Contents
DKS ATC: Training, Zero to Hero
The scope teaches itself. Training on the launch screen (and in the Training panel) lists lessons in tracks, from a first look at the scope to a full engagement with alerts. Each lesson is a drill: a scripted scenario that plays like a feed, with no server and no account needed.
How a lesson works
- Steps in the Training panel say what to do and what you should see. Most tick themselves the moment you do the thing (turn the layer on, hook the BRAA, acknowledge the alert); the rest have a Done box. A step with a time comes up at that point in the drill.
- Scored items are the calls you make and the actions you take, each with a window. Copying a call from the Call deck (C) or acknowledging the PICTURE (P) is making it.
- A lesson is complete when every step is done and, if it scores anything, you finish at 70 % or better. A check ride closes a block of tracks: its steps are only a briefing, it gives no hints, and it passes at 80 %.
- After lists the lessons recommended first. Nothing is locked: start anywhere.
- Continue picks up at the first lesson you have not finished. Progress is kept in this browser.
LIVE lessons need a server and a squadron mate (handoffs, sharing, live rewind): tick each step as you do it. Recording lessons finish once you have played a recording for 30 seconds.
0 · Orientation
The scope, the desk, and how a drill hears you.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | First look at the scope | — | Tell a drill from a live feed; Play and pause the drill clock; Zoom, pan and center the scope; Find the bullseye and your working flight; Open the help and the command palette |
| 0.2 | Docks, Settings and modes | 0.1 | Hide and show the left and right docks; Open Settings and jump to a section; Read the Feed tab: source, picture and what the feed carries; Switch units and coordinate formats; Switch between GCI and ATC mode |
| 0.3 | How a drill hears you | 0.1 | Know that copying a call is making it; Read the Training panel's items, windows and score; Answer a pilot's request from the Call deck; Restart a drill with Try again |
0.1 First look at the scope
A quiet sky: play and pause, zoom and pan, and find the bullseye and your flight.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Look along the top bar. | A DRILL chip and the mission clock: a drill plays a scripted scenario, not a server. |
| 2 · 00:00 | Press P to acknowledge the PICTURE. | “Single group, bullseye … bogey.”: the one MiG east of the bullseye. A drill scores the calls you make; this is the only one here. |
| 3 | Press K. | The clock stops and the contacts freeze. |
| 4 | Press K again. | The clock runs again. |
| 5 | Turn the wheel over a contact, then drag the map. | The scope zooms smoothly around the pointer, and a drag pans it. |
| 6 | Press End. | The scope centers on the bullseye. |
| 7 | Press Home. | It centers on VIPER 1, your working flight. |
| 8 | Double-click empty map. | The scope centers there; it never zooms. |
| 9 | Press ?. | Keyboard and mouse help: every key and gesture the scope knows. Esc closes it. |
| 10 | Press Ctrl+K and type “training panel”. | The command palette narrows to Show the Training panel. Press Enter: the Training panel opens with this lesson's steps. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
0.2 Docks, Settings and modes
Hide and show the docks, find your way around Settings, and switch units and modes.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Press P to acknowledge the PICTURE. | “Single group …”: the MiG east of the bullseye. |
| 2 | Press [ and then ]. | The left dock hides, then the right. Press each again to bring them back. |
| 3 | Click the gear at the right of the top bar, then the Settings tab. | Settings is one page, with the jump list of sections at the top. |
| 4 | Click the Feed tab beside Settings. | The source (Drill), the picture (TRUTH: a drill shows every contact) and what this feed carries. |
| 5 | Close the drawer (Esc) and press Alt+N. | Ranges and altitudes read in km and m. Press Alt+N again for NM and feet. |
| 6 | Press Alt+K four times. | The cursor readout steps through degrees minutes seconds, MGRS and decimal degrees, then back to degrees and decimal minutes. A toast names each. |
| 7 | Press Alt+M. | ATC mode: the airfield desk, with the Strips board along the bottom and the Airfield panel on the right. |
| 8 | Press Alt+M again. | Back to GCI: the Call deck and Picture tabs return. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Switch to ATC mode (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
0.3 How a drill hears you
A drill scores what you say: copy a call (C) or acknowledge the PICTURE (P) to say it.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Training panel (gear › Training). | This drill's items, each with its window, and your score so far. |
| 2 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE: press P. | “Single group …” goes out, and its item in the Training panel turns On time. |
| 3 · 00:40 | Watch the Call deck. | VIPER 1 asks for a bogey dope: the item reads “VIPER 1, bogey dope.” and the Call deck offers the answer. |
| 4 | Press B, then copy the answer (C). | A BRAA to the group from VIPER 1, by its name: that is the answer said. |
| 5 | Let the drill run to the end. | A grade, your best, and Try again. |
| 6 | Click Try again. | The clock goes back to 00:00 and every item opens again. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); “VIPER 1, bogey dope.” Answer with a BOGEY DOPE — must say “SINGLE GROUP” and “BRAA” (00:40).
1 · Scope basics
Symbols, finding things, the map, measuring and data blocks.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Symbols, vectors and coasting | 0.1 | Read affiliation from a symbol's shape and color; Tell aircraft, helicopters, ground units and ships apart; Turn vectors, history, data blocks and ground units on and off; Recognize a coasting contact, and know it drops after 20 s |
| 1.2 | Select, follow and find | 0.1 | Select and follow a contact, and let go with Esc; Find a callsign with search; Step through groups with . and ,; Save and recall a view; Spot contacts off the scope's edge, and open a focus view |
| 1.3 | Map, rings and filters | 1.1 | Pick a basemap and set its brightness; Name the bullseye, and hear the name in calls; Put range rings on a contact; Filter the scope to the air picture, and save a filter; Declutter airfields, and show navaids |
| 1.4 | Measure and read positions | 1.2 | Measure a multi-leg route with Alt+click; Measure contact to contact with a right-drag, with and without snap; Read the bullseye position by the pointer; Read ground elevation under the pointer |
| 1.5 | Data blocks | 1.1 | Show one block per group or per aircraft; Drag a block clear and undo it; Hide and restore one block; Pick a data-block preset, and customize it |
1.1 Symbols, vectors and coasting
Read contacts by shape and color, toggle vectors and history, and watch a contact coast.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG east of the bullseye. |
| 2 | Find VIPER 1, the MiG east of the bullseye, the airliner to the north, the BTRs, the boat and the Huey. | Aircraft are open at the bottom: VIPER 1 and the Huey a semicircle with a dot (assumed friend: your side, not yet declared), the MiG a staple with a dot (bogey: nobody has declared it), the airliner a flat bracket (neutral). The BTRs and the boat use closed frames. Color says the same thing a second time. |
| 3 | Press Shift+V. | Velocity vectors hide. |
| 4 | Press Shift+V again. | They show again. |
| 5 | Press Shift+H. | History dots trail each moving contact (press again to hide them). |
| 6 | Press Shift+G. | The BTRs disappear; ships and aircraft stay. Press it again to bring them back. |
| 7 | Press Shift+L twice. | Every data block hides, then comes back. |
| 8 · 02:00 | Watch the MiG. | The feed stops reporting it: the symbol turns gray and dashed, coasting on its last course. |
| 9 · 02:25 | Look again. | It is gone: a contact that coasts for 20 s is dropped. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Hide velocity vectors (00:00); Show velocity vectors again (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
1.2 Select, follow and find
Select and follow a contact, search by callsign, step through groups, and save a view.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | A single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 | Click Viper 1-1, the lead of the four F-16s. | It is selected, and Properties shows it. |
| 3 | Double-click it, then turn the wheel. | The scope follows it and zooms around it. |
| 4 | Press Esc, then Esc again. | The first Esc stops following; the second clears the selection. |
| 5 | Press /, type “colt” and press Enter. | COLT 1's lead is found and selected. |
