Bearings

Preparation and Planning

This lesson can have considerable impact if delivered using all multimedia resources, with students able to take on a 'live' role as members of a planning team for an RAF Squadron on Quick Reaction Alert. If you are able, ensure you have access to a laptop and overhead projector as the accompanying video footage adds real value and interest to the lesson plan context. However all Student Worksheets standalone and activities can be set in class with minimum scene-setting. It is not necessary to provide much contextual information for students to understand their role in planning each mission and subsequently assess the impact of their decisions.

You may wish to photocopy sufficient Student Worksheets to enable all students to complete one in class. To ensure accurate completion of the Worksheets, they must be printed with no margins. Go to your printer settings and select 'none' on page scaling. You might like to consider local applications of the same skills (e.g. giving directions to a visitor, school catchment area and students' respective journeys to school), developing further resources that can be delivered as extension activities.

Map scales used are not representative. You should make students aware of this.

Note: Maps must be printed out at 100%.

About the MOD Topic

One of the primary roles of the RAF is that of safeguarding UK airspace and the UK's waters. The RAF has two groups of aircraft, aircrews and ground crews on a permanent state of high alert, ready for immediate action. If an intruder approaches, they're there to intercept. This is known as Quick Reaction Alert. The teams' expertise is an essential deterrent to terrorist activity with primary functions being reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and surveillance.

Aircraft shown in the material to support this unit are Tornados, which have superior air and reconnaissance power. Their presence alone in the UK is a significant deterrent to threat. The new Typhoon aircraft is also used in the Southern UK region.

The United Kingdom Air Surveillance and Control System (UK ASACS) referred to in this unit is an advanced computer-based system, combining multi-sourced radar imagery. It generates vital information on all aircraft flying in the UK air defence region. The RAF uses this information to assess any possible threat and follow the situation as it develops. If an aircraft is flying without permission, aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) need to decide how to deal with it quickly. If the threat is real, it may need to be intercepted.

Further Opportunities for Learning

Any of these activities can be extended through the addition of more criteria (e.g. surveillance points or unidentified aircraft).

Introduce consideration of topography or high buildings / masts when students are plotting routes. For example low flying aircraft on reconnaissance in Episode 2 may need to remain 100m clear of high objects in all directions.

Class debate could be held on the perceived necessity (or otherwise) of the UK air defence system.

Students could be asked to plot their school journey on graph paper (to scale and with all bearings detailed). Google Earth (www.earth.google.com) and www.sanoodia.com both offer good resources to support this. Students should assume that they travel in straight lines only.

Student worksheet answers

Download the teachers notes PDF to access the answers for this lesson.