text: Army Aviation Operations
  to serve as a SCAR aircrew, aircrews must be prepared to cycle multiple assets through the target area,
  provide prioritized targeting guidance, and monitor enemy air defenses to maximize the effects of each
  sortie.
  ROTARY-WING CLOSE AIR SUPPORT
  3-39. As the aviation element of the ground maneuver plan, Army Aviation is not normally tasked by the
  joint force air component commander to support the JFC’s CAS or air interdiction apportionment guidance.
  However, attack or reconnaissance units must be familiar with and able to respond to and execute
  according to terminal CAS procedures and TTP when they accept terminal control by a joint terminal air
  controller or forward air controller (airborne) during mission execution in support of the joint force. The
  CAS TTP requires the use of a joint terminal air controller or forward air controller (airborne) who is a
  qualified (certified) service member and directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in CAS and other air
  operations. See appendix A for CAS procedures.
  UNIQUE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR ATTACKS
  3-40. When determining what level of planning and preparation is required to execute the attack, the
  commander must balance the time available versus the advantage of executing with tempo and surprise
  with the minimum mission essential information required to understand the friendly forces, terrain,
  weather, and enemy forces to achieve success. Taking too much time to develop perfect information can
  paralyze the operations process, enable the enemy to continue to prepare or move, and may result in missed
  opportunities to seize the initiative. It is normally better to err on the side of speed, audacity, and
  momentum, with the minimum mission essential information, than on attempting to gain complete
  situational understanding prior to conducting attacks. Bold decisions give the best promise of success, but
  commanders must be able to distinguish between having the right level and fidelity of minimum mission
  essential information required to accept prudent risk versus poor or incomplete information that results in
  taking a gamble. Accepting prudent risk requires judgment, foresight, and adequate planning to determine
  whether an operation is worth conducting. Maintaining current and running estimates while executing
  continuous reconnaissance and target development mitigates risk and enables commanders to have greater
  agility and shorter planning cycles to conduct both hasty and deliberate attacks against enemy forces that
  are in or out of contact with friendly forces.
  3-41. During the operations process for attack operations, IPB efforts are focused on determining the
  location, composition, disposition, capabilities, and most likely and most dangerous COAs of the targeted
  enemy force. IPB also focuses on detailed terrain analysis to inform planning for attack routes, attack by
  fire positions, engagement areas, fire support targets, and HAs, as well as the effects on enemy movement
  rates and formations.
  3-42. IPB, when attacking against a moving enemy force, focuses on the most likely enemy high speed
  avenues of approach and cross-mobility corridors within the AO to determine the best terrain on which to
  attack the enemy. Engagement areas are designated on terrain that provides the best friendly fields of fire
  while enabling the attack aviation force to maneuver throughout the depth of the enemy formation using
  adjacent terrain for cover and concealment, while limiting the enemy’s freedom of maneuver. Attack by
  fire positions are selected to enable attack or reconnaissance units to orient fires and maintain freedom of
  action while maintaining maximum standoff during the engagement. Time-distance analysis determines
  expected enemy rates of advance, which establishes where to place named areas of interest to confirm or
  deny an enemy COA and to trigger the attack, as well as where to best place indirect fire targets to
  simultaneously attack the enemy in depth. Target areas of interest, engagement areas, attack by fire
  positions, attack routes, named areas of interest, and observation positions are planned in depth. This
  provides the aviation force the maximum flexibility to maintain contact and exercise disciplined initiative
  to continue the attack throughout the depth of the designated AO.
  3-43. When conducting an attack against a defending or stationary enemy force, IPB focuses on the best
  terrain to conduct the attack from while providing attack or reconnaissance units maximum standoff and
  freedom to maneuver. Enemy reserve locations and counter-attack routes are analyzed to further identify