embellished target

[alosaurus]

Over the North Sea yesterday and heard a guy ask two controllers if he could be used as an "embellished target for any of your fighters".
Never heard this before....didn't realise you could ask to be intercepted...anyone got any more info on this?
Wouldn't mind doing it next time I am positioning an aircraft empty but can't find any info on it in our ops manual.

[OwnNav]

I was over the North Sea once, working a Mil freq when they asked if I minded being 'embellished', after my initial query of "Whats that ?" they assured me it was for intercept training and after a few mild vectors, two Harriers pulled up alongside, waved and smartly peeled off, very impressive !

[Keygrip]

I used to add "Embellish" to "Remarks" section of the ICAO flight plan when I was charter flying, off airways - expecially over East Anglia (UK). PA31 - Chieftain.

It was an automatic signal to ATC that I was open for interception and I was usually handed over to London Mil for my radar service.

It proffered me a great service from ATC and a fantastic air display for the passengers - who were kept informed over the PA. They loved it.

[Jerricho]

You sure it's not one of those stories that starts "Bah, back in my day when I started controlling.........." :p :E

[Cuddles]

Nope, still happens, I still get the odd 'phone call to ask if one of my a/c is happy to be 'embellished'

A bit OT this but what the hell.

One day LATCC mil were understaffed and I got a 'phone call from Coningsby from an F3 pilot asking me if I could give a ris to 2 tornados in the Wash. I agreed.

They flew into the wash, then one turned round and they flew apart for 30 or 40 miles, then turned towards each other.

Me:- xxx1 traffic information, 12 o clock range 25 miles opposite direction 2500ft'

xxx1:- 'traffic copied'

Me:- xxx2 traffic information 12 o clock range 22 miles opposite direction 2500 ft'

xxx2:- 'traffic copied'

Me:- 'xxx1 traffic now 12 o clock 15 miles opposite direction 2500 ft

xxx1 'Erm, is that the other tornado?'

Me:- 'Affirm'

xxx1:- 'I'd rather you didn't tell us about each other, we're meant to be looking for each other ourselves'

Me:- 'Roger'

then they turned around and started another fight

As there was no other traffic, I kept very quiet indeed, but they DID ask for a RIS, and a RIS is what they got.:ugh:

[BOAC]

Best not let your CAA flight ops inspector find out!

[PPRuNe Radar]

Allegedly you can't be 'embellished' above FL290 until the Typhoon comes in to operational service ;)

[alosaurus]

If OK below FL290 then is BOAC wrong in saying the CAA would have a problem with this kind of request?

[ATCO17]

I remember last year when an aircraft diverted into Humberside with some "unaccounted for baggage on board". At the time, ther were two Typhoons airborne from Warton to work the Scopies over the North Sea. The Scopies heard about the diversion and asked the Typhoons to escort the aircraft into Humberside. Unfortunately, nobody thought to tell the Humberside controller who was providing a RAS at the time. So, the Typhoons were trying to get alongside this aircraft whilst the Humberside controller was desperately trying to avoid them!:ugh:

[BOAC]

Old news, I grant you, but I was warned by my ops inspector in 1986 that if I continued putting 'Embellish' on my flight plans he would withdraw my AOC, so I found other ways:)

[chevvron]

Embellish has been used for many years for the purposes described; I would have thought all operators would know; it was always detailed in the London Military Radar 'book of words' (can't remember its correct title; haven't seen it for years!)

[BOAC]

The problem has developed because a few 'near misses' have occurred with intercepts of civil a/c by RAF fighters. One collision and at least one extremely fortunate near missile 'kill'.

[ATCO17]

As long as the embellishing aircraft switch off their Mode C as they approach, it's not usually a problem. Otherwise, TCAS RAs all over the place!

[anotherthing]

I was under the impression from a few years ago now (just before I left the Mil); that embellishing civil aircraft was frowned upon??

[The Ugly Fend Off]

To be 'embellished' is to be intercepted by ARMED aircraft for their training.

[javelin]

Atco 17 - No, that was standard inbound vectoring for Humberside :eek:

[Wyler]

Embellished tgts are still sought on a regular basis. It provides some non standard trg for the fighter crews and the AD network. I have yet to request permission to intercept a Civil aircraft, unless pre arranged or part of a trial.
Interesting to hear that some pilots would welcome it. Civil ATC would not be too happy though, depending on the sirspace, which is why we tend to stick to our own.

[London Mil]

To be 'embellished' is to be intercepted by ARMED aircraft for their training.


A bit of scaremongering there. The aircraft may or may not be ARMED and, in any case, there is a long list of 'challenge and response' safety checks bofore and during any intercept.