Episode 67

34th Fighter Squadron

Angels 28, 400 Miles Southeast of Hainan Island

If you are intercepted by U.S. military or law enforcement aircraft, remain predictable. Do not adjust your altitude, heading, or airspeed until directed to by the intercepting aircraft. An intercepted aircraft must, without delay: 1. Adhere to instructions relayed through the use of visual devices, visual signals, and radio communications from the intercepting aircraft. 2. Attempt to establish radio communications with the intercepting aircraft or with the appropriate ATC facility by making a general call on guard (121.5 MHz), giving the identity, position, and nature of the flight. 3. If transponder equipped, squawk 7700 unless otherwise instructed by ATC. 4. The crew of the intercepted aircraft must continue to comply with interceptor aircraft signals and instructions until positively released. For more information, read section 5-6-2 in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)

FAA Intercept Procedures
https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2015/media/Intercept-Procedures.pdf

“Civilian Airliner, this is US Air Force on guard. Respond.”

The Airbus A-350 in Air China livery continued on its laborious way. Seemly indifferent to the presence of armed US warplanes.

“Ram lead to Sentry Seven, do you have their flight number?”

“Ram, their flight number is CA two four three. Charley Alpha Two Four Three.”

“Air China Flight Charley Alpha Two Four Three. This is US Air Force on Guard. Squawk Seven Seven Zero Zero and turn to heading One Seven Zero. Acknowledge.” In theory, all airliners are supposed to monitor the “guard” frequency of 121.5 MHz at all times. In practice, many didn’t. However, in this case, they must know about the no-fly zone and thus should be expecting a challenge.

“Skippy, back off and take tail formation. I’m going to get their attention.”

“Gotcha Coco. Watch your ass.”

“Affirmative.”

Lieutenant Colonel Williamson carefully added throttle so that his F-35A would overtake the large airliner as he slid to his left. Traditionally, airliners were piloted from the left side so he wanted to approach from that side where the pilot in command would get a good look at him. Flying only a few miles an hour faster than the civilian jet, he took station to the left and just ahead. Looking over his shoulder, he could clearly see the pilots looking at him. He waved to them and gestured to his ear. Hopefully, they would get the idea and get on the radio.

“Air China Flight Charley Alpha Two Four Three. This is US Air Force on Guard. If you cannot respond, flash your running lights.” Slowly, Williamson flashed his running lights. On, off, on off. Still no response from the airliner.

“Air China Flight Charley Alpha Two Four Three. You are within the five hundred mile exclusion zone. Change course now. Change course or we will engage you.”

Still no response. Slowly, Williamson started a left turn, the international signal for “follow me” when military jets intercept unknown or civilian aircraft.

“Watch it, Coco, he’s not turning.”

“Dammit. This guy is stubborn.”

Williamson turned back to parallel the large jet. Sliding forward again, he looked back over to the cockpit. The two pilots obviously knew he was there, he was close enough to see them gesturing and perhaps talking on the radio.

“Skippy, I’m going to close up a bit. Give them one more chance.”

“Dammit Coco, we’re not going to shoot him down.”

“Chill down Skippy. I’m not going to shove a missile up his ass. There are probably kids on this goddamn plane. We just want them to turn around.”

“Just watch yourself.”

“As always.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. I haven’t forgotten your stunt in Jedi Transition.”

Williamson grinned behind his oxygen mask. He loved his wingman like a brother. They had been flying together for almost a full year and the war had only deepened their professional bond and friendship. Unfortunately, he had a tendency to mother and didn’t quickly forget times when he felt that his squadron commander had exceeded the bounds of common sense. You do one dumb ass move in training and you’re branded for life. Sigh. We all have crosses to bear. Williamson chuckled a bit in the cockpit.

Slowly, Williamson took a position directly in front of and just above the A-350. While the “jet wash” off the smaller jet would not be dangerous to the larger aircraft, they would definitely feel the buffeting as the smaller plane disturbed the air. Slowly, he eased the plane back and down. While the AN/AAQ-37 “Distributed Aperture System” hadn’t been designed for this purpose, it had a side benefit of allowing Williamson to look down and below his aircraft while he was flying. With the imagery displayed onto his helmet visor, he was able to “see” the larger civilian aircraft even though it was in his blind spot.

Come on, blink! You son of a bitch!

It appeared that the pilots of the civilian airliner had no intention of complying with Williamson’s demands. After a few seconds of flying VERY close to the airliner, he increased separation a bit. Thinking for a few seconds, he slid the plane over to the right and then abruptly cut across the nose of the airliner, using the international signal for “comply right now!” As he crossed over the nose, he reached over to his countermeasures suite and toggled the flare release twice.

“Whoah! Look out Coco!!” The airliner suddenly lurched into a very steep dive. Nothing the F-35A could not match, but much more violent than would be expected from a civilian airliner.

“I see! I see!”

Williamson inverted his F-35A, reversed his turn and followed the plane down. It was relatively easy for him to match the maneuver. However, he was becoming concerned about the safety of the A-350. Soon, the two aircraft were plummeting down below fifteen thousand feet.

“Air China Flight Charley Alpha Two Four Three. Level off and turn to heading one seven zero. You cannot outmaneuver me. Repeat, cease maneuver and turn to one seven zero.”

“He’s gaining a shit ton of speed in that dive.”

“I’m staying with him.”

“Passing 500 knots. He’s going to over-speed that thing.”

“What’s his max-v?”

“Dunno. But it can’t be that high.”

“Shit.”

Unlike a fighter aircraft, airliners were designed for economy, not performance. Civilian airliners used relatively small control surfaces called “elevators” on the horizontal stabilizer to change the pitch of the aircraft and make it go up and down. The USAF had discovered as part of their attempt to break the sound barrier in the ’50s that these small control surfaces had limits as speed increases. Most military aircraft (including the F-35) used a “stabilator” which meant that the entire rear control surface moved. This provided much more control, especially at high speeds above Mach 1. In this case, it meant that the A-350 was dangerously close to losing control.

“Air China Flight Charley Alpha Two Four Three. Level off. Say again, level off and reduce speed. You are endangering your aircraft.”

As the two planes descended, they continued to increase speed. Williamson glanced at his airspeed, Mach 0.99. Oh, shit.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday. CA Two Four Three declaring an emergency. Mayday, mayday, mayday.” The voice of the Chinese pilot was strained but under control.

Dammit. “Charley Alpha Two Four Three, you are over speed. Deploy your air brakes IMMEDIATELY. Repeat deploy air brakes.”

“Coco, you are crossing angels five. Get out of there.”

“Charley Alpha Two Four Three, repeat, you are over speed. YOU ARE OVER SPEED. Deploy your air brakes IMMEDIATELY. Pull up NOW! Pull up! Pull up!”

“Goddammit COCO! Get the fuck out of there!”

With a sigh, Williamson flipped his plane over and pulled back HARD. He grunted as the g-forces pressed him back in his seat. Outside the cockpit, he could see the ocean, dangerously close. “It’s OK, skippy. It’s OK.”

“Jesus Christ! That big bitch just flew right into the ocean!”

Oh my God. What have I done? “Mayday, mayday mayday. We have a civilian airliner down. Say again, civilian airliner down. 15 degrees, 14 minutes North, 114 degrees 19 minutes East. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”