Maximum Altitudes

CHAPTER ONE

LOW-LEVEL AND TACTICAL FORMATION

Maximum Altitudes. You must comply with a maximum altitude on your low-level

routes. FLIP AP/1B defines the vertical limits of your route corridor. Ensure you do not exceed

the published vertical limit of the route when correcting for obstacles. If required, go around the

obstacle instead of over it. There is not a maximum altitude for non-MTR routes.

Times. Plan to fly an indicated airspeed that gives you 180 knots groundspeed considering

the predicted winds enroute.

Place one-minute timing marks between all turnpoints. Arriving at a preplanned Time over

Target (TOT) is the desired techniques for low-levels and here are two techniques to help you

arrive at your TOT:

Leg Time. This is the amount of time from one turnpoint to the next. Hack the clock

at the first point and again at each turnpoint along the way. You may find leg time

useful for locating individual turnpoints because it eliminates the cumulative error of

running time.

Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA). This is the time you compute on the clock at

each turnpoint. In-flight GS corrections are based on your planned ETA.

Compute Indicated Airspeed for Each Leg. Using preflight winds, calculate the

necessary indicated airspeed to maintain 180 knots groundspeed. Use NATOPS or the wind side

of your whiz wheel (or CR-2) to determine headwind/tailwind corrections.

Calculate Continuation Fuels for Each Turnpoint. Continuation fuel is the minimum

amounts of fuel required at each turnpoint to be able to continue with the flight planned route

and proceed to the destination with required reserves. Compute continuation fuel by starting at

the destination and working backward. Add the amount of fuel required to fly each portion of

the flight plan from the destination all the way back to initial takeoff. If you arrive at a turnpoint

below your calculated continuation fuel, modifications will need to be made.

An immediate abort is not necessarily required. Modifications to the escape/recovery may be

made or you may terminate the route early and fly direct to the destination. Compare fuels while

straight and level (i.e., before or after the turn, NOT DURING THE TURN).

Determine Your Entry and Exit Route. Plan an appropriate route of flight to and from

the low-level route. Plan your entry onto the route carefully. You will find that crossing your

hack point on heading, airspeed, and altitude will make the rest of the low-level go smoother.

The following techniques should help you get to your entry point easily:

Use your chart to allow room to maneuver so you approach the entry point on the heading you

have planned for your first leg. In most cases, you will be descending from an IFR altitude onto

the route. Plan the descent carefully by allowing distance from an IFR altitude onto the route

and allowing distance for smooth clearing turns while descending on course. Carefully study the

terrain surrounding the entry point to ensure your route altitude provides adequate terrain

clearance for the entry area.

1-16 LOW-LEVEL NAVIGATION