| 6 | Press . a few times, then ,. | Each press selects the next group, threats first; , goes back. |
| 7 | Save this view with Ctrl+Shift+1–9 (try 1), pan away, then press Shift+1–9 (1). | “View 1 saved”, and the scope jumps back to it. |
| 8 | Pan until the MiGs are off the scope. | A chevron on the scope's edge points at them. |
| 9 | Right-click a MiG › Open focus view. | A small scope opens over the main one, following that MiG. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Follow Viper 1-1 (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
1.3 Map, rings and filters
Set up the scope: basemap, a bullseye name, range rings, filters and airfield clutter.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG east of the bullseye. |
| 2 | Rail › Map › Style: Imagery, then drag Brightness down. | Satellite imagery under the scope, dimmed so the tracks stand out. |
| 3 | Map › Bullseye › Name: ROCK. | Every bullseye position in the calls reads ROCK: “ROCK 090/45 …”. Clear the name again before you move on. |
| 4 | Select the MiG and press Shift+R. | Range rings centered on it, 10 NM apart. |
| 5 | Rail › Filters › Preset: Air picture. | Ground units and ships are hidden; aircraft and helicopters stay. |
| 6 | Save as preset, name it “Mine”, then click Reset filters. | Mine is listed under Preset, and Reset filters brings the ground units and ships back. |
| 7 | Map › Airfields: untick Runways, then tick it again. | Kutaisi and Senaki draw as icons only, then with their runways. |
| 8 | Map › Reference: tick Navaids. | Navaid symbols with their idents, such as KTS near Kutaisi. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Name the bullseye (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
1.4 Measure and read positions
Read bearing and range anywhere: the ruler, the snapped measure and the cursor readout.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG east of the bullseye. |
| 2 | Alt+click three points on the map. | Two legs, each with bearing and range, and the total. |
| 3 | Click empty map. | The ruler is cleared. |
| 4 | Right-drag from VIPER 1 toward the MiG and let go near it. | The line snaps onto the MiG and reads bearing and range from VIPER 1. |
| 5 | Alt+right-drag the same way. | The line ends exactly where you let go: no snap. |
| 6 | Settings › Bullseye readout: Cursor. | A tag beside the pointer reads its bullseye bearing and range. |
| 7 | Move the pointer over the hills east of Kutaisi. | The cursor readout shows the ground elevation under the pointer. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Measure on the scope (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
1.5 Data blocks
Show one data block per group or per aircraft, drag or hide one, and pick a preset.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Two groups azimuth: two bogey pairs, NORTH GROUP and SOUTH GROUP. |
| 2 | Rail › Layers › Data blocks › One per: Aircraft. | Every jet has its own block. |
| 3 | Drag VIPER's block to one side. | It stays where you put it relative to the jet as the jet moves. |
| 4 | Press Ctrl+Z. | The block goes back to its place. |
| 5 | Hover a COLT block and press Shift+X. | That block hides and leaves a small +; click the + to show it again. |
| 6 | Settings › Data blocks: pick Detailed. | Blocks add the type, climb or descent, and ground speed with heading. |
| 7 | Click Customize… and change a line of the template, then pick Standard and set One per back to Group. | The picker shows a Custom row while your edit is in place; picking a preset drops it. |
| 8 · 04:55 | As the bogey pairs part, acknowledge the new PICTURE (P). | Two groups again, named by where they sit now. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (00:00); PICTURE — must say “two groups” (04:55).
2 · Tracks and identity
Declarations, groups and friendly flights.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Declare what you identify | 1.2 | Declare a whole group with F2–F5 on the hovered group; Arm a declaration, then click (or Shift+click to sweep); Undo a declaration; Declare every remaining bogey hostile |
| 2.2 | Break out a contact | 2.1 | Declare one aircraft of a group by its TN, so it breaks out; Read a group's members in Properties; Declare the rest so they rejoin |
| 2.3 | Groups: split, move and rename | 2.2 | Know how the scope groups contacts (within 3 NM) and keeps identity through a merge; Split an aircraft off its group, move it back, and return to automatic grouping; Rename a group |
| 2.4 | Friendly flights | 2.1 | Choose and cycle the working flight; Rename a flight; Split an element off a flight, and rejoin it; Filter the Flights panel to human pilots |
2.1 Declare what you identify
Declare with a key on the group under the pointer, an armed key, a sweep, and all at once.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Three groups, every one a bogey: nobody has declared them. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the MiG-29 pair (northeast) and press F2. | Both MiGs turn hostile: a chevron, in the hostile color. |
| 3 · 01:00 | Press Esc and move the pointer to empty map. Press F5 to arm Neutral, then click the airliner. | With nothing under the pointer or selected, F5 arms Neutral and the click applies it. Over a contact, F5 declares that group at once. |
| 4 | Press Ctrl+Z. | The airliner is back as it was. Declare it neutral again: pointer on the airliner, F5. |
| 5 | Press Esc and move the pointer to empty map. Press F4, then click the C-130 southwest of the bullseye. | It turns friend: the dot in its semicircle goes, since you declared it. |
| 6 · 02:00 | Press Esc and move the pointer to empty map. Press F2, then Shift+click between the two Su-27s. | The sweep declares the whole pair hostile. |
| 7 · 03:00 | Press Ctrl+Shift+F2. | The last bogey, the Su-25T, turns hostile. One Ctrl+Z would undo the whole sweep. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “three groups” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); Declare A320 group neutral (01:00); Declare TRANSPORT friend (01:00); Declare 2x Su-27 group hostile (02:00); Declare Su-25T group hostile (03:00).
2.2 Break out a contact
Declare one aircraft of a bogey four-ship so it breaks out, then the rest so they rejoin.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Find the bogey four-ship and acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group, four contacts. Until you call it, its block reads the lead's TN and ×4. |
| 2 | Click it and open Properties › Members. | Four aircraft, each with its own TN, declaration and altitude. The lead, listed first, is the Su-27. |
| 3 | Layers › Data blocks › One per: Aircraft. | Each of the four has its own block with its own TN. |
| 4 · 00:40 | Right-click the Su-27 › Hostile on its own Declare TN row, not Declare group. | It breaks out as its own hostile group with its own block. The other three stay one bogey group (×3). |
| 5 | Settings › Colors › Hostile: pick another color, then click Reset colors. | The Su-27 repaints at once, and Reset colors puts it back. Colorblind-safe tracks applies a preset. Land and Sea (DCS map only) switch the map to DCS map (custom). |
| 6 · 02:00 | Hover one of the three and press F2. | The whole group turns hostile and rejoins the Su-27: one hostile group of four. |
| 7 | Open the Log and click its gear (Alert settings). | Settings opens at Alerts. The jump list at the top reaches every other section. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Declare the Su-27 of the 4x Su-27 group hostile (00:40); Declare 3 aircraft of the 4x Su-27 group hostile (02:00).
2.3 Groups: split, move and rename
Split an aircraft off its group and back, rename a group, and watch names survive a merge.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Two groups azimuth: NORTH GROUP (two MiG-29s) and SOUTH GROUP (two Su-27s). |
| 2 · 00:20 | Right-click one MiG-29 › Grouping › Split from NORTH GROUP. | That MiG is its own group; the other stays NORTH GROUP. |
| 3 | Right-click the same MiG › Move to group › NORTH GROUP. | It rejoins its wingman: one group of two again. |
| 4 | Right-click it once more › Grouping › Return to automatic grouping. | Your override is gone; the scope groups it by distance again. |
| 5 | Right-click the Su-27 pair › Rename group: BANDIT B. | Its block, the Picture panel and the calls all read BANDIT B. |
| 6 · 02:56 | Watch the bogey pairs meet. | One group of four while they are together. |
| 7 · 04:55 | As they part, click the MiG-29s. | NORTH GROUP leaves the merge with its own two MiGs; the Su-27s keep BANDIT B. |
| 8 · 04:56 | Acknowledge the new PICTURE (P). | Two groups again. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (00:00); Split a MiG off its group (00:20); PICTURE — must say “two groups” (04:55).
