REFERENCE DATA THREAT IDENT BREVITY

CHECKLISTS EXTERIOR
1
CHECK
15MEU-513-01-1

VMA-513
TAXI 2
POCKET REFERENCE

LINEUP 3

AV-8B TAKEOFF 4
HARRIER II
FENCE
5
IN
THIS EDITION SUPERSEDES THAT
PUBLISHED ON MAY 29, 2010. OPS
6
CHECK
FENCE
7
DISTRIBUTION IS LIMITED OUT
ACCORDING TO THE 15TH MEU
REALISM UNIT.
BEFORE
8
LANDING
ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE
COMMANDING OFFICER, 15TH MEU AIR AFTER
COMBAT ELEMENT, UNDER THE 9
DIRECTION OF THE DETACHMENT
COMMANDER OF VMA-513 “FLYING
LANDING
NIGHTMARES”

EMER 10
JUNE 4, 2010
 15MEU-513-01-1

VMA-513 PILOT’S
POCKET REFERENCE

AV-8B HARRIER II

This document is subject to special export controls and

each transmittal to foreign governments, foreign nationals
or agents thereof may be made only with the prior
approval of the 15th MEU Command Element.

THIS EDITION SUPERSEDES THAT PUBLISHED

MAY 29, 2010.

ISSUED BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMANDING OFFICER, 15TH MEU AIR

COMBAT ELEMENT, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DETACHMENT
COMMANDER OF VMA-513 “FLYING NIGHTMARES”

June 4, 2010
 15MEU-513-01-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Checklists 1

Normal Procedures 1

Emergency Procedures 6

Aircraft Reference 7

Standard Operating Procedures 8

Personnel Loadout 9

Formations 9

Tactical Reference 13

Threat Identification 13

Brevity Codes 14
 15MEU-513-01-1

PREFLIGHT INSPECTION

1. Aircraft — CHECK FOR DAMAGE.

2. Loadout — CHECK.
3. Fuel — CHECK.
4. Taxi area — CHECK CLEAR.

TAXI

1. Weapons — SAFE. (Select GAU-12 cannon.)

2. Engine — START.
3. Speed brakes — CLOSED.
4. Flaps — UP.
5. Lights — ON AT NIGHT.
6. Taxi clearance — RECEIVED.

BEFORE TAKEOFF AND LINEUP

❶ AT HOLD-SHORT LINE
1. Flaps — AS REQUIRED (see next section).
2. Thrust nozzles — AS REQUIRED.
3. Speed brakes — CLOSED.

❷ LINEUP CHECK
1. Wingman’s Flaps — CHECK.
2. Wingman’s thrust nozzles — CHECK.

1
 15MEU-513-01-1

TAKEOFF

NORMAL TAKEOFF
1. Flaps — 10°.
2. Throttle — MILITARY POWER.
3. VR — ROTATE.
4. Positive Rate — GEAR UP.
5. 200 KPH — FLAPS UP.

SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF
1. Flaps — 40°.
2. Auto-hover — ON.
3. Throttle — MILITARY POWER.
4. 80 KPH — ROTATE.
5. Auto-hover — OFF.
6. Pitch — LEVEL AFTER CLEARING
OBSTACLES.
7. Positive rate — GEAR UP.
8. 100 KPH — FLAPS 10°.
9. 200 KPH — FLAPS UP.

UNIMPROVED-FIELD TAKEOFF
1. Flaps — 40°.
2. Auto-hover — OFF.
3. Throttle — MILITARY POWER.
4. 60 KPH — ENGAGE AUTO-HOVER AND
ROTATE.
5. Auto-hover — OFF.
6. Pitch — LEVEL AFTER CLEARING
OBSTACLES.
7. Positive rate — GEAR UP.
8. 100 KPH — FLAPS 10°.
9. 200 KPH — FLAPS UP.

2
 15MEU-513-01-1

FENCE IN

1. Weapons — AS REQUIRED.
2. Speed brakes — CHECK CLOSED.
3. Lights — OFF.
4. Damage — CHECK.
5. Fuel — CHECK AND REPORT.

