Training Rules

CHAPTER TEN

BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS (BFM)

At the conclusion of each BFM brief, the OPNAV 3710 training rules will be covered. After

BFM-3, the students may be tasked to brief the training rules.

Training Rules

The following rules have been established by OPNAVINST 3710.7, CNATRA, and the CO of

VT-86 and will be followed whenever conducting BFM training. Many of these rules have been

"written in blood" by avoidable accidents of your predecessors. If there is any doubt, there is no

doubt - follow the rules!

Prior to commencing ACM, perform a "G" awareness maneuver. This maneuver will

prepare the crew for the heavier "G" expected during the fights and ensures your "G" suit is

plugged in and working properly. 180 of turn is required. This warm-up will be conducted

during the engaging turns on every BFM flight. If there is a "G" induced loss of consciousness

(G-loc), the flight will terminate, and the aircraft will return to base.

Always brief departure/spin recovery procedures. They will be fresher in your mind when

you need them. Great potential exists for departing controlled flight in BFM. Know them cold!

A face-to-face brief will always be conducted. This ensures everyone knows the mission

directives and has been briefed on the flight conduct.

Always assume the other aircraft does not see you. If each aircraft maneuvers in this manner,

the chances of a mid-air are greatly reduced.

Maintain 500 feet of separation at all times. Closure rates are often difficult to perceive, so no

closer than 500 feet.

For head-on passes, maintain the established trend. Never cross the bogey's flight path to

force a change in the direction of pass. If any doubt, broadcast your own intentions.

Up-sun aircraft has collision avoidance responsibility. It's perfectly legal to force a bogey to

lose sight by using the sun. If it happens, the bogey should broadcast, "lost sight" and lag your

last known position. If the up-sun aircraft loses sight, he will broadcast "lost sight" as well. If

both aircraft lose sight, knock-it-off and ensure on the radio that both aircraft are on different

altitudes for deconfliction.

During descending pursuit, offensive aircraft monitor defensive aircraft's altitude and

attitude, and break off the attack prior to either aircraft descending into the hard deck.

The offensive aircraft in this case is flying out of the front of his aircraft and usually has a better

SA and deck awareness.

Nose high, goes high. If flight paths converge (as in a horizontal scissors), the aircraft whose

nose is higher in attitude (not necessarily altitude) goes high unless unable due to energy state.

Nose low aircraft has collision avoidance responsibility. If any doubt, broadcast your own

intentions.

10-2 BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS (BFM)