2.4 Friendly flights
Pick and cycle the working flight, rename a flight, and split an element off and back.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | A single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 | Open Flights and click COLT 1. | COLT 1 is the working flight: Home now centers on it. |
| 3 | Press ' and then ;. | The working flight steps to the next flight, then back. |
| 4 | Hover Viper 1-1 and press W. | VIPER 1 is the working flight again. |
| 5 | In Flights, click the pencil on VIPER 1 and name it FANG 1. | Its blocks and the Call deck say FANG 1. |
| 6 | Right-click Viper 1-3 › Flight › Split …. | Viper 1-3 and 1-4 fly as their own flight, listed under the one they came from. |
| 7 | Click Rejoin on the split-off flight in Flights. | One flight of four again. |
| 8 | Flights: tick Humans only. | Only the flights a human flies: VIPER 1 (now FANG 1) and COLT 1. Untick it again. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Split Viper 1-3's element off VIPER 1 (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
3 · BRAA and requests
Hooked BRAA and aspect, bogey dope and declare.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Hook a BRAA; read aspect | 1.4, 2.4 | Hook a BRAA between two contacts, and delete it; Read aspect: HOT, FLANK, BEAM and DRAG; Read the BRAA dock: closure and the intercept steer; Hook a BRAA from the bullseye |
| 3.2 | Bogey dope and furball | 3.1 | Answer a bogey dope with a BRAA to the nearest group; Recognize a furball, where no BRAA is safe to give |
| 3.3 | The declare request | 3.2 | Answer DECLARE with the group, its bullseye position and its declaration; Know that an undeclared group is answered “bogey” |
3.1 Hook a BRAA; read aspect
Hook a BRAA, read HOT, BEAM, DRAG and FLANK as a MiG turns, and hook from the bullseye.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG, east of VIPER 1. |
| 2 | Ctrl+right-drag from VIPER 1 to the MiG. | A BRAA line that follows both ends, listed in the BRAA dock: bearing, range, altitude and HOT. |
| 3 · 01:15 | Read the aspect in the BRAA dock. | BEAM N: the MiG turned north, across VIPER 1's nose. |
| 4 · 02:15 | Read it again. | DRAG NE: it turned away to the northeast. The closure goes negative. |
| 5 · 03:15 | And again. | FLANK SW: it turned back toward VIPER 1, about 45° off its nose. |
| 6 | Rail › Layers: untick BRAA to nearest groups. | The automatic line from VIPER 1 to the nearest group goes; the BRAA you hooked stays, alone on the scope. |
| 7 | Shift+right-click your hooked BRAA's label on the scope. | That BRAA is deleted, and leaves the BRAA dock. |
| 8 | Tick BRAA to nearest groups again. | A line from VIPER 1 to the nearest group, no hook needed. |
| 9 | Ctrl+right-drag from the bullseye symbol to the MiG. | A BRAA from the bullseye: where the MiG is in bullseye terms. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Hook a BRAA from VIPER 1 to the MiG (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
3.2 Bogey dope and furball
Answer VIPER 1's bogey dope from the Call deck: once far off, once in a furball.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group, two contacts. |
| 2 · 00:40 | VIPER 1 asks for a bogey dope. Press B, then copy the answer (C). | “VIPER 1, SINGLE GROUP, BRAA …, hot …”: bearing and range from VIPER 1. |
| 3 · 05:45 | VIPER 1 asks again, in the merge. Copy the answer (C). | “… furball”: friends and bogeys are mixed, and no BRAA is safe. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); “VIPER 1, bogey dope.” Answer with a BOGEY DOPE — must say “SINGLE GROUP” and “BRAA” (00:40); “VIPER 1, bogey dope.” Answer with a BOGEY DOPE — must say “furball” (05:45).
3.3 The declare request
Declare the MiG, then answer VIPER 1's DECLARE with its bullseye and your declaration.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: one MiG, a bogey. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the MiG and press F2. | It turns hostile. |
| 3 · 01:00 | VIPER 1 asks “declare”. Copy the Call deck's answer (C). | “VIPER 1, SINGLE GROUP, bullseye …, hostile.” |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Declare MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); “VIPER 1, declare.” Answer with a DECLARE — must say “SINGLE GROUP” and “hostile” (01:00).
4 · The picture
Every shape, calling the changes, and the Navy picture.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | PICTURE: single and azimuth | 0.3 | Read the Picture panel: one row per group, its label and position; Match the spoken group name to the block on the scope; Call a two-group azimuth picture |
| 4.2 | Range and ladder | 4.1 | Call a range picture: groups one behind the other; Notice PICTURE CHANGED and call the new picture; Call a ladder: three or more groups in trail |
| 4.3 | Three groups, vic | 4.1 | Call a vic: one group ahead, two behind; Name groups by where they sit (LEAD, NORTH TRAIL, SOUTH TRAIL); Commit VIPER 1 (A), then copy the COMMIT and the TARGET that names the group |
| 4.4 | Wall and champagne | 4.2 | Call a wall; Call a champagne: two ahead, one behind |
| 4.5 | Leading edge | 4.4 | Call a leading edge and a follow-on when groups are deep; Set a threat sector from the Picture panel |
| 4.6 | Packages | 4.4 | Call a package picture: each package's position and its own groups |
| 4.7 | Pop-up, split and fade | 4.2 | Recognize a pop-up, a split and a fade; Call the new picture each time it changes; Copy the FADED call |
| 4.8 | The Navy picture | 4.5 | Read a Navy picture: groups by threat, no names; Commit to the picture, then target a group by name; Know the picture style is a Brief setting, and that drills set it per lesson |
4.1 PICTURE: single and azimuth
Read the Picture panel, match each spoken group to its block, and call an azimuth.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Picture tab in the right dock. | One row per group, each with its label chip and bullseye position. |
| 2 | Hover a row. | That group's block lights up on the scope. |
| 3 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Two groups azimuth …”, north group first or nearest first, each with its position. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (00:00).
4.2 Range and ladder
Call two groups in trail as a range, then a ladder when a third appears behind them.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Two groups range …”: a lead group and a trail group. |
| 2 · 01:40 | A third group appears behind them. Watch for PICTURE CHANGED, then press P. | “Three groups ladder …”. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “range” (00:00); PICTURE — must say “ladder” (01:40).
4.3 Three groups, vic
Call a vic, name groups by where they sit, commit your flight and target the lead group.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Three groups vic …”: LEAD GROUP in front, NORTH TRAIL GROUP and SOUTH TRAIL GROUP behind it. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the lead pair and press F2. | LEAD GROUP turns hostile; the picture changes with it (press P again). |
| 3 · 02:00 | Hover LEAD GROUP and press A, then copy the COMMIT the Call deck offers (C). | “VIPER 1, commit.”: the COMMIT is to the picture. |
| 4 · 02:00 | Press C again to copy the TARGET. | “VIPER 1, target LEAD GROUP, BRAA …, hot.”: targeting names the group. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “vic” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (02:00); TARGET — must say “LEAD GROUP” (02:00).
4.4 Wall and champagne
Call three groups abreast as a wall, then a champagne when the middle one drops back.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Three groups wall …”, north to south. |
| 2 · 01:00 | Watch the middle group. | It turns back east for a minute, then west again, now well behind the other two. |
| 3 · 02:30 | On PICTURE CHANGED, press P. | “Three groups champagne …”: two lead groups and a trail group. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “wall” (00:00); PICTURE — must say “champagne” (02:25).
4.5 Leading edge
Set a threat sector, then call four deep groups as a leading edge and a follow-on.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Picture › Threat sector: apex Bullseye, axis 090, width 90°, range 160 NM. | A wedge east of the bullseye: only groups inside it make the picture. |
| 2 · 00:10 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “… leading edge …, follow-on …”: the front two groups, then the rest in depth. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (00:00); Set a threat sector (00:10).
4.6 Packages
Call groups more than 40 NM apart as packages, each with its own picture.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Two packages …”: each package named by where it is, then its groups. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “packages” (00:00).
4.7 Pop-up, split and fade
Call each new picture as a group pops up, a pair splits and a contact fades.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | The groups east of EAGLE 1, each with its position. |
| 2 · 01:00 | Watch south of the bullseye. On PICTURE CHANGED, press P. | A low group pops up: a POP-UP alert in the Log, and PICTURE CHANGED. |
| 3 · 01:38 | Watch the second Su-27. When FADED is offered on the Call deck, copy it (C). | It fades: “… faded”. |
| 4 · 02:20 | Watch the MiG pair to the northeast. On PICTURE CHANGED, press P. | One MiG turned away earlier; now they read as two groups, and the picture changes. A SPLIT alert follows in the Log. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “three groups” (00:00); PICTURE — must say “four groups” (01:00); FADED — must say “faded” (01:38); PICTURE — must say “four groups” (02:20).
