lenochs%drcoa1.decnet@drcvax.af.mil (DRCOA1: :LENOCHS) (04/11/91)
From: "DRCOA1::LENOCHS" <lenochs%drcoa1.decnet@drcvax.af.mil> A continuing thread has been trying to pin down the definition of a sortie. The following are quotes from the glossary of MCR 60-5, AIRCRAFT FLYING AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING PROCEDURES, dated 19 December 1990. The glosssary is an attachment and is dated 21 November 1990. (An MCR is a Multiple Command Regulation, written to establish a policy for activities applicable to two or more MAJCOMs. This one governs TAC, PACAF, USAFE and the AF Reserve. Creating MCRs such as this one establishes standardization of reporting throughout the Air Force.) Aircraft Sortie: A sortie begins when an aircraft becomes airborne or takes off vertically from rest. A series of practice landings shall be considered one sortie. Helicopter missions with multiple landings and takeoffs may be documented as one sortie. Multiple helicopter takeoffs and landings involving FCF (Functional Check Flight) missions may be documented as one sortie for each day. Except for a continuation sortie, a sortie ends after airborne flight when the aircraft returns to the surface *and* whichever occurs first: a) all engines are stopped b) the aircraft is on the surface for 5 minutes. (Emphasis added by me) Continuation Sortie: When a mission crew completes their training and returns to base early for an operation stop, with engines running and not requiring maintenance servicing, for the sole purpose of on/off loading of mission crew members. These are sorties flown by E-3, EC-130 and EC-135 aircraft. Functional Check Flight (FCF). The flight of an aircraft, in accordance with the applicable dash-six TO (technical order), to verify the airworthy condition of the aircraft. Loyd M. Enochs (ex-USAF) - Dynamics Research Corporation - Andover, MA Computer Systems Analyst - Smart Data System (F-117 Maintenance and Operations computer system)