On this page
Unfamiliar word? Select a dotted-underlined term for its meaning.
Start with the base and aircraft type
- Choose ASSETS on the menu bar, or press R with no text box selected. If your keys differ, check your keyboard settings.
- Scroll inside the list and find the base heading. Read the aircraft type beneath it. A number such as (x2) means two aircraft of that type remain listed at that base.
- Use the button on that aircraft’s row. Read the task guide below before choosing a target, patrol area or destination.
- Check the resulting order in ASMA and the flight in ACTIVE OPS. Aircraft counts alone do not confirm fuel, weapons or readiness for your chosen task.
Which button do I need?
| Button and aircraft | What it is for |
|---|---|
| ID — fighters | Investigate and identify a contact. For a new launch, also read the QRA launch guide. |
| ENG — fighters | Order an engagement. Read the distinction from identification before choosing a target. |
| CAP — fighters | Place a fighter patrol over an area. |
| TRG — fighters | Send fighters on an air combat training sortie. This control is hidden during the built-in tutorial lessons. |
| TASK — E-3D or Nimrod | Choose an operating area using the AWACS guide or the Nimrod guide. |
| TRACK — tanker | Set the route the tanker will fly. This button does not select an ordinary radar track. |
| SUP — Hercules or Chinook | Arrange a delivery of fuel or weapons. |
| RDP — based aircraft | Move the aircraft to a different base. |
Why are the lists different?
ASSETS answers “what can I use from this base?” ACTIVE OPS answers “what are my flights doing?” Clicking an airfield on the map opens its own panel, with fuel and weapons figures and a BASED AIRCRAFT section. These views serve different purposes; you should not expect identical lists.
Open an airfield from the map
- While playing, left-click the airfield name on the scope to open its base panel. Read the heading before checking its fuel, weapons and based aircraft.
- If Flight Info opens instead, an aircraft overlaps the area you clicked. Aircraft selection takes priority. Try a clear part of the airfield label; confirm the base name in the panel.
- If you are choosing a task target, tanker route or operating area, that selection can use the map click. Finish the intended selection, or read what CANCEL TASK does before cancelling. Then try the airfield again.
- Move the pointer away from open panels or menus before clicking the scope. A panel can block clicks on the map underneath it. Use the panel-layout guide if it covers the base label.
If a base or aircraft is missing
Scroll the list and check the base name. A completed supply flight leaves its transport at the delivery base. Training missions can provide a smaller selection of assets. A destroyed base is shown crossed out; it is not a source for a new task. For a failed fighter launch, follow the launch checks.
What does CANCEL TASK cancel?
It cancels the selection you are currently making, such as choosing a task location. For a fighter waiting for a target through the ASSETS selection route, cancellation can send that pending fighter to RTB — back to base. Do not use it as an undo button for the fighter’s previous task. It does not recall every aircraft you have launched. Read the tasking guide for the different selection routes, and RTB when you deliberately want a flight to come home.
For TRG, CANCEL TASK ends only the unfinished placement. It does not send an existing training pair home.
What do the totals at the bottom mean?
Read the ASSETS totals guide for FTR, FUEL, WPN and AIR. The summary combines resources; it does not confirm that a particular base can launch the aircraft you want.
Find an aircraft already flying
- Open ACTIVE OPS from the menu bar or press the default G with no text box selected. Find the aircraft by its callsign and type.
- Click > on that row, where shown, to centre the radar map on the aircraft and show its IDENT locating marker. This also filters ASMA to that flight.
- Use the task buttons offered on that ACTIVE OPS row, or select the aircraft and open AC Control. Use ASSETS when you want an aircraft from a base; check the existing flight before launching another.
Close the list and open it again
In a floating panel, use the title-bar × to close it or minimise it to keep only its small bar. Use □ on that bar to restore the list. Reopen ACTIVE OPS from the menu bar or default G; reopen ASSETS from the menu bar or default R, with no text box selected. Closing the list does not cancel its aircraft missions. See panel layout and keyboard settings.
What happens after I press a task button?
| Button in ASSETS | Your next step |
|---|---|
| ID / ENG — fighter | These can begin preparing fighters before you choose the target. Click the intended contact on the map to finish the selection. Read the tasking and cancellation steps first. |
| CAP — fighter | Choose a map location for the patrol. The location is selected before this route requests the aircraft. Follow the CAP steps. |
| TRG — fighter | Choose the training location before aircraft are requested. Follow the training-sortie guide. Cancelling this placement leaves an existing flight on its current task. |
| TASK — E-3D / Nimrod | Choose the operating location before this route requests the aircraft. The E-3D also accepts a supported contact through its own selection rules; Nimrod TASK needs a location. |
| TRACK / SUP / RDP | Finish the tanker’s two map points, supply destination or new base using the relevant guide. The first button press alone does not confirm a completed assignment. |
If ASMA shows QRA LAUNCH FAILED or QRA PAIR FAILED, read the launch checks before trying again. Check ACTIVE OPS for aircraft already created. Do not assume an (x2) inventory count guarantees two ready fighters or click repeatedly to fix a failed request.
Read a grounded aircraft row
Sqn is short for squadron: a unit label in the game. In 101Sqn VC10 (x13), 101 belongs to the unit label, VC10 is the aircraft type and (x13) is the number grouped in that inventory row. The unit number is not a callsign, track serial or aircraft count. The count does not guarantee that every aircraft is ready to launch. After launch, find the actual flight in ACTIVE OPS and compare its complete callsign, type and task. Use the servicing checks if it cannot launch.
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.