VMC Tanker Pattern Altitudes
Table 11-16 lists the VMC recovery tanker pattern altitudes.
Tanker pattern during launch and
Minimum altitude
recovery operations Case I/II
Day 1,500 feet
Left-hand circle within 5 nm from the
carrier
Night 2,500 feet
Table 11-16 -- VMC tanker pattern altitudes
IMC Tanker Pattern Altitudes
Table 11-17 lists the IMC recovery tanker pattern altitudes.
Tanker pattern during launch and
Minimum altitude day and night
recovery operations Case III
As assigned by departure
2,500 feet or higher and 1,000 feet above
an overcast cloud layer or VMC between
cloud layers
Table 11-17 -- IMC tanker pattern altitudes
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