What is CAS saying?

[Apocalypse 31]

I've always wondered what the pilots are saying in-game.

I've worked with CCA (Close Combat Aviation) and CAS (close air support) in Iraq. I understand what the chopper pilots are saying, but I've never heard any of the lingo that you hear the CAS pilots use in-game.

So I looked it up...

"Dash 1 is in the pop"

"DASH #" is used to determine the order of march for aircraft in a flight.

"POP" is when an aircraft is beginning to climb for a ground attack.

JTACs conducting training gun-runs with A-10's

[Erwin]

What does "You are under positive control" mean?

[agusto]

I've always wondered what the pilots are saying in-game.

I've worked with CCA (Close Combat Aviation) and CAS (close air support) in Iraq. I understand what the chopper pilots are saying, but I've never heard any of the lingo that you hear the CAS pilots use in-game.

So I looked it up...

"Dash 1 is in the pop"

"DASH #" is used to determine the order of march for aircraft in a flight.

"POP" is when an aircraft is beginning to climb for a ground attack.

JTACs conducting training gun-runs with A-10's

Interesting, thanks. And after

"Dash 1 is in the pop", the JTAC replies:

"Roger, cleared HOT", wich means as much as "You are cleared to engage".

EDIT: Here is the complete communication as hear it in-game:

Stand by for CAS request.

Roger, en route to I.P.

Inbound for attack, 30 seconds out.

Dash-1 is in the pop.

Roger, cleared hot.

*sound of A-10 strafing run*

*sound of jet passing overhead*

Egressing from target, I am winchester.

Can someone translate the not so obvious lines?

[Buzz]

"I am winchester" = No more ammunition.

No reason to hang around and be shot at if you can't shoot back.

"Egressing from target." so you don't become one.

[JMFC]

"Roger, en route to I.P."

From what I remember from my untrained observer class a couple years ago, IP is Initial Point. It's a general point on a map (sometimes a landmark) to give the pilot a place to loiter and vague direction of attack. I was told JTACs can dictate IPs. For untrained observers, the pilot will go to the IP he chooses.

[Buzz]

CAS piloted and / or drones will IMO become much more important as we try to protect our forces. Get ready for new CAS slang.

[Calgar]

Further reading on this issue, including all the terms:

http://www.navy.mi.th/navedu/stg/databasestory/data/laukniyom/ship-active/big-country-ship/United-States/ATP/atp63.pdf

Sincerely

[Combatintman]

What does "You are under positive control" mean?

I did the scripts for the UK JTAC dialogues based on what was written in Ed Macy's two books 'Hellfire' and 'Apache' which described his experiences as an Apache pilot in Helmand. I'm no JTAC so can't speak with any authority but my guess is that this would indicate that the JTAC can see the air asset, the target and friendly forces and can therefore actively give target indications to the aircrew. My other supposition is that if there was an incident requiring investigation such as a blue on blue or civilian casualties, then this dialogue can be used to establish the circumstances of the attack. If under positive control then the investigation would probably focus on the actions of the JTAC.

Hope this speculation is useful.

[Erwin]

Thanks. Good to know... I hear that a lot with Brits air support, but often they don't seem to see the target if it's area, only if it's a point target.