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tms-dms-cms-usage-guide

Structured guide for Falcon BMS and other F-16 flight simulators covering TMS, DMS and CMS HOTAS switch functionality

PROJECT TRACKING

Falcon BMS TMS/DMS/CMS HOTAS Guide

Document Version: PROJECT-TRACKING-v5.0.0
Regime: Pre-publication (0.x.x.x)
Project Start: 2026-01-05
Last Updated: 2026-02-23
Repository: carlos-nader/tms-dms-cms-usage-guide

This document tracks governance rules, project state, and development history. For detailed file tracking, issue status, and commit history, see INTEGRATED-FILES.md (auto-generated).


1. GOVERNANCE LAYER

Document Version Purpose
VERSION-SYSTEM v4.2.1 Versioning rules (0.x.x.x vs x.y.z regimes, MAJOR/MINOR/PATCH/SUBPATCH)
BRIEFING v0.2.0.1 Content brief, layout standard (Geometry D, hotastable 15.6 cm), preamble architecture
WIP-FILE-NAMING v1.4 File naming conventions, status codes (dev/review/final/approved/deprecated)
TEMPLATES/template-wip-V1.0.tex V1.0 Canonical WIP template (preamble, metadata, hotastable)
TRAINING-MISSION-ABBREV-TABLE v1.0 Standardized abbreviations for 33 BMS training missions
STYLE-GUIDE v0.2.0 Style rules for prose, voice, formatting, and prohibited patterns (misc/STYLE-GUIDE-v0.2.0.md)

Rule: All WIP files must be created from TEMPLATES/template-wip-V1.0.tex.


2. PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Last updated: 2026-02-23

Metric Value
Guide Version v0.4.1.1
Phase Phase 0 — Chapter Scaffolding
Chapters Planned 7
Chapters Integrated 4/7 (C1, C2, C3, C5)
Chapters In Development 1/7 (C4)
Chapters Pending 2/7 (C6, C7)
Total Commits 649
Latest Release v0.4.1.1 (2026-02-18)

Chapter Status

Ch Title Status Notes
1 Introduction ✅ Integrated Revised and integrated (v0.3.3.0)
2 HOTAS Fundamentals ✅ Integrated Complete (v0.4.0.0)
3 DMS ✅ Integrated Complete (v0.4.0.0, renumbered from Ch 4)
4 TMS 🔄 review WIP: Main chapter file chapter-C4-tms-structure-dev-2026-02-13.tex. Section file: section-C4-S3-tms-aa-review-2026-02-17.tex (51,754 bytes, §4.3 A-A intro + §4.3.5 IFF intro + §4.3.5.1 SCAN Mode + §4.3.5.2 LOS Mode: ~28.57% complete) + dependency section-C2-S1-S3-soi-context-dependency-final-2026-02-15.tex (TGP intro for C2, status final). Subsections §4.3.1–§4.3.4, §4.3.5.3–§4.3.5.5, §4.3.6 remain in draft. C4 WIP resumed after v0.4.1.1 completion.
5 CMS ✅ Integrated Style revision complete (wip/chapter-C5-style-rev-review-2026-02-22.tex, 36,771 bytes). WIP status: review — pending #48 resolution and author final check → final.
6 Training References Scaffolded Pending development
7 Visual Reference Scaffolded Structure TBD

3. DEVELOPMENT LOG

Chronological record of significant changes. For detailed commit history, see INTEGRATED-FILES.md.

Date Guide Version Key Changes
2026-01-05 v0.1.0.0 Initial project setup. Chapter scaffolding. Introduction integrated.
2026-01-07 v0.1.4.0 Layout standard adopted. BRIEFING created. Geometry locked.
2026-01-11 v0.2.4.0 Chapter 5 (CMS) complete. Template-wip-V1.0.tex established.
2026-01-14 v0.3.0.0 RELEASE: DMS Sections 4.1 and 4.2 integrated.
2026-01-18 v0.3.1.0 RELEASE: Preamble infrastructure upgrade (article → report class).
2026-01-19 v0.3.2.0 RELEASE: Section 4.3 (DMS Down) integrated.
2026-01-29 v0.3.2.1 RELEASE: Hotastable environment upgrade (arraystretch 1.25).
2026-02-02 v0.3.3.0 RELEASE: C4 (DMS) complete chapter integrated. C1 (Introduction) revised and integrated. Milestone v0.3.3.0 completed (10/10 issues).
2026-02-09 v0.4.0.0 RELEASE: C2 (HOTAS Fundamentals) integrated. C3↔C4 chapter renumbering (DMS → C3, TMS → C4).
2026-02-11 v0.4.1.0 RELEASE: Infrastructure improvements (hotastable v2.1, List of HOTAS Tables, cross-ref macros, PDF metadata).
2026-02-18 v0.4.1.1 RELEASE: Repetition cleanup (9 corrections across C1–C5) + hotastable \label fixes. Forum contribution by user Daddyk (post #450980).
2026-02-19 → 2026-02-23 Style revision (C5) — complete. Decision to conduct v0.4.2.0 style revision pass following community feedback (BMS Forum, users Van and mirv). Issue #44 opened. Milestone “v0.4.2.0 — Style Revision” created (due 2026-03-20). STYLE-GUIDE created (v0.1.0 restricted → v0.2.0 public, misc/STYLE-GUIDE-v0.2.0.md). WIP file: wip/chapter-C5-style-rev-review-2026-02-22.tex (36,771 bytes). C5 style revision completed across all sections (§5.1–§5.3): prose rewritten, hotastable cells revised, Dash-34 validation pass executed. Sub-issue #48 opened (BYP/STBY modes — cascade impacts mapped). WIP status: review (pending #48 + author final check). Total commits: 603 → 649 (+46 commits).

