Operations

• 1: Joining VNAO
• 1.1: Prerequisites Soft- and Hardware
• 1.2: How to join
• 2: Flight Training
• 2.1: Premium Materials
• 2.2: Ground School
• 2.3: Basic Airmanship
• 2.4: Fighter Pilot Life
• 3: SFWT
• 3.1: Threat Analysis

1 - Joining VNAO

1.1 - Prerequisites Soft- and Hardware

Hardware

PC

In order to “play” the Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) by Eagle Dynamics you need a decent PC. For a current module (as of November 2023), the officially listed requirements are as follows:

• Settings:
• LOW graphics settings
• HIGH graphics settings
• VR graphics settings

From our experience, those recommendations are optimistic. A system according to these specs will get you started, but there is much room for improvement (and much more money to spend).

Joystick & other peripherals

Sometimes people show up that fly with a game controller or even the keyboard. Please don’t be one of them. It’s just not possible become a proficient squadron member without a minimum invest in proper flight sim gear.

We don’t want to recommend specific products here, but the following list should give you an idea about different levels of investment:

• Beginner - you are just trying this

  • Joystick with additional throttle axis - that’ll let you see if you like the virtual flying experience
  • Gaming Headset (cable) - so that you can communicate with other virtual pilots

• Intermediate - you want to fly with others, to learn and have fun

  • Simple HOTAS (stick and separate throttle) with more buttons, axes,…
  • Head tracker - move your head to look around in the virtual world
  • Big screen
  • Second screen

• Enthusiast - yes, THAT is my hobby

  • Expert HOTAS (high-quality brands/materials, stick extension,…)
  • VR-Headset
  • Rudder pedals
  • Hardware cockpit panels and displays
  • Gaming Headset (wireless)

• Nerd - Living the dream…

  • High-end PC, high-end VR-gear
  • 6 DOF motion platform
  • flight suit and helmet
  • oxygen bottle and mask ;-)

Software

DCS - Digital Combat Simulatior

The base game of DCS is for free and lets to fly the Russian Sukhoi Su-25T ground attack aircraft and the TF-51D Mustang, a World War II fighter. Those airplanes are rather low-fidelity aircraft. They lack clickable cockpit controls and a sophisticated flight model. Nevertheless, they are a good starting point and easier to learn than their high-fidelity counterparts. As terrains, the Caucasus region and the Marianas in the Pacific Ocean are free maps where you can fly on. In general, you can fly both single player, keeping everything to your PC or in multiplayer, where you connect to an online server with other players.

DCS World can be downloaded on the Eagle Dynamics page.. We recommend to download the Open Beta version that contains the newest features. Most DCS online communities use this version. It is also available on Steam.

You can purchase additional modules, e.g. aircraft, terrains, campaigns. If you want to become a member of VNAO, there are required and recommended modules as follows:

• Required, no way around It
  • F/A-18C Hornet or F-14 Tomcat or any other module that is US-Navy related.
  • Supercarrier
• Highly recommended
  • all maps/terrains except Normandy 1 and 2, Channel Map and South Atlantic.

SRS - Simple Radio Standalone

SRS - Simple Radio Standalone is a separate tool for voice communication between players. It simulates different effects of radio transmissions, both encrypted und unencrypted. Maybe, the newly develped DCS-internal voice chat will replace SRS, but for now, it’s a must have.

Simple Radio Standalone

Discord

Our Discord server is the place where we meet. Discord is a social platform that offers instant messaging, voice chats, content streaming and much more. It’s available via browser and as a standalone application. You have a question, you want to talk to your squadron mates, you want to arrange for a training session? Everything is done on Discord. So no way around it. As soon as you are registered with Discord, you might want to check out our VNAO Discord server.

OMM - Open Mod Manager

VNAO runs different DCS servers that provide training or combat environments in different theaters of the world. Those servers also utilize different DCS modules (“mods”), that have been created by third-party programmers and not Eagle Dynamics itself. Installing and managing these mods can be tedious, so we’re using a tool called Open Mod Manager.

OMM can connect to online mod repositories, where all the required mods are stored and updated in case newer versions are released. VNAO hosts a mod repository for its members, so you’ll be given access once you’ve decided to join.

