Hack

[Trust Kermit]

I have sat through and delivered more met briefs than I've had b0ll0ckings but I am still confused as to why we say 5...4...3...2...1...hack at the start of the brief.TK :confused:

I am happy with why we say 5...4...etc before anyone tries to be funny! ;)

[Genghis the Engineer]

Hack is a word used for it's clarity and shortness to define a point in time. It's most commonly used in flight, when you are monitoring something and somebody else is wielding the stopwatch.

In a briefing, it's done at the timecheck, the "Hack" is said at a particular point in time - usually exactly a given minute ("the time now is "0832 Zulu, 5,4,3,2,1 Hack"). So that everybody can check that their watches are set correctly and the same.

G

[Trust Kermit]

Aaaah...all is clear.

Just wondered why the word hack was used but now I know.

Thanks

TK :)

[Jackonicko]

Actually it's a token of the RAF's exaggerated respect for the media, and a reminder that everyone should consider the PR implications of even the smallest action.......

Or perhaps it isn't?

[left one o clock]

I don't know if it still is (not having a copy to hand) but the definition of the brevity codeword 'hack' used to be in the ATP65.

[Suit]

Brevity codeword?

How about "now" or is that too simple?

Suit

[Genghis the Engineer]

Far too simple. Any anyway, it's a nice word.

If it really is in AvP, will somebody post the wording, I'd love to know the official definition.

G

[left one o clock]

Correction to my last, that's ACP165 not ATP. And believe it or not, the definition is restricted. I kid u not.

[Talking Radalt]

Still can't beat a sarcastic "5...4...3...2...1...Hack; it's Monday morning"

[Grey Area]

So why does the RN use "Mark" ? Was Mark a journo?

[AllTrimDoubt]

Being of a truly "joint" persona, perhaps we should use
"3,2,1..Hark!" :D

[ 10 December 2001: Message edited by: AllTrimDoubt ]

[OOPS 78]

You could try the SAR way, stagger in and go 2,1 er Tuesday no sorry Thursday, anyway er the weather. :D :D :D

[Olly O'Leg]

Nahhhhh..... I `erd it woz because the word Chop isn't very politically correct these days...... ;) ;) ;)

[Chinook]

How about this for a new idea ... 5..4..3..2..1..Time!!!

Or will all the old farts like me race for the bar instead of ALSE?

:) :) :D

[Cooperman]

You guys are way behind!

We use "standby to hack........hack.....now" to avoid confusion over when you should hack. Clever eh?

I'll get my coat............ :(

[BEagle]

Other options:

1. Digital wall display slaved to the international time broadcast.

2. Use p-code GPS from the aircraft FMS display.

3. Put the speaking clock on through a loudspeaker - it'll embarrass anyone late for the brief!!

4. What is a 'morning brief' anyway? Something for Learning Command or the 8-to-5ers, but hardly appropriate for the 24/7 world? (BEagle writes this knowing that he has to be in at 0640 in case the fog miraculously clears...the best the TAF is giving is 'becoming broken at 200ft, tempo scattered at 600 ft, becoming 13-20 broken at 100ft....oh good!!)

[ 11 December 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

[Tigs]

But at which point during the statement "Hack" do you actually Hack? Is it at the "H" or the "K", or indeed for "Hack Now", even more complicated on a monday morning. This could be an A2 question on your next Staneval you know.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I believe that you mentally confirm the action on the H, carry through on the a, and complete on the ck. Makes perfect sense to me.

G

[Olly O'Leg]

No, no, `cos there's a built in time for the lead's hand to travel off the clock and then to hit the stopwatch, so it's "Standby to hack......hack now", pause...... hack!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Cooperman]

Olly, are you sure.....I didn't read that in the SOPs.

"SOPs, what SOPs?"

Yep, fair cop gov'.

I'll get my Muckluks..... ;)

[Tigs]

Genghis
You have a fair point, but our last Ops clerk had a stutter and by the time we had mentally prepared for the moment on H (I think there were 6 or 7 H's included) we were all ten seconds late by the time he got to ck. Still thats SH timing for you.

[MightyGem]

Two questions:
1. Does anyone actually adjust their watch to that of the briefer's

2. With pips on the radio, the clock on beeb tv and gps, why do so many briefers have their watch at the wrong time.
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Arm out the window]

The correct way to set your watch must be, of course, to wait for the words "Standby to hack....hack!", then wait the time it takes for a standard marching pace, then press the button on your watch.

Then realise that it hasn't started and just ring up the speaking clock.

[Olly O'Leg]

Yeah, but if it's anything like our Met Man, there's utter silence over the `phone for about three minutes (lots of throat-clearing sounds though) and then all of a sudden "Hack"!!!!!!! Loads of use....... Oh and he can't predict the weather for toffee as well, but that's old news!!!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[BEagle]

Point of order. What is a 'standard marching pace'?...in fact, what the foxtrot is 'marching'??

[tony draper]

Draper don't wear a watch,write the time down on a piece of paper before you leave home, same as me. ;)

[Olly O'Leg]

Hmmmmm, I'd like to see everyone taking a step forward in met just before they hack their watches!!! Could be amusing.......

;) ;) ;)

[3m Strop Carrier]

Does it matter as most peoples watches are normally all telling different times. I find that if u try to then adjust to the correct morning brief time, you miss the rest of the brief.

However as were all now joint should we say "Hack, Welcome to shareholders"

[Art Field]

Heard at a morning brief at an USAF airshow," Standby for a hack on the ramp". Now what the **** does that mean?

[Arm out the window]

That must mean that they're saving time by getting the 'standby' out of the way beforehand, and now he can just shout "Hack!" out of context any old time he feels like it.

P.S. I don't know what a standard marching pace is either, I just mentioned it because that was supposedly the period of time that you had to wait in formation between a call for something and the actual selection, e.g.
"Flaps, go" - pause - select;

or something like that!

[ 14 December 2001: Message edited by: Arm out the window ]

[Tigs]

This standard marching pace business, explains why the Gurkhas (SP?) watches are always slightly faster than ours!

[Olly O'Leg]

Good point Tigs!!! Perhaps they have 25hrs in their day.......

;) ;) ;)

[Jimmifly]

Dunno why we even bother to try hacking the fine time piece that is issued to us pilots. Mine gains about 5 seconds a day, then loses 10 mins over the weekend! :)

[Olly O'Leg]

Tell you what fella, there's one of the lads here at work who owns a Breitling and it's rubbish at keeping time compared to my issue watch (yeah, yeah all you owners - I know it's precision timepiece with a mechanical action, but it's not that precision is it.....?)

Pull pin, throw, put hand to ear and wait for blast....... :p :p :p

[Flatus Veteranus]

OO'L

In 1956 I bought a Rolex Explorer in Aden - cost me an arm and a leg by the standards of the day. In 1980 I took it into a Rolex dealer in London and told him the self-winder was tired and asked how much for a general service. £50 + spares. I asked how much for the Seiko on display? £50. Thanks, I'll take it. About 4 new batteries later it still keeps better time than the Rolex ever did even when its fancy "chronometer certificate" was still in force. IMHO watches are for time-keeping, not fashion-statements. :)