4. NEXT TARGETS

Target 1: Style Revision → v0.4.2.0 (PATCH)

Item Value
Status In Progress — C5 complete (session 2026-02-23). Next: C1, C2, C3.
Milestone “v0.4.2.0 — Style Revision” (due 2026-03-20, progress 0/4)
Open Issues #44 (Style revision: remove AI-speak across all integrated chapters), #48 (C5 — Add BYP and STBY modes to §5.2.1)
Version Bump PATCH: style revision affects multiple chapters simultaneously; not a simple correction
Scope All integrated chapters: C1, C2, C3 (DMS), C5 (CMS)
Criteria Remove abstract/eloquent phrasing that no human technical writer would produce; prioritize clarity and directness over elegance. Adhere to misc/STYLE-GUIDE-v0.2.0.md.
Next step Open WIP files for C1, C2, C3 style revision passes. Resolve #48 within C5 WIP before → final.
WIP Files wip/chapter-C5-style-rev-review-2026-02-22.tex (C5: review, 100% complete — pending #48 + author final check)
Forum Next forum post planned for v0.4.2.0 release; forum thread left to cool down after Feb 19 exchange

Target 2: Chapter 4 — TMS → v0.5.0.0 (MINOR)

Item Value
WIP Files chapter-C4-tms-structure-dev-2026-02-13.tex (main), section-C4-S3-tms-aa-review-2026-02-17.tex (§4.3: review), section-C2-S1-S3-soi-context-dependency-final-2026-02-15.tex (dependency: final)
Status Resumed after v0.4.1.1 completion. Active status: review (C4:§4.3 intro, C4:§4.3.5 intro, C4:§4.3.5.1, C4:§4.3.5.2), dev (remaining subsections)
Milestone “Integrate C4:S3 (TMS — AA) — Guide Version v0.5.0.0” (due 2026-04-20, progress 0/3)
Open Issues #38 (REVIEW — resumed), #39 (FINAL), #40 (APPROVED)
Version Bump MINOR (new chapter entry)
Content TMS concept, situational awareness, A-A employment, A-G employment, weapon-specific behavior, block/variant notes. Most complex HOTAS switch (13+ specialized tables).
Dependencies ✅ v0.4.1.1 completed; ⚠️ v0.4.2.0 (style revision) should precede or run in parallel
Next step Resume §4.3.5 subsections S3–S5 (Emergency, Constraints, AIFF Availability) → §4.3.1–§4.3.4 (SAM, STT, TWS, ACM) → §4.3.6 (TGP A-A) → populate 6 hotastable tables → review → final → approved

Chapter 4 Progress - PAUSED DUE TO ISSUE #44:

Style Revision Progress - v0.4.2.0:


Version Roadmap

Version Content Bump Type Status
v0.4.0.0 C2 HOTAS Fundamentals + C3↔C4 reorganization MINOR ✅ Released
v0.4.1.0 Infrastructure improvements (hotastable v2.1, List of HOTAS Tables, cross-refs, PDF metadata) PATCH ✅ Released
v0.4.1.1 Repetition cleanup (9 corrections across C1–C5) + hotastable \label fixes SUBPATCH ✅ Released
v0.4.2.0 Style revision: remove AI-speak across C1, C2, C3, C5 PATCH 🔄 In Progress (Issue #44, due 2026-03-20)
v0.5.0.0 C4 TMS integration MINOR ⏸️ Pending v0.4.2.0 (due 2026-04-20)