4.8 The Navy picture
The live default Navy picture: threat first, unnamed; commit to the picture, then target.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Picture, three groups, …”: the most threatening group first, and no group names. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the lead pair (nearest VIPER 1) and press F2. | The lead group turns hostile. |
| 3 · 00:30 | Acknowledge the new PICTURE (P). | The lead group now reads hostile; still no names. |
| 4 · 02:12 | Hover the lead pair and press A, then copy the COMMIT the Call deck offers (C). | “VIPER 1, commit.”: a COMMIT is to the picture, so it names no group. |
| 5 · 02:12 | VIPER 1 has not targeted a group. Press C again to copy the TARGET. | “VIPER 1, target WEST GROUP, bullseye …”: targeting names the group, at the bullseye position the picture gave, not a BRAA. |
| 6 | Settings › Brief: find the picture style. | Live feeds use this setting; a drill fixes the style for its lesson. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); PICTURE (00:30); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (02:12); TARGET — must say “WEST GROUP” (02:12).
5 · Commit and intercept
COMMIT, JUDY, THREAT, MERGED and vectors.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Commit, JUDY, release | 4.3, 3.1 | Commit the working flight on a group (A); Say the COMMIT (to the picture), then the TARGET that names the group; Read the pairing line and the engagement bar; Record a JUDY (J): the flight has the group on its own radar; Release a commit, and undo it |
| 5.2 | THREAT | 5.1 | Know when THREAT is due: an untargeted group closing on a flight; Copy the THREAT call to the right flight; Commit a flight on its threat: an owned group gets no THREAT; Target a committed flight on a second group: no second COMMIT |
| 5.3 | Merged and splash | 5.1 | Follow a missile from its shooter; Read SPLASH in the Log; Call MERGED |
| 5.4 | Two flights, two problems | 5.3 | Switch the working flight and commit each flight on its own group; Recognize a pop-up and act on it; Know a commit expires once its group is gone |
| 5.5 | Vectors: tanker and home | 5.1 | Give a vector to the nearest friendly tanker; Know that a vector home needs a feed that carries airfields |
5.1 Commit, JUDY, release
Commit and target VIPER 1, read the pairing, take the JUDY, then release and undo.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Three groups vic; the front pair is LEAD GROUP. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover LEAD GROUP and press F2. | It turns hostile. |
| 3 · 01:30 | Hover LEAD GROUP and press A. | VIPER 1 is committed: a dashed pairing line between them, and a VIPER 1 bar on the group's block. |
| 4 | Copy the COMMIT the Call deck now offers (C). | “VIPER 1, commit.”: the COMMIT is to the picture and names no group. |
| 5 | VIPER 1 has not targeted a group. Press C again to copy the TARGET. | “VIPER 1, target LEAD GROUP, BRAA …”: the TARGET names the group you committed on. |
| 6 · 02:10 | VIPER 1 has them on radar. Press J. | JUDY: the pairing line turns solid and thin, and the bar reads VIPER 1 J. |
| 7 | Right-click LEAD GROUP › Release VIPER 1. | The pairing and the bar are gone. |
| 8 | Press Ctrl+Z. | VIPER 1 is back on LEAD GROUP, with its JUDY. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “vic” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); Assign 2x MiG-29S group to Viper 1-1 (01:30); JUDY: 2x MiG-29S group to Viper 1-1 (02:10).
5.2 THREAT
Warn COLT 1 of a bogey nobody owns (THREAT), then target COLT 1 on it.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Two groups: SOUTH GROUP tracking west, NORTH GROUP to the northeast. COLT 1 is already committed on NORTH GROUP. |
| 2 | Make COLT 1 the working flight (Flights › COLT 1, or W on a Hornet). | The Call deck now speaks for COLT 1. |
| 3 · 02:09 | On PICTURE CHANGED, press P. | “Two groups azimuth …”: the groups now sit side by side. |
| 4 · 02:38 | SOUTH GROUP is closing on COLT 1 and nobody owns it. Copy the THREAT (C). | “COLT 1, SOUTH GROUP, threat, BRAA …, hot …”. |
| 5 · 02:45 | Hover SOUTH GROUP and press A. | COLT 1 owns it now. It is already committed, so the deck offers only “COLT 1, target SOUTH GROUP, …”. |
| 6 · 02:50 | Look for another THREAT to COLT 1. | None: COLT 1 owns SOUTH GROUP, so a THREAT about it would be noise. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE (00:00); PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (02:09); THREAT — must say “SOUTH GROUP” (02:38); Assign MiG-29S group to Colt 1-1 (02:45); No THREAT call that says “COLT 1” after 02:50.
5.3 Merged and splash
Follow VIPER 1's missile to the SPLASH, then call MERGED as the rest close.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | A single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 · 01:00 | Hover the MiGs and press A. | VIPER 1 is committed on them. |
| 3 · 03:20 | Watch Viper 1-1. | A missile leaves it: a weapon track with a line back to its shooter. |
| 4 · 04:00 | Open the Log (E). | SPLASH: one MiG is down. |
| 5 · 04:24 | VIPER 1 meets the MiGs. Copy MERGED (C). | “VIPER 1, merged …”. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Assign 4x MiG-29S group to Viper 1-1 (01:00); MERGED — must say “VIPER 1” and “merged” (04:24).
5.4 Two flights, two problems
Commit two flights on two groups, act on a pop-up, and watch a commit expire after a kill.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | A single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 · 01:00 | Commit VIPER 1 on the MiGs (A). | VIPER 1's bar on the MiG group. |
| 3 · 02:30 | A pair pops up low south of the bullseye. Make COLT 1 the working flight (W on a Hornet), hover the Frogfoots and press A. | A POP-UP alert, then COLT 1's bar on the Frogfoots. |
| 4 · 04:00 | Watch the MiG that VIPER 1 shot. | It is gone; a commit on a group that no longer exists expires on its own. |
| 5 · 04:24 | VIPER 1 meets the MiGs. Copy MERGED (C). | “VIPER 1, merged …”. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Assign 4x MiG-29S group to Viper 1-1 (01:00); Assign 2x Su-25T group to Colt 1-1 (02:30); MERGED — must say “VIPER 1” and “merged” (04:24).
5.5 Vectors: tanker and home
Answer VIPER 1's requests for a vector to the tanker, then home.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:30 | VIPER 1 asks for the tanker. Copy the answer (C). | “VIPER 1, tanker TEXACO 1-1, vector …, … miles, …”: heading, range and the tanker's altitude. |
| 2 · 01:30 | VIPER 1 asks for a vector home. Copy the answer (C). | “VIPER 1, standby.” A drill feed carries no airfields; on a server the answer names the nearest field your side holds. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): “VIPER 1, vector tanker.” Answer with a VECTOR TANKER (00:30); “VIPER 1, vector home.” Answer with a VECTOR HOME (01:30).
6 · Threats and SAMs
SAM rings, TRESPASS and missiles on friendlies.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | SAM ring ahead | 5.1 | Find a SAM's threat ring, and read its card; Warn a flight heading for a ring with the time to it; Stay quiet to a flight that is not |
| 6.2 | Inside the ring | 6.1 | Warn a flight before it reaches a SAM ring; Call TRESPASS once it is inside; Acknowledge an alert from the Log |
| 6.3 | Missile on a friendly | 6.1 | Recognize a LAUNCH alert: who fired, at whom; Find the shooter and the target from the alert; Acknowledge a critical alert |
6.1 SAM ring ahead
Warn the flight heading for a SAM ring with the time to it; stay quiet to the other.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find the SA-10 east of the bullseye. Press Shift+T twice. | Its threat ring hides, then shows. |
| 2 | Hover the ring's edge. | A card: the system, its range and where the range comes from. |
| 3 · 01:26 | When the Call deck offers the SAM warning to HAWG 1, copy it (C). | “HAWG 1, SA-10 threat, … ring in 2 minutes.” |
| 4 | Look for a warning to DUDE 1. | None: DUDE 1 is not heading for the ring, so warning it would be noise. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): No SAM call that says “DUDE 1”; SAM — must say “HAWG 1” and “ring in” (01:00).
