text: Chapter 10
  strategy for achieving the multinational commander’s operation plan. This is a continuous process developed
  as units use air tasking orders and airspace control orders. The multinational force uses this process to ensure
  it has adequate air assets to achieve the commander’s objectives. Air operations planning involves—
  • Identifying air objectives that contribute to the multinational campaign objectives.
  • Determining the air strategy to exploit multinational air assets to support the multinational
  objectives.
  • Identifying centers of gravity to satisfy the multinational force’s strategic, operational, and tactical
  objectives.
  10-6. The air tasking cycle that uses orders—such as the air tasking order and airspace control order—
  promotes efficient and effective use of the available multinational air capabilities and assets. It begins with
  the multinational commander’s air apportionment and culminates with the combat assessment of previous
  missions and sorties. The cycle provides repetition for planning, coordinating, allocating, and tasking air
  missions and sorties while following the multinational commander’s guidance. The cycle accommodates
  changes in an operational situation or to the commander’s guidance. It also accommodates late notice requests
  for support from other commanders. The air tasking cycle is an analytical, systematic approach that focuses
  targeting efforts on supporting operational requirements to produce an air tasking order. A timely
  multinational air tasking order is critical. Other commanders conduct planning and operations based on the
  content and scheduling in the air tasking order, and they depend on its accuracy. (Refer to FM 3-52 for more
  information on air tasking cycle.)
  10-7. During the initial planning of operations, commanders and staff consider methods to sustain and
  maintain air assets for the entire operation. Planners consider the host nation’s support and use of established
  airfields, airports, and maintenance infrastructure. Sustaining aerial platforms during large-scale combat
  operations could pose significant issues if the force is using air assets further away from their sustainers
  during offensive operations. Maintaining the fleet of air assets might hinder planners if units overuse certain
  assets. Commanders and staffs must know the capabilities and limitations of all air assets as well as methods
  to sustain and maintain each platform in the multinational force.
  AIRSPACE CONTROL
  10-8. Airspace control complements and supports a multinational commander’s campaign plan without
  adding undue restrictions and with minimal adverse impacts on the capabilities of any multinational forces.
  Each commander uses the airspace with maximum freedom consistent with the degree of operational risk
  directed by the multinational commander. Airspace control procedures—
  • Prevent mutual interference.
  • Facilitate the classification and identification of aerial platforms.
  • Accommodate and expedite the safe flow of all air traffic.
  • Enhance combat effectiveness to support the multinational objectives.
  • Prevent fratricide.
  10-9. When designated by the multinational commander, the airspace control authority can—
  • Establish an airspace control system.
  • Prepare the airspace control plan.
  • Promulgate the relevant airspace control orders.
  • Implement airspace control means.
  • Harmonize regional airspace control plans.
  • Synchronize subordinate unit airspace plans.
  10-10. The airspace control authority should establish an airspace control system that responds to the needs
  of the multinational force commander. The airspace control system rapidly distributes airspace control orders
  and updates to all multinational force commanders in an area of responsibility. All component commanders
  comply with the airspace control plan. However, the multinational commander provides procedures to
  adjudicate differences that the airspace control authority and the component commanders cannot resolve.
  Centralized direction by the airspace control authority does not imply that it assumes operational control or
  tactical control over any air assets.