Matrix Games Forums

Try readying some planes for a recon mission and manually launching them (instead of waiting for "do you want to launch floatplanes" message). The set up strike box will ask you for a target for the mission. You already gave them a target when you set up their search arc, but when you give them a target they actually go there like they were on naval strike (and then roam around).

Do you have a screenshot or a save game where you can demonstrate this?

I'll do it the next time I have a battle with scout floatplanes but you can duplicate it yourself by
1. starting a battle with ships with floatplanes on your side
2. using the setup air mission window to ready the planes for recon mission
3. once they are ready, select them and click launch mission
4. noting that the window requires you to pick a location or ship target for the mission
5. observing the behavior of the planes when you do. I picked a location close to the launching ships, and they flew to that location, then fanned out and began what appeared to be normal search behavior.