OPS CHECK

1. Fuel — CHECK. (Ensure you are above joker.)

2. Ammunition — CHECK.
3. Damage — CHECK.

FENCE OUT

1. Weapons — SAFE. (Select GAU-12 cannon.)

2. Damage — CHECK.
3. Lights — ON AT NIGHT.
4. Fuel — CHECK AND REPORT. (Ensure you are
above bingo.)

3
 15MEU-513-01-1

BEFORE LANDING

❶ DOWNWIND
1. Airspeed — BELOW 300 KPH.
2. Flaps — 10°.
3. Gear — DOWN.

❷ BASE
1. Airspeed — 200-250 KPH.
2. Flaps — 40°.

❸ FINAL
1. Airspeed — BELOW 200 KPH.

❹ TOUCHDOWN
1. Auto-hover — ON.
2. Speedbrakes — OPEN.

GO-AROUND

1. Nose — BELOW HORIZON UNDER 150 KPH.

2. Throttle — FULL.
3. Speedbrakes — CLOSED.
4. Auto-hover — OFF.
5. Flaps — 10°.
6. Gear — UP AT POSITIVE CLIMB RATE.
7. Flaps — UP PAST 200 KPH.

4
 15MEU-513-01-1

AFTER LANDING

8. Flaps — UP.
9. Speed brakes — CLOSED.
10. Auto-hover — OFF.

SHUTDOWN

1. Engine — OFF.
2. Lights — OFF.

5
 15MEU-513-01-1

ENGINE FAILURE IN FLIGHT

1. Pitch — ATTAIN VG.

2. Place to land — LOCATE.
3. Throttle — CHECK MILITARY POWER.
4. Speed brakes — CHECK CLOSED.
5. Auto-hover — CHECK OFF.

ENGINE FAILURE AFTER TAKEOFF

1. Pitch — ATTAIN VG.

2. LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD.

FUEL LEAK

1. Severity — ASSESS.
2. Land — AS REQUIRED.

LANDING GEAR FAILURE

1. LAND AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.

6
 15MEU-513-01-1

AIRCRAFT REFERENCE

IMPORTANT AIRSPEEDS

VG Best-glide speed 220 KPH

VR Rotate speed 160 KPH
Vref Landing speed 180 KPH
Corner speed 420 KPH

VNE Maximum forward speed 720 KPH

VLGE Maximum speed with landing 280 KPH
gear extended
(All airspeeds are approximate.)

STANDARD LOADOUTS

Close air support

2 AIM-9 Sidewinder

6 Mk. 82

12 Hydra-70

300 GAU-12

Guided bombing

6 GBU-12 “Paveway II”

300 GAU-12

7
 15MEU-513-01-1

PERSONNEL LOADOUT

ON YOUR PERSON

1 M4AI, unmodified

4 20rd. STANAG magazines

1 M9

3 M9 magazines

1 MOLLE pack (plain color)

2 Bandages

1 IR strobe

2 Chemlight (blue)

1 Map

1 GPS unit

1 Night-vision goggles

1 Binoculars

1 Compass

IN RUCKSACK

1 Flare gun

2 White flares

2 Green smoke grenade

2 White smoke grenade

8
 15MEU-513-01-1

ELEMENT FORMATIONS

! "

"

Route / Loose Deuce /

Finger Two Fluid Two
(right) (right)
!

# "

Vee
(right)

9
 15MEU-513-01-1

FLIGHT FORMATIONS

$ !

# "
!

$ "

Fluid four
(right)

Route / # $ ! "

Finger four
(right)
!

$ "

Line abreast
(right)

"

Diamond

Echelon
(right)

10
 15MEU-513-01-1

FLIGHT FORMATIONS (CONT.)

!
$ !

"

# "

Box
Stack
(right)

"

Ladder
! " # $

Trail

11
 15MEU-513-01-1

SQUADRON FORMATIONS

"

$ !

