HOTAS Controls

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Overview

This page will cover the HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) controls and their use.

Theory

The A10 HOTAS system uses a couple of methods of selecting and manipulating multiple sources with only a single set of controls.


SOI

Sensor Of Interest (SOI), can be thought of as your selected sensor. Now what is a sensor? Anything that can be manipulated in the A10 including:

  • HUD
  • TDC
  • TAD
  • TGP
  • Maverick
  • Steerpoint
    • Markpoint
    • Flight plan waypoint
    • Non flight plan waypoint

HUD

The HUD can be selected at any time with Coolie Hat Up Short. The HUD can be recognized as SOI with the small asterisk in the lower left corner under the airspeed.

TDC

The Target Designation Cursor is a small square box on the HUD that can be controlled when the HUD is SOI with the slew controls.


SPI

Sensor Point of Interest (SPI) is a certain point in space defined with your current SOI. For example, setting a SPI (TMS Up Long) with the TGP as SOI will select wherever the TGP is looking as the current SPI. Note that with the TGP this will move as the TGP moves, so make sure it is tracking what you want it too. You can always deselect the current SPI with TMS Down Long, it will then revert to the default SPI which is the selected Steerpoint.

Controls

A10 Flight Stick

HOTAS controls use multiple Hats and Switches, these are used in different directions and held for two different periods of time to infer what command you wish to execute.

Master Mode Control Button

Direction Action
Short Toggle HUD Mode
Long Air-To-Air Mode

DMS

The Data Management Switch (DMS), generally manipulates data but does not change it. The following chart shows what commands the DMS hat can perform.


Direction Duration TAD TGP HUD AIM-9 MAV
Forward TAD Scale Increase Zoom Increase Steerpoint Increment Reticle Up
Aft TAD Scale Decrease Zoom Decrease Steerpoint Decrement Reticle Down
Left Short FLIR Auto Focus Gunsight Cycle / Weapon Profile Cycle ² A-A Target Toggle Reticle Left
Left Long Broadcast SPI thorugh JTRS Datalink ¹
Right Short Center/ Depressed Mode Laser Toggle Gunsight Cycle / Weapon Profile Cycle ² A-A Target Toggle Reticle Right
Right Long LSS Toggle

1 - TAD does not need to be selected to perform this command. Anything can be SOI to perform this.

2 - When the Master Mode is set to NAV or GUNS, command cycles Gunsights. In CCIP or CCRP mode, command cycles stored weapon profiles.

TMS

Target Management Switch (TMS) manages targets, their selection, and other modes.

Direction Duration TAD TGP HUD AIM-9 MAV
Forward Short Hook Track Toggle Stabilize Scan Track
Forward Long Make SPI Make SPI Make SPI Make SPI Make SPI
Aft Short Un-hook INR Track Set SPI Submode Break Lock Ground Stabilize
Aft Long Reset SPI to Steerpoint Reset SPI to Steerpoint Reset SPI to Steerpoint Reset SPI to Steerpoint Reset SPI to Steerpoint
Left Short Reset Warning, Caution, or Note Reset Warning, Caution, or Note Reset Warning, Caution, or Note Reset Warning, Caution, or Note Reset Warning, Caution, or Note
Left Long Space Stabilize
Right Short Create Markpoint Create Markpoint Create Markpoint Create Markpoint Create Markpoint

Countermeasures Switch (CMS)

Direction Action
Forward Start Program
Aft End Program
Left Previous Program
Right Next Program
Down (Z Axis) Activate ECM

Nosewheel Steering (NWS) Button

Action
On Ground Nose Wheel Steering Toggle
In Air Lase / Aerial Refuel disconnect/reset
A10 Throttle

Coolie Hat

Direction Duration Action
Up HUD as SOI
Down Short Swap MFCD Content
Down Long DSMS Quick Look
Left Short Cycle Left MFCD Page
Left Long Set Left MFCD page as SOI
Right Short Cycle Right MFCD Page
Right Long Set Right MFCD page as SOI

Mic Switch

Direction Action
Forward VHF AM Radio
Aft VHF FM Radio
Up
Down UHF Radio

Boat Switch

Direction TAD TGP HUD AIM-9 MAV
Forward FLIR BHOT Black Symbols
Center CCD Force Correlate / AUTO
Left FLIR WHOT White Symbols

China Hat

Direction Duration TAD TGP HUD AIM-9 MAV
Forward Short FOV EXP 1/2 Toggle (Zoom, North Up) FOV Wide / Narrow Toggle Set MAV as SOI Uncage FOV Toggle
Forward Long Slave all to SPI Slave all to SPI Slave all to SPI Slave AIM-9 to TGP LOS Slave all to SPI
Aft Short Reset Cursor Boresight TGP ¹ Cage TDC to TVV ² Missile Step ³ Missile Step ³
Aft Long CCD Force Correlate / AUTO

1 - Boresight is resetting the view to point forward in relation to the aircraft's nose and remaining there. 2 - Returns the TDC to the TVV. 3 - Selects the next missile on the selected rack.

Throttle Pinky Switch

Direction Action
Forward Default External Lights
Center Exterior lights off
Aft Lights according to Panel

Left Throttle Button

Toggle Autopilot