455th Scramble Competition - 2024

Allright - lets kick this off ( Thanks for all the input Mirv! )

To participate - submit recording(s) where the judge is audible and the recording is clear enough to see switch settings. Anyone may judge - following these rules. I will arbitrate in case of disputes!


Purpose
1. Measure the scramble performance or the speed/efficiency at which a pilot can start their engine and be airborne in minimal time.
2. To determine who's the King of Ground Ops, with bragging rights!
3. To challenge each of us and have some fun.

RULES
1.
The pilot will sit "QRA" after alert cocking their aircraft for QRA. Once the pilot is ready - a judge will issue the go command at a random time and start a stop watch. The judge can be in-game or observing via a Discord Stream. Add 1s for lag if using a Discord Stream when timing off blocks.

2. Once the "GO" command is received, the pilot will sit in the cockpit for 15 seconds prior to any switch action. This will simulate running to and climbing in the aircraft from an attached alert facility.

3. The applicable checklist items must be accomplished per MDS with all items complete. Items missed will be deducted accordingly, even if they are corrected later.

4. The order of accomplishment is not tied to checklist order, and may be accomplished as the pilot's wishes as long as it makes sense and is completed. Procedural errors will result in deductions (EX: not positioning EPU guard switch off before EPU pin is "pulled", or oxygen is OFF prior to the check, etc.). The checklist and overall scramble must be accomplished in a safe and expeditious manner consistent with technical orders and local guidance, this includes setting the aircraft up for alert. If no checklists exist, make one, then follow it ! :)
Deviations from alert-rigging/QRA cocking in order to "gain time" will result in deductions.

5.
Any "safety of flight" item missed or incorrectly accomplished will result in a severe deduction or a zero score, depending on the nature of the infraction. Don´t push it.

6. Maximum allowable scramble time - 5 minutes as measured from GO until taxi out of chocks. If the time is not met, the score will be zero. Time below this threshold will result in increased points. Although the time measured is from go to taxi, the pilot is still under scrutiny for safety of flight items until takeoff.

7. The pilot will monitor the tower during taxi out and takeoff.

8. Highest score out of (up to) 3 runs/submissions per pilot wins at end of year.

9. Use of auto-start scripts is prohibited.

Note: The pilot is responsible for recording the entire sequence in the cockpit with either their native graphics driver recording function or a third party recorder (i.e., OBS,etc). No video, no score. Be sure to include the recording of switches being set to "cock" the aircraft for alert.

TLDR; Grab a buddy to judge, record your scramble ( including the cocking of the jet), submit it in this thread - include trackfile if you can please ( for B-roll and montage purposes!), follow the checklists, be fast but be safe.

scramble_2024.png
 
F-16 QRA Preparation ( I will clean this up - if items are listed under a checklist, then they are required and rest can be skipped. If nothing is listed, then the entire checklist applies.

PREFLIGHT
Perform the following preflight inspections prior to placing the aicraft on quick response status:
1. EXTERIOR INSPECTION.
( stores!)
2. BEFORE ENTERING COCKPIT.
3. COCKPIT INTERIOR CHECK.
4. BEFORE STARTING ENGINE.

Chocks in place.
5. STARTING ENGINE.
6. AFTER ENGINE START.
2. AVIONICS POWER panel - Set.
a. MMC switch - MMC.
b. ST STA switch - ST STA.
c. MFD switch - MFD.
d. UFC switch - UFC.
e. GPS TRK switch - GPS TRK.
3. EGI - Align STOR/HDG
4. SNSR PWR panel:
a. LEFT HDPT switch - OFF, unless required.
b. RIGHT HDPT switch - As required.
c. FCR switch - FCR.
d. RDR ALT switch - RDR ALT.
*5. HUD/ASHM - As desired.
6. C & I knob - UFC.
...
21. Trim - Check - "centered".

7. Aircraft cocked for scramble - Per local policies and directives.

When you get the go - 15s then:

AIRCRAFT ON QUICK RESPONSE STATUS
1. FLCS power - Check.
2. MAIN PWR Switch - MAIN PWR.
3. Engine - Start.
4. Canopy - Close and lock.
5. Instruments - Check.
6. EPU GEN and EPU PMG lights - Confirm off.
7. EPU - Check.
8. SNSR PWR switches - As Required.
9. AVIONICS POWER switches - As Required.
10. INS knob - STOR HDG.
11. FLCS BIT - Accomplish.
12. MFD's - As desired.
13. SMS - As desired.
14. HUD - As required.
15. INS knob - NAV.
16. OXYGEN system - 100%.
17. Chocks and safety pins (ground crew) - Remove.
18. Brakes and NWS - Check.
19. Ejection safety lever - Armed (down).
20. Flight control surfaces - Cycle.
21. IFF - As Required. Note: set 4550 Mode 3C ( 1,2,4,C if BMS as well).

Red items are safety of flight items for scoring....
 
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