Forum: F-35 Lightning II

I can't get used to "nm" not being nanometers.

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Fair enough. I would prefer to use NM myself but used the 'nm' as used in the quote used. Americans - they even change the spelling of common English words - what can youse do? It is easy to work with the yards/feet of the NM. But doan ask about Kms... Despite what WickedPedia says in my day the agreed standard of a Nautical Mile was 2,00 yards or 6,000 feet rounded for the sake of mental arithmatic. However charts were accurate as are other figures from NATOPS for example but inevitably using paper charts and graphs or tables there are fudges built in already to any calculation which are always rounded UP anyways. Very Happy

Not forgetting that an A-4 at Optimum AoA dirty had a potentially faulty fuel gauge problem misreading by approx. 250 lbs. So one had to land with 500lbs showing in this situation to be safe. I would guess that the 1,000lbs for the F-35C is an accurate fuel reading.

And what does this mean? This 'minimum fuel' will allow one last desperate quick circuit to landing afloat/ashore before fuel exhaustion/ejection by pilot. However no one wants to go there at all. Hence the BINGO fuel is worked backwards from this minimum fuel situation. Probably for the F-35C there are other considerations built in to this 'minimum landing fuel' which might include a longer circuit via a GCA/CCA 'Ground/Carrier Controlled Approach' for night work/ quick circuit. Youse would have to ask them.

Nautical mile

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

"The nautical mile (symbol M, NM or nmi) is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, or about one minute of arc of longitude at the equator. By international agreement it is exactly 1,852 metres (approximately 6,076 feet).

It is a non-SI unit (although accepted for use in the International System of Units by the BIPM) used especially by navigators in the shipping and aviation industries,[1] and also in polar exploration. It is commonly used in international law and treaties, especially regarding the limits of territorial waters. It developed from the sea mile and the related geographical mile.

The nautical mile remains in use by sea and air navigators worldwide because of its convenience when working with charts. Most nautical charts are constructed on the Mercator projection whose scale varies by approximately a factor of six from the equator to 80° north or south latitude. It is, therefore, impossible to show a single linear scale for use on charts on scales smaller than about 1/80,000.[2] Since a nautical mile is, for practical navigation, the same as a minute of latitude, it is easy to measure a distance on a chart with dividers, using the latitude scale on the side of the chart directly to the east or west of the distance being measured."

NB: Use of NM in this official USN pub. Also 'NATOPS bingo profiles' mentioned at end. Somewhere I might have these profiles but not really relevant on this F-35 forum huh.

One way to explain BINGO in detail is to use the material available for T-45C students. Most of the important excerpts about BINGO are below but there is a lot of other contextual material not seen here. Best to download and read the full deal....

IF unable to read these excerpts about BINGO then here is the most important paragraph from the SNA [Student Naval Aviator] T-45C Goshawk guide from 2006:

"c. Bingo Aircraft. Aircraft which reach bingo fuel state shall immediately bingo. When instructed, bingo aircraft shall clean up as directed by the Air Officer, commence a climb, then turn to the bingo heading and return to the bingo field at optimum bingo profile in accordance with type aircraft operating parameters (Note - students must be briefed to comply with the bingo profile, but should remain heads up and not risk midair collision with another A/C during their departure). Student Bingo fuel requirements are predicated on a sea level bingo, enabling a student bingo to be flown at any altitude. A Lead/Safe shall be designated by the Air Officer to join and escort the bingo. When entry into Class “A” airspace is necessary, the bingo aircraft shall notify CATCC of the desired altitude. CATCC shall then direct the bingo aircraft to contact center and notify Air Traffic Control (ATC) of desired bingo altitude. When operating and communicating with an ATC facility, the term "Emergency Fuel" shall be used in lieu of the term bingo."
&
"h. Each designated student and instructor shall receive detailed briefings on course rules and facilities at the support base and all possible bingo fields."

CNATRA INSTRUCTION 3740.9D
CNATRA CARRIER QUALIFICATION INSTRUCTION (SHORT TITLE - CNATRA CQ INSTRUCTION)

http://www.wings-of-gold.com/cnatra/ins ... umpkin.pdf (1.2Mb)

Bingo: Minimum fuel required for safe divert to nearest divert field

(5) SNAs shall not be launched into the carrier pattern with less than bingo plus 300 lbs.

