY
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.
T-45C Revision 1
Page 10
Previous Page
