What is the proper term for...

[General Barron 0]

Hey all, quick question here that hopefully someone will know the answer to. I've made a script that makes an airplane in your squad fly in a circle around its current location, via the action menu. Obviously the point is that this way you can have the air support standing by, waiting for you to give them a target, without them flying off to god-knows where at sea.

My question is: what is the proper military terminology for this sort of thing? I need it for my sidechatter between the squad leader and pilot, as well as for the action name. I think this would sound kinda dumb:

Quote[/b] ]player: "Okay 6, fly around in a circle there."

pilot: "Roger that, flying in a circle."

...and then, when the pilot breaks his circle:

pilot: "I've stopped flying in a cricle now."

As much detail as you can provide about this sort of menouever (sp), please do.

[theavonlady 2]

Anchored at target area?

That's what I was told to use in one of my Pigs Can Fly Campaign missions by someone quite professional on the LOMAC forums.

[Lionclaw 0]

CAS (Close Air Support) could be what you're looking for. ;)

Here's a link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_air_support

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

Pehaps it's unrealistic, but in the BHD movie they dsaid 'holding pattern'

Quote[/b] ]leaving position, going into holding pattern

Right after they dropped the guys on the ground.

But this is for a specific mission, where a flightplan (inlcuding holding pattern) was already known before the mission started.

For a plane to circle the ara I guess they'll just tell him "circle the target-area" or something like that. (not like you did; "go fly in circles". That sounds stupid)

You could also try to listen to the sounds on this site and see if something is close to what you want;

http://www.lazygranch.com/red_audio.htm

[theavonlady 2]

This thread should be merged with the one I started a while back about USAF jargon or brevity code.

You'll find some useful links in that thread. Maybe one of them holds the answer.

EDIT: - though I still think "anchored at target" is it.

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

I think "anchored at target" sounds VERY strange. That's a Navy term and even they don't "anchored at target".

Perhaps the USMC pilots use this sometimes, but I don't really think the USAF uses this very often.

[General Barron 0]

@Lionclaw

CAS isn't really the term I'm after, I'm looking for the specific terminology related to when the air assets just fly around in circles, waiting for a CAS request.

@Cpt. FrostBite

I guess I wasn't sarcastic enough, but the whole "go fly in circles" bit was a bit tounge-in-cheek :P. Thanks for the link though, I'll check it out.

@Avon

Thanks for the help and the links on the other post. I'll check them out. If the term really is "Anchored at target area", how could I turn that into a request? Basically, I need the following chatter:

Quote[/b] ]Squad leader: "Pilot, please circle around"

Pilot: "Okay, I'll do that"

Or more/less chatter, however it is really done. So how would I use your terminology there? Something like this?

Quote[/b] ]Squad leader: "4, anchor at target area, over."

Pilot: "Roger that, out."

I suppose that would work, but does it sound a little funny? It seems so...

------

Now for another related question: at about what altitude would the pilot "anchor at target area"? This is for fixed-wing, CAS aircraft (A10, Mig, etc), although I'm curious about helos as well.

[theavonlady 2]

Maybe this will help you. It's from my campaign's Pig Sty mission.

One or two A-10s (callsign POLECAT) are encircling an area where armor vehicle have just been eliminated. They are to keep watch, while a Chinook (callsign HOPPY) ingresses to disembark ground forces to secure the area. This is from a rough draft I still have:

Quote[/b] ]********Messages while holding around the area or in search and destroy.

POLECAT8: Hoppy45, Polecat8.

HOPPY45: Polecat8, 45. Authenticate Victor November.

POLECAT8: Hoppy45, Polecat8. Autentication is Lima.

HOPPY45: Polecat8, Hoppy45, roger. Glad to have you with us. Go ahead.

POLECAT8: Holding kill box. Echo, Scanning for targets of opportunity. Retain position.

HOPPY45: Polecat8, roger. Holding on your signal.

******** Messages when the Chinook can start moving in.

POLECAT8: Hoppy45 from Polecat8, target area sanitized, clean and cold. Ingress at this time. Polecat8 at angels 1, anchored at target area. On-call with 40 minutes play time.

HOPPY45: Roger, Hoppy45 is inbound to the DZ, ETA four minutes.

********Messages when the SU27 is detected and during the ensuing dogfight or retreat.

P7/8: Heads up! One bandit down the slot from northeast, angels 3, closing. Strong spike. Accelerating.

