published on: 27/05/2026
Author:
Patch
Attached Aviation Platoon Interview
For this week’s article, I interviewed 2nd Lt. Kofeina, the head of the Attached Aviation Platoon. This article will contain general knowledge about what the platoon entails, what they do, what you can learn in their school, how to join that platoon, and other information you may find useful.
Pvt. Patch:
What would you say are the main responsibilities of your platoon in the operations in BiA?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
The main responsibilities of the Aviation Department in BiA are infantry transport and providing air support using both rotary- and fixed-wing assets. We support ground forces by moving troops and supplies, conducting reconnaissance, and delivering close air support when required.
Pvt. Patch:
Are the necessary skills to perform well in the platoon already expected of a member that just joined or is it a skill that's developed over time?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
The basic skills are already expected from every player who joins the department. Aviation is one of the more complex aspects of the game, and mistakes can have a major impact on the experience of the entire operation. However, teamwork, coordination, and advanced procedures are skills that continue to develop over time through experience and training.
Pvt. Patch:
Which school belongs to your platoon?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
Our platoon operates the Attached Aviation School. It consists of four sessions that begin with general gameplay basics, then move into rotary-wing and fixed-wing aviation, and finish with a final lesson focused on combined operations with ground elements.
Pvt. Patch:
Would you say the teaching done in your school is mainly directed towards new members with little to no knowledge on the field or even the more experienced members of BiA can learn something useful in those training sessions?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
As mentioned earlier, flying is not something that can be fully taught in only four lessons. The school is mainly aimed at players who already have some prior flying experience in Arma. Our goal is to teach the standards, procedures, and level of coordination that we use within BiA. Even experienced members can still learn something useful, especially when it comes to communication and teamwork during operations.
Pvt. Patch:
What are the general requirements to join the platoon and what do you, as the head of the Attached Aviation Platoon, specifically look for when considering new members?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
The general requirements are simple: you need to already know how to fly in Arma and be able to communicate in English. Personally, I look for people who not only have flying skill, but also good cooperation and discipline. Someone may be an excellent pilot individually, but aviation in BiA is heavily team-oriented, so the ability to work well with others is essential as well as patience.
Pvt. Patch:
Once someone becomes a member of the platoon, will they be able to play in related slots every operation?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
No. Air assets are not used in every operation, and even when they are, the number of available slots is limited. Because of that, I keep track of who has flown recently and try to distribute the available slots as fairly and evenly as possible among members. Patience is also extremely important in this role — in some missions pilots may spend a large portion of the operation waiting for a tasking or support request, sometimes almost the entire mission. Don’t be surprised if you spend an entire mission flying in circles while waiting for a call. In other cases, you might find yourself flying low-level through contested airspace with 20 MANPADS firing at you and in an asset without any countermeasures, so the experience can vary :).
Pvt. Patch:
If a new member wanted to join your platoon today, what would be the necessary steps to achieve that?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
First, a player has to wait for an opening in the Attached Aviation Platoon, which does not happen very often since pilots usually stay in the department long-term. When recruitment opens, I announce it publicly. Candidates then contact me and provide some short information about themselves and their experience in Arma. After that comes the theory test, which is standardized and evaluates the candidate from several perspectives, not only technical knowledge. The next step is the practical test, which covers a variety of flying and cooperation tasks. Once all tests are completed, both I and the deputy leader review the results and select the strongest candidate.
Pvt. Patch:
If you could choose one thing for all BiA members to know or to do during operations to help the Attached Aviation platoon, what would it be?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
Be quiet, do as told.
Pvt. Patch:
Lastly, what message would you like to leave for the readers of this article?
2nd Lt. Kofeina:
Listen, learn, improve. Oh, and stay positive, just like Jarvis.
Pvt. Patch:
Thank you for your time.
Patch