& %

Delta

$ "

% #

Five Card

12
 15MEU-513-01-1

THREAT IDENTIFICATION

Yakolev PCHELA-1T Sukhoi Su-25 “Frogfoot”

surveillance UAV close air support

Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” Mil Mi-8 “Hip”

fighter-bomber transport

Mil Mi-24 “Hind” Kamov Ka-52 “Hokum”

attack/transport attack

13
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES

Abort(ing) (dir.) Cease current action/event

(inf.) Ceasing current action/event

Action (dir.) Initiate previously briefed maneuver

Acute Wingman’s formation position is too far forward or

too high

Anchor(ed) 1. (dir.) Orbit around a specific point

2. (inf.) Turning engagement around a point

Angels Altitude of friendly aircraft in hundreds of meters

Arcing (inf.) Maneuvering as support fighter (e.g., “2, 1,

southwest of you, arcing couter-flow)

As fragged As briefed in the frag order

Bandit An aircraft identified as an enemy

Banzai (inf./dir.) Go(ing) to the merge from a BVR

environment

Beam(ing) (inf.) Target is moving away from friendlies to the

left or right (e.g., “beaming left”)

Bent (inf.) System is inoperative

Bingo Fuel state needed for recovery

Bittersweet (inf.) Possible blue-on-blue situation

Blind (inf.) No visual contact with friendly aircraft

Blow through (dir.) Continue straight ahead after the merge; do

not engage

Bogey An aircraft whose identification is not known

BRAA Callout of a target’s bearing, range, altitude, and

aspect angle

Bracket Attack geometry where friendly aircraft move to

opposite sides of an enemy target

Break (dir.) Perform an immediate maximum-performance

defensive turn (e.g., “break right”)

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 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Brevity (dir.) Radio frequency is becoming saturated;

shorten transmissions

Bug(ging) out Separation from an engagement with no intent to

return

Bump (up) (dir.) Increase A/G attack altitude

Buster (dir.) Fly at maximum speed

(inf.) Flying at maximum speed

Cap(ping) (dir.) Establish a CAP at a given location

(inf.) In a CAP at a given location

Captured (inf.) Air-to-ground target has been radar-locked

and identified

Cease (fire) (dir.) Discontinue firing on a target

Check (dir.) Non-combat turn to a new heading (e.g.,

“check 20 right”)

Cherubs Height of an enemy aircraft in hundreds of meters

Chicks Friendly aircraft

Clean 1. (inf.) No radar contacts of interest

2. (inf.) No visible battle damage
3. (inf.) Aircraft not carrying external stores

Clear (inf.) Six o’clock is visually clear of threats

Cleared hot Ordnance release is authorized

Cloak(ed) (dir.) Engage/disengage NVGs (e.g., “cloak on”)

(inf.) NVG’s are on

Closing Decreasing in range

Cold 1. CAP leg pointed away from anticipated threats

2. Target heading away from friendly aircraft
3. Area is not under fire

Come back (dir.) Re-enter the fight (usually given by an engaged

fighter to his support)

15
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Come off (dir.) Disengage from the target (implies a switch of

engaged/supporting roles and is always
accompanied with a direction for deconfliction; e.g.,
“come off left” — implies both visual and tally)

Commit(ted) (dir.) Engage a target

(inf.) Engaging a tartget

Contact (inf.) New radar targets at a given location

Continue (dir.) Continue present attack; no clearance to

release weapons

Cover(ing) (dir.) Provide support for an attacking fighter

(inf.) Taking a covering role for an attacking fighter

Cruise (dir.) Assume cruise speed

(inf.) At cruise speed

Cyclops Any UAV

Dakota (inf.) No A/G ordnance remaining

Dash (#) Aircraft position in a flight (e.g., “dash-2, say fuel”)

Defensive (inf.) Aircraft is maneuvering defensively

Deploy (dir.) Maneuver to briefed positioning

Disengage (dir.) Terminate fight and separate

Drag(ging) (inf.) Target is moving away from friendlies

Engaged (inf.) Maneuvering to kill target (implies tally)

Expedite As quickly as possible

Extend (dir.) Maneuver away from battle with intent to

reengage (normally to increase energy or distance;
e.g., “extend west”)

Faded (inf.) Radar contact lost

Feet wet/dry (inf.) Flying over water/land

16
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Fence(d) in/ (dir.) Configure aircraft for combat/egress

out (inf.) Aircraft configured for combat/egress (usually
accompanied by fuel state; e.g., “2 fenced out,
50%”)

