Mastering the core principles of flight in Arma is crucial for efficiently and safely executing troop transportation missions. If you haven't already, it is strongly advised to explore the following comprehensive guides:
Each of these guides encompasses essential knowledge. Even if you don't intend to pilot a light attack aircraft, understanding their operation is valuable, as it provides insights into potential hazards for transport pilots when facing armed adversaries. This guide is divided into two distinct sections. The first part covers various flight modes, landing zones, landing techniques, and strategies for assessing enemy threats. In the second part, we'll walk you through the entire process of executing an air assault, from initiation to completion.
Modes of Flight
There are four fundamental flight modes, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. Pilots must have the ability to select the mode that best suits their current situation and adapt as circumstances evolve.
High-Altitude
The initial mode is high-altitude flight. This mode offers superior terrain visibility but also exposes the aircraft to potential enemy threats. High-altitude flight typically occurs at an altitude where small-arms fire is ineffective, ideally at 500 meters or higher, and where there is no risk of anti-air missiles or anti-aircraft artillery.
Low-Level Flight
The following mode is low-level flight. In this mode, the aircraft maintains a sufficient altitude to clear terrain obstacles but doesn't maintain a constant above-ground height relative to the terrain. Low-level flight is the most common mode for general travel due to its balance of speed and ease of flight.
Contour Flight
Descending further, we reach contour flight. Contour flying requires the aircraft to maintain a low altitude above ground level while adjusting to changes in terrain elevation to stay at a consistent relative distance from the ground. This mode is typically flown at an altitude where natural obstacles like trees are not a concern, but powerlines and small towers remain potential hazards. Contour flight often occurs between 30 to 100 meters above ground level, with most major obstacles being 60 meters or less in height, such as powerlines and small towers.
Nap of the Earth
Lastly, we have the most thrilling mode – nap of the earth (NOE). NOE involves flying as close to the ground as possible to maximize concealment and cover, albeit at the cost of speed. Pilots utilize NOE to evade enemy fire, using trees, terrain, and any available obstacle as a shield against enemy threats. Among all flight regimes, NOE is the most demanding, as the margin for error is slim – a slight misjudgment can mean the difference between clearing an obstacle and a potentially catastrophic impact.
Choosing a Mode
To help remember these flight modes easily, think of high flight as the altitude where you're out of the reach of ground fire. Low-level flight is when you're well within the reach and likely visible to ground fire. Contour flight involves flying just above the trees, and NOE flight is navigating around the trees.
In a typical flight, you might use low-level flying from the pickup zone to within three or four kilometers of the landing zone, then switch to contour for the remainder of the journey. Extracting troops from a hot LZ will often require using contour, and sometimes even NOE flight to provide the most effective cover from potential enemy fires.
Understanding when and why to use these different flight modes is crucial. Flying NOE when it's unnecessary puts both the crew and passengers at undue risk, just as much as flying high might do in a more dangerous situation. It's not about showing off or impressing your passengers; it's about exercising good judgment to ensure maximum safety during the journey.
Landing Zones
In this context, landing zones and pickup zones refer to the same thing: locations where you need to descend close to or land on the terrain for troop pickup or drop-off. There are three main categories of landing zones: open, confined-space, and pinnacle.
Open LZ
An open LZ is the most common type you'll come across. In such a LZ, an area has been designated large enough to accommodate multiple helicopters comfortably, and there are few, if any, obstacles that could pose a threat of blade or hull strikes. Open LZs can be found in various locations, such as large clearings in forests, open fields, or areas with a relatively low number of obstacles near the intended landing sites. Open LZs are preferred by leaders as they are part of risk management and are chosen to minimize potential hazards.
Confined-Space LZ
The next type of landing zones are confined-space LZs. These are areas where one or more aircraft can fit, but there's an increased risk of colliding with obstacles such as trees, wires, buildings, or other objects that restrict the available space around the landing site. Confined-space LZs can include small clearings in forests or jungles, narrow streets or courtyards in urban areas, forest roads, or similarly constrained locations. Successful landings in confined-space LZs require precise control of the aircraft and a thorough understanding of the aircraft's dimensions. It's crucial to ensure that you can confidently clear any obstacles, and whenever possible, approach the far side of the space to ensure there's enough room for the tail and potentially leave space behind for other aircraft. Having crew chiefs who can assist in spotting obstacles on the sides and rear of the aircraft can also be invaluable in such situations.
Pinnacle LZ
Finally, we have pinnacle LZs. Pinnacle LZs are characterized by a landing site that is elevated above the surrounding terrain and often limited in size. In this context, we consider pinnacle, ridgeline, and rooftop LZs to be similar and use these terms interchangeably based on the specific situation. Pinnacle LZs demand precise positioning of the aircraft, with the debarking side as close to the terrain as safely possible. This ensures that troops can disembark safely and reach the ground without injury.
Because of the surrounding terrain sloping downward, pinnacle LZs are often more exposed and susceptible to threats compared to other types of landing zones. Approach these LZs with extra caution and prioritize safety when landing in such areas.
When landing on rooftops, you need to take into account the presence of buildings of similar or greater height in the vicinity. If you're dealing with a larger rooftop, it's advisable to land on the side farthest from known or potential threats. In situations where the direction of potential threats is unknown, landing near the center of the rooftop can help minimize risk.
Landing Styles
When considering the specific techniques for deploying troops, there are essentially two primary landing approaches: touchdowns and low hovers. The selection between these methods depends on the appropriateness of the landing location. If executing a touchdown is deemed too hazardous or entirely unfeasible, opting for a low hover becomes the alternative strategy.
Touchdown
When executing a touchdown, exercise careful consideration of the terrain slope onto which you intend to settle. While it is feasible to land across a shallow slope or ascend it, landing facing downhill is strongly discouraged due to the heightened risk of tail rotor strikes and the inherent challenge of arresting downhill acceleration while attempting to establish a level hover. When touching down on a slope, troops are directed to disembark downslope and swiftly move away from the aircraft to minimize the risk of encountering the rotor disc or being in the path of the tail rotor during unforeseen maneuvers.
Low Hover
When faced with a steeper slope, opting for low hovers becomes the preferred method for troop deployment. The optimal approach involves angling the aircraft's nose into the slope, providing the pilot with enhanced spatial awareness to the front. This positioning allows for clear visibility of the rotor disc and the surrounding terrain, reducing the risk of collisions. Moreover, it facilitates a secure path for troops to disembark on either side of the aircraft, minimizing the potential hazard posed by the rotor disc. It's crucial to note that the only scenario where a hover is conducted with the tail facing into the slope is specific to aircraft equipped with tandem rotors, tail ramps, and a ramp crew chief providing guidance to the pilot, as exemplified by aircraft like the Chinook.