ARA approach??

[bobs98tlr]

I was at work today at RFD airport and was watching a C-130 doing all sorts of approaches. He was out here for about 4-5 hours doing pattern work and approachs. Several of his request where for an ARA approach. I have never heard of this im sure its a military thing but if someone could please break down this approach and explain what it is? Thanks.

BTW: If anyone knows where Sweat 84???(call sign, spelling?) is from im kinda currious. I bevlieve its an Air Force reserve unit in Milwakee but im not sure.

 

[NTS ALL 4]

ARA=Airborne Radar Approach

It's like a ASR but the navigator tells the pilots when to turn. The air traffic controller lets the nav be the controller when he says, "Cleared for the ARA to XX Runway." The C-130 Navigator finds the airfield on radar and draws a Center Line Fix to the outer marker and beyond. In training, the crews normally have an approach chart drawn locally by the unit, it looks/feels just like a VOR straight-in. Then he tells the pilots when to turn, stop turn, descent profiles. The approach minimums are usually that of a non-proc approach (500 HAA and 3 miles). We used to only be able to do them VFR, but technically you could use them to land on a highway in the desert like all of the Middle East or some unsecure airfield in some Sh$thole-stan in the middle east. The C-130 Navigator's are unlike any others in their field. The back up the pilots on all flights. They map read on low levels, time and distance, threat avoidance, and chaff/flare back-up for surface to air missles, timing for airdrops of men and equipment. They used to have to navigate by Celestial across the ocean, just like Magellan. That was before GPS. Some are pretty good at navigating by the stars. Usually within 2-5 miles. Not bad after flying across the pond.

All in all, the navigator is a great tool for the C-130 crew. I wouldn't leave the USA without one. Saved my a$$ more times than I can remember, on and off the plane.
Hope this helps.

 

[bobs98tlr]

Yeah, that did help. Thanks for the info. Im working on getting a loadmaster spot in the Illinois Air Guard, cant wait to go flying on a C-130. My dad use to be a crew cheif on the 130 from 70-74' he tells be about the how they would navigate by the stars when crossing the ocean. Thanks again.

 

[trashhauler]

Pretty sure call sign 'Sweet' is based in Milwaulkee.

 

[Spur]

In the C-130H3, the newer radar made for much more accurate ARAs. The Nav just put his radar cursor on a known reference (Offset Aimpoint) and the pilot flew the ARA off of the HSI. Better than a localizer since you had crosstrack error available.

We flew them to 300-1.

 

[smarc130]

...and then theres the SCA, to the blacked out, 2500ft assault zone, for all you SPEC OPS groupies. Or the Talon II with the TFTR, thats PFM.

 

[dtfl]

and..

The IPRA for us J model guys sans Nav