6.2 Inside the ring
Warn HAWG 1 before the SA-10's ring, call TRESPASS inside it, and acknowledge the alert.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find the SA-10's ring east of HAWG 1 (Shift+T if threat rings are off). | One ring around the site. |
| 2 · 01:26 | When the Call deck offers the SAM warning to HAWG 1, copy it (C). | “HAWG 1, SA-10 threat, …, ring in … minutes.” |
| 3 | Look for a SAM warning to DUDE 1. | None: DUDE 1 is not heading for the ring. |
| 4 · 03:20 | HAWG 1 is inside the ring. Copy the SAM call again (C). | It now reads “HAWG 1, trespass SA-10, …”, and a critical SAM entry is in the Log. |
| 5 | Open the Log (E), pick the SAM entry and acknowledge it. | It stops flashing and reads acknowledged. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): No SAM call that says “DUDE 1”; SAM — must say “HAWG 1” and “ring in” (01:00); Acknowledge the SAM ring alert (03:20).
6.3 Missile on a friendly
Read a LAUNCH banner and its shooter-to-target line, and acknowledge it.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG, head-on to VIPER 1. |
| 2 · 00:40 | Watch the MiG. | A LAUNCH banner: a missile on VIPER 1, with a line from the MiG to VIPER 1 and the missile's track. |
| 3 | Acknowledge it: the banner's button, or Alt+A. | The banner goes; the Log keeps the entry, acknowledged. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Acknowledge the LAUNCH alert (00:40).
7 · Drawings and the map
Draw, edit, the NAV GRID and imported video maps.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Draw | 1.4 | Draw a line, a CAP, a circle, a text label and a point; Give a drawing a meaning (Hostile, CAP…); Make a point the bullseye; Delete a drawing and undo it |
| 7.2 | SAM ring and corridor | 7.1, 6.1 | Put a ring on a SAM site and edit it; Draw and edit a corridor area; Measure to the site with snap; Warn the flight heading for the ring |
| 7.3 | NAV GRID | 7.1 | Show the NAV GRID and read a track's cell; Switch between the Fan and Keypad styles; Put each track's code in its data block; Place the grid's origin and copy a track's code |
| 7.4 | Import a video map | 7.1 | Import a video map (GeoJSON, KML, .miz, LotATC…); Show, hide, recolor and label an imported map |
7.1 Draw
Draw a line, a CAP, a threat circle, text and a point that becomes the bullseye.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG. |
| 2 | Open the Draw tab, pick Line, click three points and press Enter. | A line, listed under My drawings. |
| 3 | Pick CAP: click the two ends of the leg, then the width. | A racetrack, named CAP 1. |
| 4 | Pick Circle: click a center east of the bullseye, then the radius. In My drawings, click it and set Meaning: Hostile. | A circle in the hostile color: a threat you marked yourself. |
| 5 | Pick Text, click the map and type a word. | A text label on the scope. |
| 6 | Pick Point and click the map. In My drawings, click the point, then Use as bullseye. | The bullseye moves there: every bullseye position in the calls is now measured from it. Click Use the mission's to put it back. |
| 7 | Select the line and press Delete, then Ctrl+Z. | It is deleted, then restored. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Draw a CAP racetrack (00:00); Draw a circle (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
7.2 SAM ring and corridor
Ring an SA-11, draw the strikers' corridor, measure to the site, and warn the right one.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | “Picture clean.”: nothing hostile in the air. The SA-11 is on the ground. |
| 2 | Find the SA-11's threat ring east of Kutaisi. | Threat rings are on from the start; Shift+T hides and shows them. |
| 3 | Draw › Circle: click a point a few miles off the site, then click again for the radius. | Your circle, listed under My drawings. |
| 4 | Click the circle's outline to select it, then drag its center point onto the SA-11. | It moves and keeps its radius. Dragging anywhere else inside it still pans. Ctrl+Z undoes the whole drag. |
| 5 | Draw › Area: click five points for a corridor north of the ring, then Enter. | A five-point area. |
| 6 | Select it: drag a corner, then drag the small + at the middle of an edge. | The corner moves; the + becomes a sixth point. |
| 7 | Shift+click a corner, or right-click it › Remove this point. | The point is gone. An area keeps at least three. |
| 8 | Drag the area's center grip (below its name). | The whole area moves. |
| 9 | Draw › My drawings: set the area's Opacity to about 35 %, then the section's slider. | Outline, fill and label fade; the section slider fades all your drawings. |
| 10 | Settings › Measure snap: Red. Right-drag from ENFIELD 1 across UZI 1 to the site. | The line snaps to the site, never to a friendly. Blue does the reverse; Alt+right-drag never snaps; Ctrl+right-drag hooks always attach. |
| 11 | Settings › Bullseye readout: Cursor. | A tag beside the pointer reads the bullseye and ENFIELD 1's bearing and range. |
| 12 · 02:40 | When the Call deck offers the SAM warning to ENFIELD 1, copy it (C). | “ENFIELD 1, SA-11 threat, … ring in 2 minutes.” |
| 13 | Look for a SAM warning to UZI 1. | None: UZI 1 is not heading for the ring. |
| 14 | Map › Airfields: untick Runways, then tick it again. | Kutaisi and Senaki draw as icons, then with their runways. FARPs & helipads hides FARPs on a live server; drills have none. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “clean” (00:00); No SAM call that says “UZI 1”; SAM — must say “ENFIELD 1” and “ring in” (02:10).
7.3 NAV GRID
Lay a NAV GRID on the bullseye, switch its style, and read and copy a track's code.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 | Press Shift+N. | A fan of sectors and rings on the bullseye, each cell with a voice code such as 07B. |
| 3 | Open the NAV GRID tab and turn on Code in data blocks. | Each block adds the code of the cell its track is in. |
| 4 | Layout: Keypad. | Lettered columns and numbered rows, with keypad cells: codes like C4-7. |
| 5 | Right-click the map › Place NAV GRID origin here. | The grid moves to that point and stays there; Origin › Bullseye follows the bullseye again. |
| 6 | Select a MiG, then Ctrl+K › Copy the selected track's NAV GRID code. | Its code is on the clipboard, ready to paste into chat. |
| 7 | Press Shift+N. | The NAV GRID hides; Shift+N brings it back whenever you want it. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Show the NAV GRID (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
7.4 Import a video map
Import a squadron's sector map from a GeoJSON file, then recolor it and label it.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG. |
| 2 | Download the sample sector map: /atc-training/sample-sector.geojson on this site. | A small GeoJSON file: a sector box around Kutaisi, a boundary line and two fixes. |
| 3 | Rail › Layers › Imported maps › Import video maps, and pick the file. | The Import video maps dialog lists its layers. Import them. |
| 4 | Manage imported maps: change its color and show its labels. | The sector lines repaint, and ROCK and TIGER are labeled. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Import a video map (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
8 · Alerts
The Log and the banner, defended airspace and squawks.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | The Log and the banner | 5.3 | Open the Log and move through it from the keyboard; Locate an alert's contacts, and acknowledge one or all; Recognize a critical alert (DOWN); Choose alert kinds and tones in Settings › Alerts |
| 8.2 | Defended airspace | 7.1, 8.1 | Give a drawing a meaning (CAP, ROZ, FEBA) so the scope defends it; Recognize a LEAKER over a line and into an area |
| 8.3 | Squawks | 8.1 | Show squawk codes on the blocks (hold Q); Find an emergency squawk (Alt+Q) and acknowledge it; Assign a code, and read a mismatch |
8.1 The Log and the banner
Work the alert Log from the keyboard, acknowledge alerts, and choose kinds and tones.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 · 02:30 | A pair pops up. Press E. | The Log opens with the keyboard on it, newest first: the POP-UP, until a THREAT on VIPER 1 lands above it a few seconds later. |
| 3 | Move with ↑ and ↓, then press Enter on an entry. | The scope locates that alert's contacts. |
| 4 · 04:20 | Watch Viper 1-4. | Shot down: a Friendly down alert, then a critical Ejection banner as the pilot ejects. |
| 5 | Press Alt+A. | Every alert is acknowledged; the banner clears. |
| 6 | Click the Log's gear (Alert settings), set Pop-up to Quiet, then back to Alert. | Settings opens at Alerts. Quiet keeps a kind in the Log without the banner; Off drops it, Call deck calls included. |
| 7 | Turn Alert tones on, then click Play a test tone. | A short tone; each kind can have its own. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Acknowledge the friendly-down alert (04:20).
