Question about readying non-combat aircraft.

[HalfLifeExpert]

When I was playing Armed Diplomacy, I set up a mission for the AWACS planes from Okinawa, E-3B Sentrys.

Three of the four were ready to go, with one not having any loadout. I wanted the fourth ready, just in case I needed it, so I had to ready it with Airborne Early Warning Loadout.

It took 3 hours to ready the aircraft. I could afford the time of course because I had three others ready, but I don't understand why I need to 'Ready' an airplane that has literally no other purpose than that loadout. I understand it being down for maintnence and the equipment being taken out for that, but why does it take 3 hours to ready an AWACS plane that was listed as "no loadout" and how could it have "no loadout"?

I have read the CMANO article on ready times and quick turnaround several times, and fully understand the need for them with combat aircraft, as in ones that carry stuff other than fuel that you don't want to have a cigarette around, but how do those principles apply to non-combat support aircraft, specifically ones like the Sentry that have no purpose other than AEW Support?

I'm not complaining, I just want to understand, it can't possibly take 3 hours to fuel, flight check and get the crew onto the Sentry can it? What else needs to be done? Especially since that plane will always have the AEW load out unless down for maintenance.

[gattomatto]

Maybe crew briefings, start and check procedures..

I don't think its crew is supposed to rush to the aircraft without shoes, à la Gathering of Eagles

[HalfLifeExpert]

However, the Sentrys had not yet been assigned a mission, and I didn't assign that specific aircraft until it was ready, so where does the briefing come in?

[gattomatto]

Yes, but that's game mechanics [:)]

Mission assignement is instantaneous. In the ready time the commanding officers had to explain the crew what you had (would have) in mind [:D]

[HalfLifeExpert]

Yeah I suppose, my other question is how a Sentry can possibly have "no loadout" and not down for maintenance, when the stuff needed for AEW is built into the airplane.

[mikmykWS]

Yeah remember that part of the ready process in Command is briefings and all the other things that occur prior to a flight. Don't get too caught up in the mechanical things because it encompasses more.

Mike

[Primarchx]

Command has put a lot of long hours into creating a/c ready times. The entire surge/sustained ops method is a nod to keeping a/c aloft during peak periods of combat as compared to sustained campaigns. One main consideration is that while there are many anecdotal testimonials (both real and theoretical) of combat sortie generation , actual wartime sortie rates are usually less intensive. The six hour strike ready time provides a hard limit of 3 or 4 strike sorties a day per aircraft in surge ops, for example, and only once or twice per day in sustained campaigns.

[ComDev]

It is explained here:
http://www.warfaresims.com/?page_id=3262