POLECAT8: Hoppy45, Polecat8, heads up! Hostile contact heading our way. THREAT is FAST MOVER, probable FLANKER from the northeast. Expedite if you can.

HOPPY45: Roger, 8. Hoppy is 2 minutes to DZ. Can you handle the THREAT? Over.

P7/8: Breaking right, engaged offensive!

********Messages when Chinook completes drop and flys out.

HOPPY45: Cargo deployed and preparing to RTB this time, request cover status

P7/8: Hoppy45, engaging lone bandit over CP at angels 1. Stand by.

P7/8 Hoppy45, all clear this time.

[FireflyPL 0]

For a plane to circle the ara I guess they'll just tell him "circle the target-area" or something like that. (not like you did; "go fly in circles". That sounds stupid)

I think "Loiter at AO" is fine.

AO - Area of Operation

[Supah 0]

Loiter is indeed the term you are looking for.

[theavonlady 2]

Loiter is indeed the  term you are looking for.

From the official brevity codes manual:

Quote[/b] ]ANCHOR(ED) 1. Orbit about a specific point; refueling track flown by tanker.

2. Informative to indicate a turning engagement about a specific

location.

[General Barron 0]

Okay, found another term from the brevity manual:

Quote[/b] ]CAP/CAPPING 1. Directive call to establish an (Location) orbit at a specified location.

2. An orbit at an specified location.

Sounds like it fits better than anchoring, but I'm not sure how to use this one in a sentence...

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

Okay, found another term from the brevity manual:

Quote[/b] ]CAP/CAPPING 1. Directive call to establish an (Location) orbit at a specified location.

2. An orbit at an specified location.

Sounds like it fits better than anchoring, but I'm not sure how to use this one in a sentence...

CAP or Combat Air Patrol is for a (much) larger area. Like it says; it's a patrol. It's not used for saying that you'll cricle a target (specific target-zone like a hill-top, base, ect).

[blackdog~ 0]

I think "anchored at target" sounds VERY strange. That's a Navy term and even they don't "anchored at target".

Perhaps the USMC pilots use this sometimes, but I don't really think the USAF uses this very often.

I think it's completely reasonable sounding.

On El Centro Auxilary Air Station where I was last weekend, they said that you were "aboard" the base... not "on" the base.

[SpongeBob 0]

From what I remember playing SEAL TEAM, when I had an OV-10 Bronco just flying around somewhere away from the action, waiting for me to use them, I would set a loiter waypoint.

[theavonlady 2]

Face it - you're stuck with me!

[rats404 0]

Definitely loiter, if they are tasked to stay in a general area awaiting further orders or tasking like a specific call for CAS from a Forward Air Controller.

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=70

includes the term in context.

Rats404

[theavonlady 2]

Definitely loiter, if they are tasked to stay in a general area awaiting further orders or tasking like a specific call for CAS from a Forward Air Controller.

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=70

includes the term in context.

But if you Google for "loiter" and "brevity", you'll only find the word "loiter" used as descriptive but not as a part of aircrew communications jargon.

[Cpt. FrostBite 0]

Definitely loiter, if they are tasked to stay in a general area awaiting further orders or tasking like a specific call for CAS from a Forward Air Controller.

http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=70

includes the term in context.

But if you Google for "loiter" and "brevity", you'll only find the word "loiter" used as descriptive but not as a part of aircrew communications jargon.

And if you google for "anchor" you'll end up crazy..

Quote[/b] ]On El Centro Auxilary Air Station where I was last weekend, they said that you were "aboard" the base... not "on" the base

That's because it's a naval air station.

[rats404 0]

Actually, having reviewed the thread in the context of the original post - I think Avon is right. A typical call would be "Anchor bullseye 250 at 20".

Loiter is what the aircraft does - Anchor is the command used over the radio.

Apologies for doubting you Avon.

Rats 404

[theavonlady 2]

Apologies for doubting you Avon.

Just don't let it happen again!

[rats404 0]

Yes mum :-)

[General Barron 0]

Alright, thanks for the links all, lots of useful info there . "Anchored" it is. I suppose this topic could be locked if a mod wanted to now...

[Monkey Lib Front 10]

i thought it was called "being on station" when an AC loiters in a certain area.