Carrier Operations

Marshal

Once you have received your marshal information, you should proceed to the marshal point and orbit it in the prescribed racetrack pattern. If the carrier has an assigned TACAN channel in the mission, the radial to the closest 10 degrees can be displayed on your HSI. To do this, switch to TACAN steering, select the carrier TACAN channel in the UFC, box the CSEL option on the HSI DDI page, and use the CRS-/CRS+ toggle switch to the left of the MPCD to set the radial value. This puts a line on the HSI that runs through the carrier, with the arrowhead pointing towards the radial bearing. This last point is important to remember, because it is quite easy to get the directions confused and marshal in a position that is 180 degrees opposite the marshal stack.

Another good way to get pointed in the right direction is to lock the carrier in the SEA or GMT mode of the ground radar. This gives the heading of the carrier, and then marshal radial will always be 170 degrees more than this heading (170 instead of 180 because the angled deck on which you land is aligned 10 degrees to port of the ship’s centerline).

Once you get close to your assigned marshal position, you should climb or descend to your assigned marshal altitude. When you arrive within 500 feet of this altitude, you will report “established.” From this point forward, if you depart you assigned marshal altitude by more than 500 feet, the controller will ask (in a rather incredulous tone of voice) “what are you doing?!” or she will order you to “return to the marshal stack!” as if you are a misbehaving child. While these communications can be rather humorous, it is important to remember that there are other aircraft flying around, perhaps in the dark or the clouds, so it might be a good idea to stay in the right place. In the sim, you will only get chastised if you depart your assigned altitude by more than 500 feet; your position otherwise is inconsequential. In real life, obviously, your altitude and position on the map are important.

Shortly after your approach time passes, you will be ordered by the controller to “commence.” This can take place 10 seconds after your assigned time, or it can take a minute or longer. When you hear the order to commence, you should depart the marshal stack and begin your approach to the carrier. In real life, in the absence of any overriding instructions, you are to depart the marshal stack exactly at your commence time. If you do this in the sim you will get yelled at by the marshal controller, so you must wait for the order.