Flank(ing) (inf.) Target is moving towards and to the left or

right of friendlies (e.g., “flanking right”)

Flash lights (dir.) Temporarily turn on lights for identification

purposes

Float (dir.) Expand formation to prepare for enemy

contact

Flow (dir.) Turn to a heading (e.g., “3 flow 180”)

(inf.) Flying at a heading (e.g., “2 flowing 180”)

Fox two (inf.) Said when launching an AIM-9 Sidewinder

Friendly An identified friendly contact

Furball A turning fight with multiple bandits and friendlies

(De)goggle(d) (dir.) Put on/take off NVGs

(inf.) NVGs are on/off

Gorilla Large force of indeterminate numbers and

formation

Grand slam (inf.) All hostile aircraft shot down

Green Safest direction to egress (e.g., “green southwest”)

Group Enemy contacts in formation or proximity

Guns (inf.) A/A or A/G gunshot

Hard (dir.) Perform an energy-sustaining combat turn

(e.g., “hard right”)

Hard deck Briefed minimum altitude for aerial activity

Head (on) (inf.) Target heading directly towards friendlies

Heads up Message of interest will follow

Heavy A group of three or more targets

17
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Hits 1. Radar targets

2. Approximate enemy altitude (e.g., “new contact
250 hits 5 thousand”)

Hold fire (dir.) Cease firing on target

Holding hands Target aircraft in visual formation

Home plate Home airfield or carrier

Hook (dir.) Perform a 180° turn (e.g., “hook left”)

Hostile An aircraft not positively IDd as a bandit, but one

for which fire is authorized according to the ROEs

Hot 1. CAP leg pointed towards anticipated threats

2. Target heading towards friendly aircraft
3. Area is under fire

ID (dir.) Visually ID given target

(inf.) ID visually confirmed (followed by aircraft type)

In (inf.) Aircraft is turning towards target (e.g., “in

from the southwest”)

Joker Pre-briefed fuel state at which RTB should

commence

Kick (dir.) Offset element away from threat (e.g., “4, kick
left”)

Kill Clearance to fire

Knock it off (dir.) Cease air combat maneuvers against a target

(training call)

Lame duck (inf.) A minor state of emergency (e.g., “2 is a lame

duck, fuel leak”)

Lean (dir.) Offset element from flight in a given direction

(e.g., “3, lean 360”)

Lights (on/ (dir.) Turn on/off exterior lights

off)

Locked (inf.) Aircraft has enemy target radar-locked

Lost contact (inf.) Radar contact lost

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 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Lost lock (inf.) Radar lock lost; radar contact remains

Marhsal(ing) (dir.) Regroup at a given location

(inf.) Regrouping at a given location

Merged (inf.) Enemies and friendlies have arrived at the

same area

Miller time (inf.) All aircraft of a flight have completed their

coordinated strikes

Mother Parent LHD

No factor Not a threat

No joy (inf.) No visual contact with the enemy target

Nose Target is directly ahead

Off dry (inf.) A/G pass finished, no weapons release (e.g.,

“off dry south”)

Off hot (inf.) A/G pass finished, weapons released (e.g., “off
hot south”)

On station (inf.) Aircraft has arrived at briefed patrol location

Opening Increasing in range

Orbit(ing) (dir.) Hold position over a given location

(inf.) Holding position over a given location

Out (inf.) Aircraft is turning away from target (e.g., “out

to the north”)

Padlocked (inf.) Pilot cannot take eyes off target

Paveway (inf.) Said when dropping a GBU-12

Picture The tactical situation including locations of

enemies

Pigeons Bearing and range to home plate

Pince(r) (inf.) Enemy maneuvering for a bracket attack

Pitch(back) (dir.) Execute a nose-high Immelman to reverse

heading

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 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Playmate Friendly aircraft/flight we are escorting or

operating with

Playtime Amount of time aircraft can remain on station

Pop (dir.) Begin climb for a popup A/G attack

Popeye (inf.) Flying in clouds or reduced visibility

Popup (inf.) Enemy contact has suddenly appeared inside

lethal range

Posit Request/response for position (e.g., “2 say posit”)

