Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
I've seen close air support missions flow from altitudes that require 02 masks. PGM's allow that. You may want to re-evaluate what you think Close Air Support is.
The Close does not mean "close to the ground" as much as it means "close to own troops" (where the things that go boom arrive). Being a good FAC remains as much art as it does science. While I am at it, let's give a big round of applause for all of those FACs.
(I'll admit a bias to this next bit, given my rotary wing instincts) If you want CAS to show up in a 'close to the ground' mode, there are attack helicopters who can fulfill that role. It doesn't have to be an A-10. (Although they are great at what they do).
In a word, the answer to you exam question
Q: Is close air support still viable?
A: Yes. (But it's not easy)
CAS was never easy. Good CAS requires pilots who are not only good sticks, but warriors.