On this page
Unfamiliar word? Select a dotted-underlined term for its meaning.
Open the right base
- Finish or cancel any task that is waiting for a map click. Left-click the airfield’s symbol or label, away from overlapping aircraft.
- Check the base name at the top. The fuel and weapons figures belong to this base.
- Find BASED AIRCRAFT for aircraft at this base, or ACTIVE OPERATIONS for its active fighters. For other aircraft already flying, open the separate ACTIVE OPS list (G by default).
- If the game says the airfield is destroyed, it will not open an aircraft panel for that base. Choose an operational base from the airfield directory.
Choose a based aircraft: what happens next?
| Button and aircraft | Next step |
|---|---|
| ID / ENG — fighter | Read the fighter selection and cancellation procedure first: these buttons can prepare fighters before you choose a target. Then click the intended aircraft contact on the map. ID requests identification; ENG requests engagement, subject to the engagement rules. |
| CAP — fighter | Click the patrol location on the map. This airfield route needs two fighters of the chosen type. If fewer are available, read the shortage alert; the selection ends without starting the patrol. See CAP instructions. |
| TRG — fighter | Choose the training location on the map using the training-sortie guide. The built-in tutorials hide this button. Aircraft are requested after you choose the location. |
| TASK — E-3D / Nimrod | Choose the working location before this route requests the aircraft. E-3D tasking also accepts a supported contact; Nimrod tasking needs a place on the map. Follow the guide for that aircraft. |
| TRACK — tanker | Choose two map points to define the tanker’s working track. Use the tanker track guide to complete both selections. |
| SUP — Hercules / Chinook | Choose the base where supplies will be collected, the base that needs them, then the cargo. The aircraft starts from the base whose panel you opened. Check the amounts before DISPATCH; follow the full supply procedure. |
| RDP — based aircraft | Choose the new base in the destination list. Clicking its button submits the move immediately. See redeployment, destination colours and failed moves. |
A visible aircraft count does not guarantee a successful launch. Check availability and servicing before repeating a failed request.
Use a fighter already assigned to this base
| ACTIVE OPERATIONS button | Action |
|---|---|
| > | Centre the radar view on that fighter and display its IDENT locating marker. This helps you find it; it does not change its task or identity. |
| ID / ENG | Choose the new target contact on the map, then check the assigned task. Follow retasking instructions. |
| CAP | Choose the new patrol location on the map. Read CAP instructions for the flight affected by the order. |
| TRG, outside tutorials | Choose an air combat training location for an eligible linked pair. Follow the training-sortie guide and read any refusal before repeating the request. |
| RTB | Send the fighter’s launch group back to its base. Follow return and landing; this button does not ask for a new target. |
| DIVERT, when offered | Choose another landing airfield in the list. Read the diversion procedure before clicking a destination. |
These airfield rows cover fighters associated with this base. Use ACTIVE OPS to find the wider set of active flights. Check the aircraft’s current task and destination before deciding what it is doing.
Check that the order worked
- After a map selection, read the result in ASMA. If a launch reports QRA LAUNCH FAILED or QRA PAIR FAILED, use the launch checks and look for any flight already created before trying again.
- Use ACTIVE OPS to find the flight, check its task there, then inspect its destination in Flight Info. Preparing a launch is not the same as being airborne.
- For SUP, follow loading, flight and delivery progress. DISPATCH does not mean the supplies have arrived.
- For RDP or DIVERT, check the destination and any rejection message. A chooser closing is not proof that the move succeeded. After landing, check the new base and readiness for another task.
Cancel a selection or close the panel
- If you started a task and have not finished choosing on the map, use CANCEL TASK in the airfield panel. It clears the pending selection; it does not undo a mission already assigned. For fighters already prepared during ID or ENG, read what cancellation does to the flight.
- Use CANCEL inside the supply, redeployment or diversion chooser if you do not want to submit that choice. Supply BACK returns to the previous selection stage; see the supply steps.
- Use CLOSE to leave the airfield panel. If ID or ENG target selection is still pending, closing this panel also cancels that selection and can send the pending fighter back to base. Check ACTIVE OPS afterward. Closing an unfinished TRG placement does not send the pair home. Do not use CLOSE as a substitute for CANCEL TASK when selecting an AWACS, Nimrod or tanker task.
- To reopen the airfield panel, left-click the base’s symbol or label again after finishing or cancelling the map selection.
When the expected aircraft or button is missing
- Check the base name and aircraft type. An active fighter belongs under ACTIVE OPERATIONS; based stock belongs under BASED AIRCRAFT. Use ACTIVE OPS to find an aircraft already flying.
- Read the base’s stock figures and the aircraft’s servicing state. An aircraft in the inventory may still be unavailable for the requested job.
- If a destination disappears or a move fails, reopen the correct chooser after checking the latest aircraft and base status. Follow RDP recovery or DIVERT recovery, rather than repeatedly clicking the old list.
- If the controls still appear wrong, keep the version, mission, base name, aircraft type or callsign, the exact alert and a screenshot for a problem report.
Training and Hawk tasking in v0.8.16.0
Use TRG to send an eligible fighter pair on an air combat training exercise. Before its map point is chosen, Escape or CANCEL TASK cancels only that TRG placement. Below Critical tension, the Hawk T1A accepts training and redeployment, while combat tasking such as ID, ENG and CAP is refused. Check the tension level and the refusal message before repeating an order.