8.2 Defended airspace
Draw a FEBA line and a CAP area, and catch the LEAKER as strikers cross each one.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: two Su-24s east of the bullseye, heading west. |
| 2 | Draw › Area: a box from bullseye 060/15 to 120/15, 120/5 and 060/5, Enter. In My drawings, set its Meaning: CAP. | A CAP area just east of the bullseye. |
| 3 | Draw › Line: north to south through bullseye 090/25, Enter. | A FEBA between the strikers and the box: a new line's Meaning is FEBA / line. |
| 4 · 02:40 | Watch the strikers cross the line. | LEAKER: they passed through your FEBA. |
| 5 · 04:10 | Watch them enter the box, then acknowledge (Alt+A). | LEAKER for the CAP area, held while they are inside. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Draw a CAP area east of the bullseye (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); A LEAKER is raised (02:40).
8.3 Squawks
Read squawk codes, find a 7700 and an IDENT, and assign a code.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: one MiG, far to the east. |
| 2 | Hold Q. | Each Viper's block shows its code: 4101, 4102 and 4103. |
| 3 · 01:00 | Watch the blocks, then press Alt+Q. | VIPER 2 squawks 7700: a SQUAWK emergency alert, and Alt+Q selects it. |
| 4 | Acknowledge the SQUAWK alert. | It reads acknowledged in the Log. |
| 5 · 01:40 | Watch VIPER 3. | It IDENTs: an IDENT entry in the Log, and its block marks it while the pilot holds it. |
| 6 | Right-click Viper 1-1 › Assign squawk…, and give it 4111. | A squawk mismatch alert: it is assigned 4111 but squawks 4101. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Acknowledge the emergency squawk (01:00); Assign VIPER 1 squawk 4111 (01:00).
9 · Coordination
Your position, notes and ROE, then handoffs and sharing on a server.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | Notes, ROE and your position | 5.1 | Set your controller callsign and frequency; Write a note on a track, and see it on its block; Set the weapons ROE; Know that a drill never shares: handoffs need a live session |
| 9.2 | Handoff, point-out and strip pass (LIVE) | 9.1 | Take control of a track, and hand it off (H), accepted with Alt+H; Point out a track (O) and answer one (Alt+O, or Unable); Pass a flight strip to another position |
| 9.3 | Sharing the picture (LIVE) | 9.2 | Share a drawing, the NAV GRID and an imported map; Restore your picture after a reload; Release the tracks a departed controller held |
9.1 Notes, ROE and your position
Set your position and frequency, write a note on a track, and set the weapons ROE.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 | Gear › Controllers: set your callsign to DARKSTAR and your frequency to 251.000. | Your position, as other controllers on a session would see it. |
| 3 | Select the lead MiG and press N. Type “lead has RWR spike”, Enter. | A small tab on its symbol, and the note on its expanded data block. |
| 4 | Click the ROE badge in the top bar and pick tight. | The badge reads WPN TIGHT. |
| 5 | Look for Take control or handoff on a track. | Not offered: a drill is never shared. Lessons 9.2 and 9.3 are done on a server with a squadron mate. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Write a note on a MiG (00:00); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
9.2 Handoff, point-out and strip pass
LIVE with a squadron mate: take control, hand off, point out, and pass a strip.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On a server, with a second controller connected: right-click a track, then Coordination › Take control. | The track is yours: its data block shows your position. |
| 2 | Select it and press H, then pick your partner's position. | A handoff waits for them: the block reads your position, then theirs (YOU>THEM). |
| 3 | Your partner presses Alt+H. | The track is theirs. |
| 4 | Select another track and press O, with a remark. | Your partner sees it pointed out, with your remark. |
| 5 | Your partner answers Unable in the Coordination panel. | You see the point-out answered unable. |
| 6 | In ATC mode, open a strip's menu and send it to your partner's position. | The strip moves to their board once they accept it. |
9.3 Sharing the picture
LIVE on a server: share drawings, the NAV GRID and maps, and restore after a reload.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw a CAP and turn on its sharing switch in My drawings. | Your partner sees it on their scope. |
| 2 | NAV GRID › Share; your partner ticks Follow shared grids. | They see your grid. |
| 3 | Share an imported map from Manage imported maps. | It appears under your partner's Imported maps. |
| 4 | Reload the page and reconnect. | The scope offers to restore your picture: declarations, names and assignments come back. |
| 5 | Your partner leaves; in Controllers, release what they held. | Their tracks and commits are free for the rest of you. |
10 · ATC mode
Work an airfield: runway, strips, the approach, the ground and safety alerts.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.1 | Work an airfield | 0.2 | Switch the scope to ATC mode and know its desk.; Pin the airfield you work in the top bar.; Read the runway in use and why; pick one with R.; Read the arrival sequence and spacing. |
| 10.2 | Flight strips | 10.1 | Drive the strip board from the keyboard.; Put an arrival first in the sequence.; Annotate a strip and add one for an aircraft the board does not list.; Read a departure's and an arrival's strip states. |
| 10.3 | Approach window and go-around | 10.2 | Put an arrival on the approach window from its strip menu.; Read the PAR's glidepath and course words.; Set a runway end's glideslope.; Recognize a go-around. |
| 10.4 | Ground view and runway incursion | 10.2 | Open and read the ground view.; Recognize the RWY alert and acknowledge it. |
| 10.5 | Conflict and terrain alerts | 10.1, 8.1 | Read a predicted, then a current, conflict alert.; Know why a formation never alerts.; Read and acknowledge an MSAW alert. |
10.1 Work an airfield
Switch to ATC mode, focus Senaki-Kolkhi, read its runway in use and sequence its arrivals.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Switch to ATC mode (Alt+M). | The airfield desk: Strips along the bottom and the Airfield panel on the right. The GCI Call deck and Picture tabs step aside. |
| 2 | In the top bar, open the airfield picker (it reads Auto) and pick Senaki-Kolkhi. | The scope centers on Senaki. The Airfield panel shows UGKS at 43 ft; the strips fill from traffic within 40 NM. |
| 3 · 00:10 | Read Airfield › Runway in use, and the RWY chip beside the picker. | RWY 27, “no wind from this feed: longest runway”: a drill has no wind, and nobody has used a runway yet, so it is a guess. |
| 4 | Press R three times, watching the RWY chip. | RWY 27 (your pick), RWY 09 (your pick), then automatic again. A pick holds whatever the traffic does. |
| 5 · 02:30 | Watch HAWG take off ahead of PONTIAC, then read the RWY chip again. | HAWG lifts off on 09 with PONTIAC about 3 NM out, and no runway alert. The chip turns to RWY 09, “the runway traffic is using”. |
| 6 · 03:20 | Look at the Arrivals column. | PONTIAC11 is 1 and FORD11 is 2, both FINAL with an ETA, and FORD shows its spacing behind PONTIAC: about 5 NM against the 3 NM minimum. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Switch to ATC mode (Alt+M) (00:00); Focus Senaki-Kolkhi in the top bar (00:00); Pick a runway in use by hand (R) (00:30).