Other Software, not mandatory

OpenKneeboard

Although DCS itself has a built-in kneeboard that you can use, OpenKneeboard gives you some more functionality that is not (yet) available in the built-in kneeboard. Especially for VR users it is said to have advantages.

Voice Attack

Voice Attack lets you control almost anything in DCS with your voice. Tired of pressing buttons? Give it a try…

1.2 - How to join

Getting on board

Joining VNAO is very easy. Just visit our VNAO Discord Server You can either lurk for a while or just say hello in one of the text or voice channels. There are always friendly people there to help you get started, but it might help if you provide the following information

• What aircraft are you flying?
• Where are you from, what time zone are you in?
• Your experience level with DCS / the aircraft

If you’re welcome to join (rarely are people not welcome), and if you’re ready, you’ll be assigned the appropriate Discord roles. You will begin your qualification process as a VT, which is a member of a VT Training Squadron. You’ll have access to additional Discord channels. You’ll be enrolled in the training program. In preparation for your initial carrier qualification, you’ll be given a curriculum to work through.

Important:

While we love the T-45, we have decided NOT to use it in the VNAO VT pipeline. This means that you will do all of your training and CQ on the aircraft you will eventually fly in the VNAO squadron. At the moment this is either the F14 Tomcat (A- or B-model) or the F/A-18C Hornet.

Carrier Qualification

Each month, VNAO holds a carrier qualification event where VTs can show that they are ready to take the next step. During the qualification sortie the following requirements must be met:

• Cold start your aircraft from the ramp
• Navigate to an assigned waypoint
• Aerial Refueling Operations to include bearing-line formation rejoins
• Parade and Cruise Formations
• Case I Recovery Procedures
  • marshal stack operations
  • carrier break
  • six graded carrier landings with a minimum of a 50% boarding rate and an average score of 2.5

Sounds challenging? It is, but other pilots in the VNAO will help you prepare for the CQ event. And after a mandatory checkride before the CQ event, you’ll know if you’re ready.

FRS Phase

After passing your initial carrier qualification, you’ll join an FRS squadron. The syllabus there is designed to prepare you for a smoother transition into a VNAO squadron.

Joining a fleet squadron

Upon completion of FRS training, you will finally join one of VNAO’s active fleet squadrons. Be prepared to welcome a new callsign that will be given to you by your new squadron mates.

Staying on Board

In order to stay on board, you must be an active member. Currently, the only requirement is to have at least four traps on the carrier per month. We encourage everyone to contribute their knowledge and skills to help the community, be it as a mission designer, skin artist, or whatever you are (or want to be) good at.

2 - Flight Training

2.1 - Premium Materials

Carrier Ops

The carrier ops bible

Lex’s boat ops videos

Pieter Ras video and document

NATOPS documents - the real deal

It is said that the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) documents are “written in blood”. These documents are used by real navy pilots. The documents are often the result of decades of experience in naval aviation and they provde operational standards for aircraft, equipment, carrier procedures and more.

Be aware that those documents are restricted to U.S. government and their contractors only. So you better not search for them on the internet, please.

CNATRA documents

Issued by the Chief of Naval Air Training, this collection of documents covers the training of future naval aviators or naval flight officers. Although documents from the advanced phases of flight training are not publicly available (anymore), many of the early phases are. Be aware that some topics are artificially simplified or adapted for training purposes. Later, in the fleet, other rules may apply.

• CNATRA PDF publications
• CNATRA API videos and documents
• NATRACOM Videos

2.2 - Ground School

Basic (but extensive) General Aeronautical Handbooks

Aerodynamics

Weather

Aircraft Systems

Navigation

Instrument Flying

VFR Charts of the U.S.

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/vfr/

Regulations

2.3 - Basic Airmanship

Primary flight training

2.4 - Fighter Pilot Life

Jetstream - Canadian pilot training

Carrier PBS

A documentary about life and work on an aircraft carrier. You might find more episodes online if you’re lucky. There’s also an old webpage. and Amazon Prime.

3 - SFWT

3.1 - Threat Analysis

Surface-to-Air Threats