Post attack (dir.) Turn to a heading after A/G attack (e.g., “post
attack northeast”)

Post hole Rapidly descending spiral

Press (dir.) Continue your attack; I will provide support

Pump (dir.) Turn cold with intent to reengage at more

favorable location (pre-briefed maneuver)

Pushing (inf.) Departing given position (e.g., “Nightmares

pushing AO”)

Ramp (dir.) Descend to increase speed

Reference (dir.) Turn to given heading (e.g., “Reference 250”)

Reset (dir.) Regroup at a pre-briefed position

Resume (dir.) Resume last order/mission

Retrograde (dir.) Tactical withdrawal in response to a threat

Rifle (inf.) Said when launching an AGM-65 Maverick

Ripple Two or more munitions released in quick

succession

Rockets (inf.) Said when firing rockets

Saddled (inf.) In formation position

Sandwiched (inf.) Stuck between two enemy groups

Saunter (dir.) Fly at best endurance

20
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Scram (dir.) Emergency defensive egress (e.g., “scram

south”)

Scramble (dir.) Take off as soon as possible

Separate (dir.) Leave an engagement

Set (dir.) Fly at a given speed (e.g., “Nightmares set

350”)

Shackle (dir.) Switch to the opposite side of a formation

Shadow (dir.) Follow indicated target

Shooter Aircraft designated to employ ordnance

Shotgun Pre-briefed weapons state at which RTB should

begin

Skate (dir.) Execute launch-and-leave tactics

Skip it (dir.) Veto of a “commit” call (usually followed with

an alternative order)

Slice(back) (dir.) Perform a nose-low split-S to reverse direction

Slide (dir.) Continue mission while increasing range to

threats (directive for escorted aircraft)

Smash Exterior lights

Snap (dir.) Turn towards enemies at the given direction

(e.g., “snap 060, Frogfoots inbound”)

Sort (dir.) Lock a given target from a group (used to sort

contacts among members of a flight; e.g., “2 sort
leftmost”)

Sorted (inf.) Each flight member has its sorted target

Spin(ning) (dir.) Execute a pre-briefed orbit to increase

spacing/timing
(inf.) Orbiting to increase spacing/timing

Spitter Enemy aircraft that is departing an engagement

Splash 1. (inf.) A/A target destroyed

2. (inf.) A/G weapons impact

21
 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Split (inf.) Leaving formation to engage target

Status Request for tactical situation (e.g., “2 say status”)

Strip (inf.) Aircraft/element is leaving formation to

perform separate mission

Stripped Aircraft is out of formation position

Sucked Wingman’s formation position is too far aft or too

low

Switch(ed) (dir.) Switch attack to a different aircraft target

(inf.) Switching attack to a different aircraft target

Tally (inf.) Visual contact with an enemy target

Terminate (dir.) Terminate this exercise/attack (training call)

Tied (inf.) Radar contact with friendly aircraft (usually

for formation rejoins)

Tiger (inf.) Enough fuel and weapons to accept a commit

Tracking (inf.) Continuous gun solution against target

Trashed (inf.) Missile has been defeated

Trespassing (inf.) Aircraft/flight is entering lethal range of a

surface threat

Tumbleweed (inf.) Aircraft has lost all situational awareness and

needs tactical information

Unable (inf.) Cannot comply as directed

Vector (dir.) Turn to a heading (e.g., “Nightmares vector

160”)

Visual (inf.) Visual contact with friendly aircraft

Warning red (inf.) Hostile attack is imminent or in progress

Warning white (inf.) No hostile attack probable

Warning (inf.) Hostile attack is probably

yellow

Weapons free (dir.) Fire at all targets not identified as friendly

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 15MEU-513-01-1

BREVITY CODES (CONT.)

Weapons hold (dir.) Fire only in self-defense or when cleared hot

Weapons (dir.) Fire at any targets identified as hostile

tight

Weeds (inf.) Aircraft operating close to the surface

What luck Request for results of mission or task

What state Request for weapons/fuel status (e.g., “2 say state”

— “2, 2 heaters, 50% fuel”)

Wilco Will comply

Winchester (inf.) No ordnance remaining

Ziplip (dir.) Hold radio communications

23