VIGILANTES DE EXPLOSIVOS Requisitos

5.2.1. Flight Lead. The flight lead is ultimately responsible for the safe and effective conduct of the mission. He or she plans, briefs, and debriefs the flight. This position gives both the authority and the responsibility to ensure the flight proceeds as intended. Lead must concentrate efforts on accom- plishing the mission, achieving objectives, and returning with the flight intact. He or she must con- sider the capabilities of the wingman in planning a sortie. Taking this into consideration, lead should optimize training for all flight members and plan missions accordingly, to include briefing mis- sion-specific parameters.

5.2.1.1. Nav Lead. This may be used when lead wants the wingman to navigate and clear. The flight lead will fly the wingman position, deconflict within the flight, and keep the radios (for example, battle damage [BD] check).

5.2.1.2. Admin Lead. This is used to pass lead responsibilities to another member of the flight. The admin lead is expected to run all aspects of the profile to include navigating, managing radios, and making changes to the profile if external conditions dictate. With an admin lead change, the call signs within the flight are administratively renumbered to match the position being flown. However, the flight lead still retains ultimate authority for the formation.

5.2.1.3. Tactical Lead. This may be used when the flight lead needs the wingman to lead an event (for example, fighting wing) or segment of the flight. In this case, the wingman picks up tactical, navigation, and radio responsibilities, but not overall flight leadership responsibility. Individual call signs do not change.

5.2.2. Wingmen. Commensurate with their skill, wingmen will be tasked to achieve the mission. Tasks include mission planning, threat study, and providing information in the brief. Once airborne, each wingman must execute the plan as briefed. Whether the flight is taxiing out to the runway or fly- ing up initial, the wingman must look and sound good, match lead’s configuration, and always antici- pate but never assume. To contribute successfully, wingmen must prioritize the following responsibilities:

5.2.2.1. First and foremost, CLEAR! (Deconflict from lead, the ground, and other aircraft.) 5.2.2.2. Maintain visual with lead and other aircraft in the flight, as applicable.

5.2.2.4. Accomplish cockpit tasks (radio channel changes, ops checks, NAVAIDs, etc.). 5.2.2.5. Accomplish mission tasks (area orientation, route timing, target identification, etc). 5.2.2.6. Strive to maintain high SA.

5.2.3. Flight Discipline. The effectiveness of a formation mission is highly dependent on solid flight discipline, which begins with mission preparation and continues through briefing, ground operations, flight, and debrief. Mission effectiveness requires an indepth knowledge of flight rules, unit standards, and procedures. Lead establishes the precedent, and his or her orders must be followed. However, the wingman must speak up rather than allow the flight to enter an unsafe or unauthorized situation. If directed tasks are beyond a wingman’s ability, he or she must immediately inform lead. Uncompro- mising flight discipline is absolutely essential for successful mission execution.

5.2.4. Collision Avoidance. Each aircrew member shares the responsibility of avoiding a collision. The wingman retains primary responsibility for deconfliction between flight members. This responsi- bility transfers to lead if the wingman becomes padlocked, blind, or placed in a blind cone during maneuvering. If any conflict develops between flight members, they should take immediate action and then transmit their intentions as time permits (for example, “Reno 2 is going high”). They should also avoid attempting to direct other flight members because they may misunderstand or be unable to perform the directed course of action.

5.2.4.1. Lead. Flying in the lead position allows the most flexibility to clear visually for the flight while interpreting traffic calls from ATC. Lead should focus on avoiding traffic and maintaining a safe altitude above the ground. If a wingman becomes padlocked, blind, or placed in a blind cone during tactical maneuvering, lead will assume responsibility for intraflight deconfliction.

5.2.4.2. Wingman:

5.2.4.2.1. Normally, wingmen will ensure deconfliction. If any conflict exists between flight members, the wingman should maneuver predictably and then transmit his or her intentions, affording the other aircraft a means to deconflict. For example, the wingman will transmit, “Reno 2 is going low,” while crossing lead’s flightpath in a delayed turn nearly in-plane. The transmission indicates Reno 2 will be maneuvering below lead to remain well clear. Lead may then maneuver anywhere away from the wingman’s predictable POM. This technique prevents an aircraft from directing a course of action the other aircraft may be unable to perform. 5.2.4.2.2. While maintaining position in formation, wingmen also have standard visual look- out responsibilities. If they discover a traffic conflict, they will initiate a directive call to elim- inate any conflict. They will follow with a descriptive call to allow other flight members to acquire the traffic and maneuver appropriately (“Reno 21, climb, traffic, 12 o’clock, level, 1 mile”). Wingmen will also provide mutual support by maintaining SA through calls from con- trolling agencies describing the position of potential traffic conflicts.

5.2.5. Visual Lookout. All flight members share visual lookout responsibilities. Excellent visual lookout depends on the ability to focus--and refocus--the eyes at appropriate ranges throughout the flight. Lookout priorities can change at a minute’s notice, depending on the mission, weather, threats, altitude, and formation. In tactical formation, lookout priorities may change based on the mission, weather, threat, altitude, formation, etc.

5.2.5.1. Lead. In addition to briefing visual lookout responsibilities, lead must clear in the direc- tion of the flight, focusing on avoiding traffic and maintaining a safe altitude above the ground.

While employing in a tactical formation, lead shares responsibility with wingmen to visually clear for threats and traffic conflicts.

5.2.5.2. Wingman. The wingman’s primary job is to execute disciplined visual lookout without sacrificing proper formation position or deconfliction responsibilities. Emphasis on deconfliction is directly related to aircraft proximity. For example, in fingertip, deconfliction requires more attention than in route or tactical. Beyond fingertip, the wingman must carefully keep his or her visual lookout active and systematic, with an emphasis on deconflicting with other flight mem- bers. Visual lookout priorities should be briefed by lead.

5.2.5.3. Traffic Conflict. Anyone may initiate a directive call to eliminate any conflict. Follow up the directive call with a descriptive call to allow other flight members to acquire the traffic and maneuver appropriately (for example, “Scar 21, climb-traffic, your 12 o’clock, 1 mile, slightly low, or 360, 5 nm, slightly high”).

5.2.6. Fuel Awareness:

5.2.6.1. All flight members must understand the factors to consider in determining joker and bingo fuel. Afterburner should not normally be used after reaching bingo fuel unless required for safety of flight. Flight members should increase their frequency of fuel checks during high fuel flow operations (for example, extended trail, fluid maneuvering, low altitude training). Lead must continually monitor the flight’s fuel state and adjust the profile, frequency of ops checks, and joker or bingo, as necessary.

5.2.6.2. Unless already established on the return to base (RTB) phase of flight, wingmen will inform lead when reaching joker and bingo and receive an acknowledgment. If fuel drops below joker before informing lead, wingmen will reference the fuel state from bingo (“Reno 2 is bingo plus 1”).

5.3. Radio Discipline and Procedures. Communications are a good indicator of flight discipline. All