FLIGHT PLANNING

FUEL PLANNING - Fuel charts, forms, etc.

McGuire Current and Forecast Weather

National Weather Service - Mt. Holly, NJ

Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) Decoder - What does 1 1/2SM BR mean?

If you are having difficulty opening an Acrobat PDF document, it is because of the McGuire server. To view it, try right-clicking the link and selecting "open target in new window." You may have to download the file to your computer then try to open it. Use the right-click "Save Target As..." and select the "Desktop" to save it there. After the download double-click the new file on the Desktop to open it.

FLIGHT PLANNING

  1. NOTAMs Online (Check KGPS for GPS satellite status)
  2. Airfield Suitability and Restrictions Report (Giant Report)
  3. Sample DD Forms 1801 /  175 (Acrobat)
  4. Blank DD Forms 1801 / 175 (Acrobat)
  5. McGuire Current and Forecast Weather or call 1 800 WXBRIEF for FAA WX and NOTAMS
  6. Blank  -1 Weather form (Acrobat)
  7. Foreign Clearance Guide
  8. Plotting Charts North North Atlantic (OPC 1) / South North Atlantic (OPC 2) (Acrobat)
  9. Time Hack

OTHER FLIGHT PLANNING WEB LINKS

Military Aircrew Information System (AF WX Agency) - (Account & password required)
305 OG/DOV (C-141 and KC-10 FCBs, FCIFs & Pubs Check) - .mil only
Aircraft "Gold" Fuel Card Site - Find retailers worldwide that take the "Gold" card
EuroControl - European Air Traffic Control
Instrument Refresher Course Web Page - Great info on lots of subjects, .mil not required
AF Advanced Instrument School - More good info
RVSM

LINE MISSION PREPARATION

(Technique)
Suggestions, reminders, etc., for an Aircraft Commander to consider during a normal line mission:
I. PRIOR TO THE BRIEFING
1. Check your H-file/mail box
2. Review the FCIF & FCBs
3. Review the mission itinerary - changes, extra copies
4. Check Flt orders  any changes? NCOIC?
5. Note: Basic crew duty day is 16/12 hrs; aug.-24/16 hrs
6. Just prior to the briefing, call for a crew bus.
II. BRIEFING
1. Give a briefing IAW the checklist handout.
III. AFTER THE BRIEFING, go to the aircraft to drop off bags & check on the (actual) aircraft maintenance status and fuel.
If weapons are to be picked up: Leave extra engineers. and loads at the a/c and go to base ops to drop off the pilots. Aircrew members to be armed - go to armory, get weapons, return to aircraft.
IV. BASE OPS
    1. Have copilot check out nav kits, secrets, L-Band Satcom, GPS, NOTAMs Online (Check KGPS for GPS satellite status).
    2. Check in with Command Post for changes/problems.
    3. Call ATOC for op. wt, cargo wt (any hazardous?), pax info. For fuel planning & flt. planning.
    4. Check WX for an overall picture of departure base, destination, and alternates (if required) prior to flight planning. Plan all missions to avoid areas of forecast or known severe WX including icing or severe turbulence. (A/6-7) In other than DD Form 175, enter "WX briefed by (source) at (time). McGuire current & forecast weather.  Blank -1 WX form. FAA WX and NOTAMS call 1 800 WXBRIEF.
    5. FUEL PLAN - relay firm fuel to Command Post
    6. FLIGHT PLAN
    1. Review FLIP, NOTAMs, TCNs, & Airfield Suitability and Restrictions Report (Giant Report) web page
    2. Fill out Flight Plan,  Sample DD Forms 1801 /  175 (Acrobat)
    3. Blank DD Form 1801 / 175 (Acrobat)
    4. Time Hack
    5. Oceanic plotting chart - North / South North Atlantic (Acrobat)