(6) SNAs shall not be launched to home base with less than bingo for that field plus 600 lbs. If a student is diverted with less than bingo plus 600 lbs, a lead safe shall be directed to escort the SNA to the divert field.

NOTES:
(1) If a student becomes critically low on fuel, tower may postpone one of the two initial touch and goes and trap the SNA to avoid bingo. Student shall then be given remaining touch and goes (T/Gs) if required after refueling.

CNATRA Weather Limits
----Point of Departure - En route ---------- CV -------- Bingo --- Divert
SNA - VFR (2) -------- VFR on Top (4) - 1500/5 (1) -- VFR (5) -- IFR

(5) Student bingo field shall be VFR (the airfield should be accepting visual approaches). Instructor Bingo WX shall not be less than TACAN circling mins.

208. Bingo Considerations and Limitations. CNATRA bingo considerations and fuel states are listed in Tables II-4 through II-7 below. Sufficient fuel for flight to an alternate field that satisfies alternate criteria listed in ref (d) shall be added to the bingo states if Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions do not exist at the bingo field. Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) bingo fuel figures shall be used when weather at the primary bingo requires an instrument approach (not for SNAs). BINGO FUEL IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. Aircraft reaching this state shall immediately report "bingo," squawk 7700 and shall normally be diverted to the bingo airfield, unless well established in the groove, hook down, and under LSO control. In this case only, an approach may be continued with immediate bingo departure if not arrested (trapped). In all cases a Lead/Safe pilot shall be dispatched to escort student pilots on a bingo. SNAs who are bingoed shall commence the bingo profile and shall not be told to join on a Lead/Safe. Once the SNA is well established on his bingo profile, the escorting Lead/Safe will join the SNA and assume the lead. The intent is to avoid a circling join up which wastes precious fuel once bingo fuel has been reached by the SNA.

a. If NATRACOM aircraft are below bingo, the Commanding Officer of the carrier shall decide whether to have the aircraft bingo with available fuel, remain in the pattern, or set up for a controlled ejection.

b. Flight from the carrier to the bingo field may be made under Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) by students, IUTs, and instructors, provided the flight is conducted in accordance with air traffic control procedures.

c. Maximum Bingo range for CNATRA CQ is 120 miles.

d. Operations at distances over 90 NM allows limited time for aircraft entering the pattern to perform two T/Gs and one trap prior to reaching student bingo fuel states. Any delays encountered once aircraft have "Charlied" must be closely monitored to avoid multiple student bingos. Postponing one touch and go should be considered if any delays are anticipated.

e. Lead/Safe pilots shall use STUDENT bingo fuel requirements while operating as a Lead/Safe. Once student bingo fuel is reached, the Lead/Safe should be trapped or diverted. Lead/Safes should not perform Lead/Safe duties when their aircraft is below SNA bingo as this does not allow sufficient fuel margin to effect flight leader join ups, etcetera, and return to the divert airfield. Lead/Safes shall update fuel states with Air Boss every 15 minutes and inform the Air Boss when they are approaching the SNA bingo fuel state. Once alleviated of their Lead/Safe responsibilities by the Air Boss, they shall use NATOPS bingo. The pilot is responsible for arriving on deck with applicable NATOPS requirements.

f. Arresting Gear must be rigged and in battery at the bingo field. A T-45 Training Qualified LSO shall be on station any tIme SNA's are conducting CQ operations.

Table 11-4
T-45 SNA BINGO FUEL REQUIREMENTS
NO WIND

NOTES:
(1) These fuel figures based on 550# reserve overhead bingo field.

(2) Based on sea level figures of 250 KTS. Bingo aircraft shall climb to altitude, and follow NATOPS bingo profiles as closely as possible.

(3) Add 300# for IFR or night, or if the weather is questionable.
____________________

Table 11-5
T-45 LEAD/SAFE, IUT, LSO BINGO FUEL REQUIREMENTS

Shown from the T-45C NATOPS PCL (Pocket Check List) is one of three BINGO tables - for ordinary circumstances whilst other two are for 'gear down only' and 'gear and full flap down' BINGO situations. How/Why so? Damage caused by inexperienced deck landers or catapulters prolly. Graphic is first option. PDF attached has the three pages.

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

F-35B an Analysts viewpoint of Marine Corp Tactical Aviation