T
he RAF continues to teach student
pilots to y at low level, starting with
the Grob G115E Tutor T1 – which
is currently being replaced by the
G120TP Prefect T1. As new aircrew progress
through the fast jet training ‘pipeline’ they
undertake sorties involving low level on the
Shorts Tucano T1 (soon to be superseded
by the Beechcraft T-6C Texan T1) and BAE
Systems Hawk T2 before moving on to a
frontline type.
Progressive training and regular practice
is essential if the skills required for this
demanding type of ying are be retained and
employed during operational missions. An
experienced Tornado GR4 pilot said: “The
actual ying is relatively easy. Like driving a
car, you just get used to it – you don’t think
about it.
“During pilot training you build up the
speeds [Tutor 120kts, Tucano 240kts andHawk 420kts] while reducing the height.
We y at seven miles a minute which
now feels comfortable. You build up your
capacity by doing it repeatedly. Flying
at low level becomes automatic, giving
you time to think about the bigger picture
such as gliding sites, aerials, the weather
ahead, where the other aircraft is, the next
turn and your fuel level.”
Tim Davies, a former GR4 pilot and Hawk
T2 instructor, says task saturation can occur
when ying at low level as it’s so demanding.
He espouses the mantra ‘aviate, navigate,
communicate’ and warned: “For most pilots,
hearing is the rst sense we lose when we
become overloaded: you miss a radio call.”
He added: “When ying at low level,
maybe at night using complicated systems
or over unfamiliar terrain, the workload can
be exceptionally high. In these environments
a quiet cockpit is essential, meaning thatcommunication both internally and externally
needs to be concise.”
Flying fast and low is an essential part
of the Tornado’s capabilities, and training
enabled aircrew to be ready for the rigours
of Afghanistan.
Low ying to avoid radar detection was
not necessary there, but pilots were often
required to deliver a ‘show of presence’, also
termed a ‘show of force’, to deter aggression
or bring a contact with the enemy to a swift
end when they realised there was now air
support. Pilots were required to descend
rapidly to y over a grid reference given to
them by a Joint Terminal Attack Controller
(JTAC) who could be under re.PLANNING A LOW-LEVEL
SORTIE
Safety is a major consideration when
planning a low-level ight combined withTHUNDER THROU
It’s an awe-inspiring
sight to see a fi ghter
jet roaring through
a valley at low level.
Philip Stevens
provides aircrew
insights from the RAF,
Hellenic Air Force
and USAF on the
skills, procedures and
continuing necessity
for low-level fl ying.
56 Aviation News incorporating Jets December 2018