ELEMENTARY TRAINING

Softwares configuration

DCS World and modules: Multiplayer configuration. Client & Host settings. Port forwarding.
Teamspeak3: Connection on the BSD server. Channels usage briefing.
Universal Radio: UR briefing. Teamspeak 3 configuration for UR. DCS configuration.
BSD website: Rights and Responsibilities. Using the BSD website modules.

Rotary wings aerodynamics

Cyclic, collective, rudder, thrust. Rotor aerodynamics. Ground effect, flight transition, stalls, vortex ring state. Aircraft characteristics, zero fuel weight, max weight, range, max altitude, max speeds. Atmospheric modeling, temperature, QNH, icing, wind effect. 

Aircraft & Cockpit tour

Preflight check. around and inside your aircraft. Going through the different panels. Startup procedure. Using your lights (position, position, landing,...). Emergency procedures (engine, landing gear), engine re-start on the ground or in-flight. Hopefully this should all be well known to the trainee. 

Radio communications 1

Basic radio communication procedures and phraseology. Ground clearances, taxiing, take off, airport pattern. Basic radio message structure. Read back. The trainee will then be tested on a simple airport pattern flight.

Mission Editor

All the BSD pilots are required to regularly create missions in order for the BSD community to survive. This module shows how to create a simple mission: placing units, using simple triggers, flags, zones, setting up the flyable units, what are the most suitable enemy units to use in rotorheads missions, FARPS...

BASIC TRAINING

Basic Flight VMC

Taxing, hover check, takeoff, circuit pattern, landing with proper radio communications procedures and lights in VMC with no wind then strong wind/turbulence. Runway, FARP, Naval and Oil Platform operations. 

Basic Flight Night

Taxing, hover check, takeoff, circuit pattern, landing with proper radio communications procedures and lights at night with no wind then strong wind/turbulences, with NVG and without NVG. Runway, FARP, Naval and Oil Platform operations. 

Flight in degraded conditions

Actions review and in flight training in the following conditions: 1 engine failure, engine fire, 2 engines failures (auto rotation), vortex ring state, SAS failure, landing gear failure, fuel tank leakage.

Navigation 1

 Simple 3 segments navigation in VMC and no wind. Basic principles of visual navigation. Using ABRIS and PVI-800 (Ka-50 only). Radio communications procedures for departure and arrival.

Radio Navigation 1

 Radio navigation principles and available equipment per aircraft review. ADF/TACAN, HSI, Doppler navigation system (Mi-8 only). Short 3 segments navigation in VMC no/light wind. 

Formation flight 1

The different types of formations will be reviewed during a non combat type short navigation with turns and stacks in VMC/light wind.

Sling Load operations

Sling load procedures. Max weight for each aircraft type. Mission editor options. In game procedure.

STANDARD TRAINING

Mountain flight

High altitude take off and landings. Temperature/barometric pressure/mass effects on engines review. Icing. Landing on slopes. White out management. 

Tactical flight, high performance maneuver and precision flight.

Very low altitude flight, precision hovering and landing (buildings, bridges,...). Using natural and man made obstacles for concealment. Quick low altitude transition flight (from cruise to hover). 

IFR 1

Runway patterns and simple maneuvers (180/360 degrees turns, constant rate climb and descent) in IMC. Working with the instrument. Not getting disoriented. Coming back to the runway with radio navigation means.

Navigation 2

 Detailed review on the use of ABRIS and PVI-800 for navigation purpose. Nav point edition with the PVI-800, ERBL mode on the ABRIS, flight plan loading and editing, ABRIS options, waypoints search function, PVI-800 airport and wind display...

IFR 2

Full IMC navigation between two different airports. SID/STAR charts review. Navigation timing. Top of descent. Radio communications procedures. ABRIS not functional (Ka-50 only).

Targeting and Data link systems

Using data link system; recording and transmitting target points to wing men. Receiving a target point. Editing target point in the PVI-800. Automatic "ingress to target" mode. ABRIS data links de-clutter. SHKVAL automatic target alignment mode.

Phraseology 2

Operational brevity review. In flight or ground test on an extract of the most important terms to know during a combat mission. 

Non guided weapons

Using the 30 mm 2A42 gun (Ka-50 only). Automatic, degraded and fixed mode. Gun pods. Type of ammunition, range.
Rockets; range and relevant targets types. Settings (ballistic number for Ka-50, reticle setting for Mi-8 and UH-1H).  Grenade launcher pods (Mi-8). Gatling guns (UH-1H). In flight training on the range.

Night combat missions

Setting up the NVG and SHKVAL before take off, the HUD (Ka-50), the cockpit lighting. Using the illumination rockets: distance and timing. Coordinated operations. 

Guided weapons (Vikhr & Kh-25)

Differences between Beam riding (Vikhr) and Semi active laser homing (Kh-25). Speed and altitude release. Range. Types of targets. Tracking modes. Override mode. Automatic and manual guidance. Standalone and cooperative laser homing modes for the Kh-25. HUD symbology.

Free Fall weapons

SAB-100, FAB-100, FAB-250, FAB-500, KMGU quick presentation. Safety speed and altitude release. SHKVAL usage. Ballistic setting. Using the Mi-8 ESBR. Reticle setting up with the Mi-8. Calculation tables. Relevant target types. 

Target identification and evasive maneuvers

A quick quiz on target identification. Threat level, range, type of weapons. UV-26 (Mi-8 & Ka-50 only) programming. Missile avoiding techniques.

High performance maneuvers

Lazy eights, barrel rolls, loopings.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Formation flight 2

Types of combat formation. When to use them. Helping your wing man hold the formation during turns and climbs. Radio procedures. Using formation lights (night). 

CAS operations

Mission preparation. Wing men briefing. Communication plan. Weapons load configuration. Deployment: IP (Initial Point), BP (Battle Position), HA (Holding Area), Ingress and Egress routes, rules of engagement, FAC joint operations. AET/RAMRODS identification procedures, 9 LINE. Leader's capability of managing the different flights (tasking). 

Security operations

The flight leader will be evaluated during a security type mission like zone securing, ground convoy escort, aerial convoy escort or any combination of those missions objectives.

Urban operations

The flight leader will be evaluated during an urban operation mission. This mission will include a specific objective in a large urban environment with a high level risk of friendly fire and civilian casualties.

Reconnaissance operations

The flight leader will be evaluated during a recon type mission. This mission can include a road or an area reconnaissance objective, or a combination of both. 

Joint operations (JAAT)

The flight leader will be evaluated during a joint mission where friendly fixed wings aircraft (Su25 or A10) is joining a BSD mission. This mission will require a level of coordination between the flight leader and the fixed wing squadrons leaders (FAC(A) type operations). 

Instruction

The flight leader will be evaluated during a real or simulated training session. He must demonstrate his excellent knowledge of his aircraft and of the BSD operations while being able to transmit this knowledge to the trainee.

Elementary

This group of modules should generally known to all the trainees entering the Black Shark's Den. Nonetheless, there will be some cases where a specific point, at the beginning of the training, needs some clarification with a member of the BSD.

Basic

The basic group is composed of modules that are not mandatory to know when entering BSD, but should be understood for simple missions.

Standard

The standard group is composed of modules that will help the pilot to master complex missions and multi squadrons missions. 

Advanced

The advanced group addresses the knowledge required for flight group leadership or instruction. Most of the modules of this group requires regular re-training in order to be maintained validated.