Officer Commanding 9 Sqn, Staff Instructor and Other Officers present
Assalamualaikum and a very good morning to you all. I Welcome you all to my
todays presentation which is about The Forward Air Controller. The aim of my
presentation is to give idea about forward air controller and FAC procedures. I shall
take about 15 minutes of your valuable time to deliver my presentation. After my
presentation I would be happy to clear your queries. The sequence I am going to
follow is flashed on the screen.
Now the first question that comes to our mind is, what is a forward air controller?
A FAC is an officer of armed forces, who from a forward position (ground or air),
directs the action of combat aircraft, engaged in CAS for land forces.
At first I would like to give a brief idea of what is a close air support starting from the
taxonomy of air power.
Air Operations is classified into two types. Combat Air Ops and Combat Sup Air Ops.
Combat Air Ops is further classified into three types. Counter Air Ops, Anti Surface
Force Ops and Strategic Air Ops. By further classifying Anti Surface Force Ops, we
get Land Air Ops and Maritime Air Ops. This Land Air Ops can be of three types.
These are Air Interdiction, Offensive Air Support and Tactical Air Reconnaissance.
Offensive Air Support consists of Battlefield air Interdiction and Close Air Support.
In this slide, we can see at first the line called FLOT or Forward Line of Own Troops.
In lame language, it is the front line for our own troops. After that comes the FSCL or
Fire Support Coordination Line. This is the maximum distance upto which our
friendly Artillery can reach. And at last is the RIPL or Reconnaissance Interdiction
Planning Line. This line seperates the leading elements of enemy forces from their
reserve and supporting elements.
CAS is carried out between the FLOT and FSCL consisting of a area of 1525 KM. I
have told that FSCL is the maximum distance upto which friendly artillery can reach.
Then why do we need CAS? The guys who fires Artillery lies very very far from the
battlefield and fires without seeing the target depending upon coordinates given by
Front Line Troops. When the battle gets really close with enemy, then Artillery fire is
very risky as it can hit own troops as well. Then comes the necessity of CAS. Now it
is very difficult for the pilot who is doing a CAS mission to identify friends of foes.
More over friendly aircraft may also be hit by friendly artillery. So coordination with
an FAC is must to guide the aircraft towards the target with safety. Beyond FSCL
and RIPL, at a distance of 60-100 KM, any attack is called BAI. Here no coordination
with FAC is requied as there are usually no friendly troops. But coordination with
ASOC is required. ASOS is situated in div/bde HQ of army. They are responsible of
coordinating Air Support operations. Any kind of attack beyond RIPL is air
Interdiction. Air Interdiction targets are usually en supply centres, factories, HQs etc
which are usually strategic targets. Here no coordination with ASOS is required
either but these attacks are carried out through joint planning in ACOC.
Now comes the duties and responsibility of an FAC.
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An FAC assists the friendly pilot to identify the friendly troops and the enemy troops.
FAC also ensures safety of own aircraft
FAC is also responsible for reporting the result of the attack and ask for Re-Attack if
necessary.
FAC also acts as CAP Controller.
FAC assists in the preparation of Air Reconnaissance Requirements.
FAC also advices the ground force commander on air matters.
Now I will be describing how actually an FAC controls an aircraft
FAC carries a Map and an RT set. At first the pilot establishes communication with
the FAC. FAC tells the pilot about the location of Pre IP that he chosed which is a
common point known to both FAC and Pilot………………….
I would like to show one video clip to give a more clear idea about FAC.
Before going to the FAC course, I have heard that FAC is required for Army only.
There is no requirements for Air Force. I have also heard that only ATC and ADWC
officers need this course in Air Force. I have even heard that it is a course for Fighter
Pilots. A helicopter does not need this course. But after going to this course, I have
found that this course is important for air force as well and specially for a helicopter
pilot. A fighter pilot flies at very high speed. It is very difficult for him to understand
the ground situation. A transport pilot also flies at a high speed and also a huge
height. It is also difficult for him to understand the ground situation. A helicopter pilot
flies at a slow speed and at very low altitude. Having the advantage of height and
reach, he can easily understand ground situation. More over, he can see the
battlefield more than land forces for the advantage of height. So he can play a vital
role in battlefield supporting his own troops.
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