Air Control authority

At all times you will be controlled via given restrictions. This can take a few different forms.

• Outside the AO you will be assigned to an Air Traffic Controller ("ATC").
• Inside the AO you will be assigned to a Forward Air Controller ("FAC").
• An Exception to this is CAP duty. Here you will be assigned to an ATC or Air Battle Manager ("ABM").

Communications

The pilot should be in direct communication with their controller at all times and updating them frequently on their state to let them know what their capabilities are etc. In turn you can expect your controller to update you on new developments on the ground as well as in the air.
All of the relevent communications can be found in the communication area SOPs but a short summary is listed below:

• You should Check-In with your controller whenever you get handed off to him and let him know if your status changes.
• Your controller should give you a Situation Update after you checked in with him or whenever the situation changes.
• Your controller will designate targets to you (e.g. via a CAS Request).
• Your controller will assist you in finding your target during the attack phase.
• Your controller will clear you for targets.
• Your controller will BDA for you and eventually free you up for tasking again by ending the mission.
• You and your controller are be expected to be familiar with the commonly used terminology for air control.

Further you should keep the following in mind:

• If you see a target out of sight you should make the controller aware.
• It is important that you do not engage the target unless you have been cleared by your controller. Even if the target is an imminent threat that poses a large amount of risk to human life, you will still need to be cleared by your controller to engage.

For example

HOG 5-1: Break Break Break, FAC (this is) HOG 5-1, MBT north 500 m from Alpha 1-1 imminent threat, request permission to engage?

FAC: HOG 5-1, Cleared to Engage. (Restrictions may apply I.E Attack Vectors, Altitude Vectors, Ammunition Type)