10.2 Flight strips
Drive the strip board: resequence arrivals, annotate a strip, add one, and read states.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | With Senaki focused (the top-bar field picker), press S. | The Strips tab opens with the keyboard on the first strip. The columns are Arrivals, Departures, Ground and Overflights. |
| 2 | Use the up and down arrows to move between strips, left and right to change column. | The focus ring moves; Enter centers the scope on that aircraft. |
| 3 · 00:30 | Focus FORD11's strip in Arrivals, hold Alt and press the up arrow. | FORD11 moves to 1 and PONTIAC11 to 2: your order now wins over ETA. Ctrl+K › Sequence arrivals by ETA drops it. |
| 4 | Click PONTIAC11's NOTE cell, type NORDO, press Enter. | The cell keeps NORDO in capitals. Ctrl+Z puts it back. |
| 5 | In the board's header, type ENFIELD in Add strip: callsign and press Enter. | A strip for ENFIELD11 marked as added by hand: it stays on the board 55 NM out, where the board would not list it. |
| 6 · 00:30 | Watch HAWG11's strip in Departures. | PARKED, then TAXI at 0:30, ROLL at 2:00, AIRBORNE at about 2:35. Once 40 NM out it reads GONE and leaves. |
| 7 · 03:20 | Watch PONTIAC11's strip. | FINAL, then LANDED at about 3:36, then TAXI IN on the Ground column as it turns off. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Sequence FORD 1-1 ahead of PONTIAC 1-1 (00:30); Write a note on PONTIAC 1-1's strip (00:30); Add a strip for ENFIELD 1-1 (00:30).
10.3 Approach window and go-around
Read an arrival's deviations on the approach window, set a glideslope, see a go-around.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | With Senaki focused (the top-bar field picker), press R until the RWY chip reads RWY 09 (your pick). | Both arrivals are lined up for 09, but with no wind and no movement yet the scope guesses 27. Your pick puts the approach window on 09 and each arrival on FINAL inside 10 NM. |
| 2 | Right-click PONTIAC › Strip › Watch on the approach window. | The Approach tab opens on RWY 09 with PONTIAC selected: elevation above, azimuth below, the glidepath and course lines with their bands. |
| 3 · 02:22 | Read the PAR line under the window. | “Slightly above glidepath, on course, 4 miles from touchdown.” The elevation dot sits just over the glidepath line. |
| 4 · 03:15 | Keep watching as PONTIAC corrects. | “On glidepath, on course”, down to “Over landing threshold”. |
| 5 · 03:30 | Approach panel: set the glideslope to GS 3.5° for RWY 09. | The glidepath line steepens; FORD, flying 3°, now reads below glidepath. Ctrl+Z puts it back to 3°. |
| 6 · 04:53 | Watch FORD at 1 NM. | FORD climbs away from final instead of landing: its strip reads GO-AROUND (for two minutes, then INBOUND if it stays off final), never LANDED. |
| 7 | Approach panel: set RWY 09 back to GS 3.0°. Then press R once. | The RWY chip reads automatic again: the field's own choice, as the next lessons expect. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Make 09 the runway in use (R) (00:00); Watch PONTIAC 1-1 on the approach window (00:00); Set runway 09's glideslope to 3.5° (03:30).
10.4 Ground view and runway incursion
Read who is where in the ground view, and catch an arrival closing on an occupied runway.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | With Senaki focused (the top-bar field picker), press G. | The ground view: Senaki's runway and pavement close up, VIPER11 HOLD on the runway, HAWG11 TAXI on the parallel taxiway, with the Ground data-block preset. |
| 2 · 01:17 | Watch PONTIAC reach 2 NM. | A critical RWY alert: runway 27/09 occupied, PONTIAC on 2 NM final, VIPER on the runway. HAWG on the taxiway never alerts. |
| 3 | Acknowledge it: Alt+A, or Ack on the banner. | It stops flashing and stays in the banner while the runway is still occupied with PONTIAC inside 2 NM. |
| 4 · 01:56 | Watch PONTIAC go around at half a mile. | The condition clears once PONTIAC climbs away. |
| 5 | Press G again. | Back to the scope at the zoom you left. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Open the ground view (G) (00:00); Acknowledge the RWY alert (01:17).
10.5 Conflict and terrain alerts
Catch two jets converging (CA), leave a formation alone, and catch a jet low over water.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 01:00 | Find COLT11 and DODGE11 at 5,000 ft, converging west of Poti. | A CA alert well before they meet: predicted first (the time to the closest point), then current once they are inside 3 NM and 1,000 ft. |
| 2 | Acknowledge it (Alt+A). | It stops flashing; it clears by itself once they pass. |
| 3 | Find TEXACO11 and SHELL11, 0.3 NM apart and 500 ft between them. | No CA: a receiver flying formation on its tanker is not a conflict. |
| 4 · 01:40 | Watch HAWG11 descend over the water. | An MSAW alert before it gets low: predicted on its descent, then held while it flies at 300 ft over the water. |
| 5 | Acknowledge it (Alt+A). | It stops flashing, and clears once HAWG climbs away. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Acknowledge the conflict alert (01:30); Acknowledge the MSAW alert (01:30).
11 · Carrier
The carrier board, marshal and passes.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.1 | The carrier board | 10.1 | Read the Carrier board: states, groups, BRC and final bearing.; Set the recovery case.; Publish the BRC when the ship steadies on a new course.; Put an aircraft in the marshal stack. |
| 11.2 | Carrier PAR, bolter and waveoff | 11.1 | Follow one aircraft on the Carrier PAR.; Recognize a bolter, a waveoff and a trap, and acknowledge their alerts.; Open the Deck view. |
11.1 The carrier board
Run a Case I recovery: marshal an inbound jet, set the case, publish the BRC, see a trap.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switch to ATC mode (Alt+M). Press /, type “roosevelt” and press Enter. | The scope centers on CVN-71 Theodore Roosevelt, at sea west of Poti, with its traffic around it. |
| 2 | Open the Carrier tab in the bottom dock. | The ship's speed, the case, BRC and FB, then the aircraft around it: LION recovering, JEDI inbound, and ARCO and RAGIN under Deck and other airborne (click it to open). RAGIN moves to Marshal stack once it has held a while (by about 0:40). |
| 3 | Select JEDI and press M. | JEDI goes on top of the marshal stack with an EAT, and its row moves to Marshal stack. |
| 4 | In the board's header, pick Case III, then Case I again. Hover JEDI's EAT each time. | Case III puts JEDI's slot out on the marshal radial with a DME; Case I brings it back to the overhead hold, angels only, and the header reads Marshal stack · overhead. Ctrl+Z undoes a case change. |
| 5 | Read BRC and FB in the header. | FB is the BRC minus 9°: the angled deck. The final-bearing line on the scope runs astern along it, with DME ticks. |
| 6 | Press Shift+F twice. | The final-bearing line goes, then comes back. |
| 7 · 01:40 | Watch the ship turn. | TURNING in the header; once it steadies on its new course the BRC turns red with a Drift button. Click it to publish the new course. |
| 8 · 04:00 | Watch LION in the groove. | It traps at 4:00: its row reads Trap and moves to Recovered, its traps column 1. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Set the recovery case (00:00); Marshal JEDI 1-1 (M) (00:00); Publish the new BRC after the ship turns (02:40).
11.2 Carrier PAR, bolter and waveoff
Follow a jet down the groove on the Carrier PAR; read each pass: bolter, waveoff, trap.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Center on the ship (/, “roosevelt”, Enter), then right-click JEDI › Carrier › Follow on the carrier PAR. | The Carrier PAR tab opens on JEDI alone: its glidepath and lineup against the deck as it flies the pattern. |
| 2 · 01:40 | Watch JEDI in the groove on the Carrier PAR. | Elevation and azimuth close to the lines down the groove. In close it reads a touch high: the PAR measures the jet, not its hook. |
| 3 · 02:00 | Watch the deck as JEDI touches down. | It touches and goes around: the board's banner reads Bolter: JEDI11 and its row Bolter. Click Ack. |
| 4 · 03:40 | Watch RAGIN come down the groove. | It climbs away in close without touching: Waveoff: RAGIN11 in the banner, its row Waveoff. |
| 5 · 05:30 | Watch JEDI's second pass. | A trap: its row reads Trap, and its passes read 1 trap and 1 bolter. |
| 6 | Right-click JEDI › Carrier › Show the carrier deck. | The Deck tab: the flight deck from above, with LION parked by the island and JEDI on the angled deck. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): Follow JEDI 1-1 on the carrier PAR (00:00); Acknowledge the BOLTER (02:00).
