AH-64 Apache Pilot and Gunner S.O.P.

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Fundamentally you are an attachment asset so you must comply with your
company commander or the F.A.C (forward air control) in regards to orders and
fire missions, you must also stay in contact with the relevant assets to relay
information.

The main duties of an Apache are :

reconnaissance
fire support
asset protection
fire missions

One important aspect of helicopter FLYING AND ENGAGEMENTS lies in using the
terrain to maximum advantage.

Hills, valleys, forests and buildings - there are countless terrain features that can be
used to mask a helicopter from enemy fire and observation. Attack helicopter crews
will often stay low and fast, moving from one covered position to another to avoid
 enemy anti-aircraft artillery.

When it comes time to engage the enemy or scout out areas, the helicopter can
pop up briefly, scan the area or employ weapons against the enemy, and then drop
back down behind a terrain feature so that enemy gunners have little time to
acquire, lock, and fire upon them.

What can can be expected when choosing this role:

Pilot
Flys the helo and is responsible for the safety of all.
Plans the route the helo will use into or out of the combat zone.
Has the final say on LZ selection and is authorized to change the LZ on route
due to threat assessments.
Communicates with the gunner to maintain the gunner's situational
awareness, this includes notifying the gunner of locations of friendly forces,
upcoming maneuvers, and anything else that might assist him.
Maintains situational awareness around the aircraft at all times. The
gunner is often focusing on a given target, such as when using the gunsight,
and thus it is important that the pilot continue to scan.
Maneuvers in a fashion that allows the gunner to effectively engage the
enemy.
Maneuvers in response to the gunner's requests when possible.
Gives guidance to the gunner on weapon type to use for specified target.

Gunner's Role :

Assists in navigation.
Scans and engages the enemy.
Communicates needs to pilot. If the gunner needs the aircraft oriented in
a specific direction, or flying at a given height, he communicates this to
the pilot so that the pilot can fly the aircraft to best accommodate him
where possible.
Communicates with ground forces as required, particularly when the pilot
must concentrate on flying.

Communication:
 Steady. Request from the gunner for the pilot to hold a steady
bearing. Typically used when firing at hard or distant targets to provide
the most stable gun platform.
Rotate (left, right). Gunner notification to the pilot that the aircraft
needs to turn a specific direction to allow him to employ his weapons.
Popping up/pop up. Command from the pilot or gunner to indicate
that the aircraft is going to, or needs to, rise up to clear an obstruction
so that a shot can be taken.
Dropping down/drop down. Command from the pilot or gunner to
indicate that the aircraft is going to, or needs to, drop down behind an
obstruction. This is typically done after a successful shot has been
made.
Firing/engaging. Gunner is engaging with his weaponry. Typically
used when guns are being employed.
Launched, missile away. Gunner confirmation that he has fired his
missile. Lets the pilot know that he is free to maneuver.APKWS
Running in. Pilot notification to the gunner that the aircraft is
heading in for an attack run on a known enemy position.
Breaking left/right/etc. Pilot notification to the gunner that a
significant bank/turn is being employed in the specified direction.

vehicle:
The British Apache AH-64D
 It features a nose-mounted high powered sensor for target
acquisition and night vision systems.
It is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun carried between the main
landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage.
It has four mounts on stub-wings, typically used for carrying a
mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70mm rocket pods.

weapons:
 The Longbow Apache carries the combination of armaments chosen for
the particular mission. In the close support role, the helicopter carries 16
Hellfire missiles on four four-rail launchers and four air-to-air missiles.

30mm M230 cannon

The 30mm automatic Boeing M230 chain gun is located under the
fuselage. It provides a rate of fire of 625 rounds a minute. The
helicopter has capacity for up to 1,200 rounds of ammunition.

hellfire missiles:
 The AH-64D is armed with the Hellfire air-to-surface missile
which has a millimetre wave seeker which allows the missile to
perform fire and forget , on a range of targets from motorised
units to enemy aircraft and even buildings, typically used from
5km to 12 km away.

hydra rockets:

the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS), formerly

known as Hydra, typically a family of guided and unguided
70mm rockets which can be used at a range of 1 km - 7km.

countermeasures:
 flares

Flares are burning objects ejected from aircraft to attempt to evade

infrared (heat-seeking) missiles.

Effective against: Infrared-guided (I.R) missiles. The heat of the

flares confuses the missile seeker, causing it to chase after a heat
source that may not be the aircraft itself.
Flares can also prevent the missile from being able to lock onto the
aircraft before being fired.

usage
Whenever you think an IR missile has been launched at you, or
when pulling out of an attack run or flying over known enemy
positions.