New Preplanned Threat Choices in 4.33

[peanuthead]

Hello to all,

Does anyone have a guide on how to use the PPT steerpoints? I know how to put them on the map as described in the manual; what I don’t understand is how to use them in flight planning. Some are obvious like SA2, SA3, and Manpad but what about the others below?

PPT Steerpoint Name

AWACS - So that I know where my AWACS is?
Combat Air Patrol - I thought the triangle on the flight plan represented the CAP points?
Contact Point - Designated point to contact someone on UHF?
CSAR Range - Search and Rescue Area?
Egress Point - I thought this was always steerpoint after the triangle on the route?
Initial Point - I thought this was always the square before the triangle on the route?
Rendezvous Point - ?
Target Cap Point - I thought the triangle on the flight plan represented the CAP points?
Holding Point - Designated holding pattern I assume?
Tanker - I use lines to mark the tanker tracks, do I need this PPT steerpoint at all?
North, South, East, West - ?
Airbase Names - Alternate airfields I can divert to?

The maximum number of PPT steerpoints is 15 which are used up assigning AAA, SAM, and Manpad threats. How are you all using these PPT steerpoints in your planning?

Thank you

[Frederf]

AWACS is probably the radius where you can expect the E-3 to discover an airborne target or perhaps provide control services. CAP is probably the station area radius you’re expected to remain within to fulfill the station time. CSAR is either the distance from helo base that CSAR will be attempted or how far they will go if holding waiting for a CSAR need (don’t really know how CSAR works in Falcon).

A lot of these are going to be 0’ radius labels to pretty up your HSD and give text labels to your waypoint symbols. Tanker could be a text label that you place inside a line box for the combo effect.

I like the 30nm home radius to remind me when to call inbound as well as the alternate airfield label. Putting the tanker name in the middle of the tanker area can act as a helpful reminder. Mostly I use them for air defense threats and just remember the rest but a TE tidily labeled throughout the flight plan is helpful organization that helps orientation. The PPTs appear to be infinitely customizable as just having the form: lat, long, height, radius, label.

[Eagle-Eye]

Most of them are indicators for situational awareness of where other flights are flying. E.g. If you’re the A-A guy, you could set up a PPT for the A-G guy’s holding, initial and egress point. Vice versa, the A-G might want to know where the A-A CAP is.

Is a PPT for every relevant tanker/AWACS/CAP/… really necessary? Personally, I don’t think so, as some of this can also be done by briefing the stuff and then make an estimate by referencing own flight plan data. But for new guys who are still learning the ropes and how to build SA, I suppose it could be quite useful.

[hoover]

I think the North / West / East / South points are supposed to be used as entry / exit points for arrivals and departures.

Cheers, Uwe

[Ahmed]

I used custom PPT STPTs in one of the last Falcon Online events, mainly to mark the enemy airbases or other points of interest. I have to say they gave a significant situational awareness boost.