12 · Replay and review
The transport, the debrief, recordings and live rewind.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.1 | Transport and ticks | 5.3 | Pause and play (K), and change speed (Shift+↑ / Shift+↓); Step back and forward (← →, Shift for a minute); Jump between events on the scrubber (PageUp / PageDown) |
| 12.2 | Debrief and try again | 12.1 | Download the session debrief (Markdown or JSON); Read your score, and try again for a better one |
| 12.3 | Play back a recording (recording) | 12.1 | Open an ACMI recording on the scope; Know a recording follows your Brief, not a drill's picture style |
| 12.4 | Live rewind (LIVE) | 12.1 | Rewind a live feed, and return to live (L) |
12.1 Transport and ticks
Drive the drill clock: pause, speed up, step back, and jump between events.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Single group: the MiG four-ship. |
| 2 | Press K. | Paused. |
| 3 | Press K again, then Shift+↑ twice. | The speed reads 5×: one press goes to 2×, the next to 5×. |
| 4 | Press Shift+←. | The clock jumps back a minute. |
| 5 | Press PageDown. | The clock jumps to just before the next event tick on the scrubber. |
| 6 | Hover a tick on the scrubber. | What happened there: the launch, the splash, a merge. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00).
12.2 Debrief and try again
Fly the vic drill for a score, download the debrief, then try again to beat your best.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Three groups vic. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the lead pair and press F2. | LEAD GROUP is hostile. |
| 3 · 02:00 | Hover LEAD GROUP and press A, then copy the COMMIT for VIPER 1 (C). | “VIPER 1, commit.” |
| 4 · 02:00 | Press C again to copy the TARGET. | “VIPER 1, target LEAD GROUP …”. |
| 5 · 02:30 | Training › Debrief (Markdown), below the session log. | A file with your score, every item, every call you made and the session's events. |
| 6 | At the end, click Try again and fly it once more. | The panel says whether you beat your best. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “vic” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (02:00); TARGET — must say “LEAD GROUP” (02:00); Download the debrief (02:30).
12.3 Play back a recording
Save a drill as a Tacview recording and open it from the launch screen, like any ACMI.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · 00:00 | Fly the drill first: acknowledge the PICTURE (P). | Three groups vic. |
| 2 · 00:30 | Hover the lead pair and press F2. | LEAD GROUP is hostile. |
| 3 · 02:00 | Hover LEAD GROUP and press A, then copy the COMMIT for VIPER 1 (C). | “VIPER 1, commit.” |
| 4 · 02:00 | Press C again to copy the TARGET. | “VIPER 1, target LEAD GROUP …”. |
| 5 | Training › Download as a recording. | A .acmi file of this drill. |
| 6 | Back on the launch screen, open that file. | The scope plays it as a recording: no DRILL chip, no score. |
| 7 | Press P. | The picture follows your Brief's style (Navy unless you changed it). |
| 8 | Watch the scrubber. | Event ticks appear once the recording has been scanned. |
Scored (pass at 70 %): PICTURE — must say “vic” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (02:00); TARGET — must say “LEAD GROUP” (02:00).
12.4 Live rewind
LIVE on a server: look back a few minutes without leaving the feed, then return to live.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | On a live server, press ←. | A REWIND chip in the top bar: the scope shows the picture 10 seconds ago. |
| 2 | Press L. | Back to live. |
13 · Check rides
Scored tests with no hints: GCI, threats and alerts, ATC, and the full picture.
| No. | Lesson | After | You learn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.1 | Check ride: GCI 1 (check ride) | 5.4, 5.2, 3.3, 4.7 | Run a two-flight intercept end to end at 80 % or better |
| 13.2 | Check ride: GCI 2 (check ride) | 6.2, 6.3, 8.2 | Run threats, drawings and alerts together at 80 % or better |
| 13.3 | Check ride: ATC (check ride) | 10.5, 11.2 | Run a busy field and a carrier recovery together without prompts. |
| 13.4 | Check ride: the full picture (check ride) | 13.1, 13.2, 12.2 | Control a full engagement at 80 % or better |
13.1 Check ride: GCI 1
Two flights, three groups and a pop-up: every picture, request, declaration and commit.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briefing | VIPER 1 and COLT 1 hold CAP west of the bullseye. Expect groups from the east, a pop-up, and requests from VIPER 1. Declare what is hostile, commit each flight, and call everything the Call deck owes. |
Scored (pass at 80 %): PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (00:00); Declare 2x MiG-29S group hostile (01:30); Declare 2x Su-27 group hostile (01:30); PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (01:30); “VIPER 1, bogey dope.” Answer with a BOGEY DOPE — must say “NORTH GROUP” and “BRAA” (02:00); PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (03:00); COMMIT — must say “COLT 1” (03:00); TARGET — must say “SINGLE GROUP” (03:00); THREAT — must say “GROUP” (03:00); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (03:18); TARGET — must say “ON NORTHWEST GROUP” (03:18); “VIPER 1, declare.” Answer with a DECLARE — must say “SINGLE GROUP” (03:20); PICTURE (03:29); PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (05:06); PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (05:43); PICTURE — must say “box” (06:04); PICTURE — must say “leading edge” and “follow-on” (06:41).
13.2 Check ride: GCI 2
Strikers pass an SA-10 and a MiG CAP: warn the right flight, catch the shot and leaker.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briefing | HAWG 1 strikes east past an SA-10; DUDE 1 is elsewhere. Draw a CAP area over the bullseye in the first minute. Warn only the flight that needs it, and watch for shots and leakers. |
Scored (pass at 80 %): Draw a CAP area over the bullseye (00:00); PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (00:00); No SAM call that says “DUDE 1”; SAM (01:26); COMMIT — must say “HAWG 1” (02:58); TARGET — must say “NORTH GROUP” (02:58); Acknowledge the LAUNCH (03:20); THREAT — must say “SOUTH GROUP” (04:14); Catch the LEAKER into the CAP area (05:00); MERGED — must say “NORTH GROUP” (05:45); MERGED — must say “SOUTH GROUP” (06:00); PICTURE — must say “range” (06:03).
13.3 Check ride: ATC
Work Senaki-Kolkhi and CVN-71 at once: runway, sequence, incursion; case, BRC, marshal.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | With Senaki-Kolkhi focused (the top-bar field picker): make 09 the runway in use, keep the arrival sequence right, and catch anything that conflicts on the runway. | Three arrivals and a departure over ten minutes. |
| 2 | CVN-71, 50 NM west: set the case, keep the BRC published as the ship turns, marshal the inbound jet and watch the passes. | A Case I recovery: two traps and a bolter. |
| 3 | Open the Training panel once the ride starts. | Every scored item, with the 80 % pass mark. |
Scored (pass at 80 %): Make 09 Senaki's runway in use (00:00); Set the carrier's recovery case (00:00); Marshal JEDI 1-1 (00:00); Publish the BRC after the ship turns (01:40); Acknowledge RAGIN 1-1's bolter (04:20); Acknowledge the RWY alert (04:45); Sequence COLT 1-1 ahead of FORD 1-1 (05:29).
13.4 Check ride: the full picture
The full 4v4: pictures, declarations, commits for two flights, a loss and the merge.
| Step | Do | You should see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Briefing | VIPER 1 (four F-16s) and COLT 1 (two Hornets) against a MiG four-ship, with company. Everything counts. |
Scored (pass at 80 %): PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:00); Declare 4x MiG-29S group hostile (00:30); PICTURE — must say “single group” (00:30); COMMIT — must say “VIPER 1” (01:51); TARGET — must say “SINGLE GROUP” (01:51); PICTURE — must say “azimuth” (02:12); Declare 2x Su-25T group hostile (02:45); PICTURE (02:45); PICTURE (03:28); COMMIT — must say “COLT 1” (03:31); TARGET — must say “NORTHEAST GROUP” (03:31); PICTURE (03:48); PICTURE (04:12); Acknowledge the friendly down (04:20); MERGED — must say “SOUTH GROUP” (04:24); PICTURE (04:37); MERGED — must say “SOUTH GROUP” (05:11); PICTURE (05:18).