5. NOTES

Structural Decisions

2026-02-13: C4 WIP files updated. Main chapter file renamed to chapter-C4-tms-structure-dev-2026-02-13.tex (52,056 bytes). Section file section-C4-S3-tms-aa-dev-2026-02-13.tex (33,612 bytes) created, covering §4.3 — TMS in Air-to-Air. Structure validated: 6 subsections (§4.3.1 SAM, §4.3.2 STT, §4.3.3 TWS, §4.3.4 ACM, §4.3.5 IFF, §4.3.6 TGP A-A), labels consistent (sec:C4-S3-S*), cross-refs functional, 6 hotastable placeholders defined. Content state: structural outline with bullet points and technical accuracy, NOT narrative prose. Critical gap identified: current text uses itemized lists, not continuous narrative as required by C3/C5 style standard. Next phase: (1) transform to flowing prose, (2) fill tables with Dash-34 data, (3) validate all technical refs. File remains dev status. Total commits: 523.

2026-02-15: C4 WIP advancement continues. Section file section-C4-S3-tms-aa-review-2026-02-15.tex promoted to review status after §4.3 introduction finalization (39,095 bytes, +16.3% from 33,612 bytes). Introduction text validated for grammar accuracy, Dash-34 cross-references (§2.3.1.5.7-12), internal cross-references (→C2:§2.1.3, →C3:§3.1.1, →C3:§3.1.3), and prose cadence. Corrections applied: replaced “exclusively” with “restricted to” (para 2, precision), added “primary” qualifier to FCR mode description (para 3, clarity). Critical dependency identified: TGP (Targeting Pod) first mention should occur in C2 conceptual layer, not C4 operational layer. New WIP file created: section-C2-S1-S3-soi-context-dependency-final-2026-02-15.tex (20,493 bytes, status final). Establishes §2.1.3 (TGP as equipment-dependent SOI: AN/AAQ-33 Sniper XR ATP, AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN), cross-references Dash-34 §2.6 and →C4:§4.3.6 (TGP A-A tracking). Dependency resolution ensures architectural consistency: C2 establishes concepts, C3/C4 provide operational details. §4.3 subsections (§4.3.1–§4.3.6: SAM, STT, TWS, ACM, IFF, TGP A-A) remain in draft status with bullet-point structure; 6 hotastable tables (0/6 complete) pending data population from Dash-34 §2.3.1.5.x, §2.5, §2.6.1.7.5, §4.3.2.4.3.12 and BMS Training Manual missions. Integration target: v0.5.0.0 (simultaneous integration of C2:§2.1.3 + C4:§4.3 introduction). Issues #38 (REVIEW) and #40 (APPROVED — integration checklist) updated with progress. Total commits: 558.

2026-02-17: C4 WIP advancement continues. Section file renamed to section-C4-S3-tms-aa-review-2026-02-17.tex (51,744 bytes). §4.3.5 (TMS and IFF Interrogation) introduction refined: “cockpit identification methods” substituted for “identification procedures” (precision improvement). §4.3.5.1 (SCAN Interrogation Mode) narrative completed: TMS Left short press (<0.6s) activation, SCAN configuration via DED INTG page and FCR CNTL OSB 10 (decouple/couple to radar scan volume), symbology identification (green circle = friendly, yellow square = bogey/unknown), tactical context (BVR intercepts, ROE compliance, multiple unknown contacts). Dash-34 cross-references validated: §2.2.4.4.2.1.1 (SCAN behavior), §2.3.1.5.1.6.2 (FCR CNTL OSB 10). §4.3.5.2 (LOS Interrogation Mode) narrative completed: concept (beam coverage area, cursor-directed, 2 beams vs SCAN), behavior (TMS Left ≥0.6s, 16 replies, beam geometry nuance, range filtering), configuration (DED INTG + DCS right SEQ→LOS page, independent from SCAN), symbology (cross-ref to §4.3.5.1, reduced redundancy), tactical context (BVR designated target; unsupported “VID passes” claim removed). Dash-34 cross-references validated: §2.2.4.4.2.1, §2.2.4.4.2.1.2, §2.2.4.4.2.2. §4.3.5.5 (AIFF Availability) marked with Link 16 context note for future development. Narrative completion: 25% → ~28.57% (4 subsections complete: §4.3 intro, §4.3.5 intro, §4.3.5.1, §4.3.5.2). Subsections §4.3.1–§4.3.4 (SAM, STT, TWS, ACM), §4.3.5.3–§4.3.5.5 (Emergency, Constraints, AIFF Availability), §4.3.6 (TGP A-A) remain in draft. 6 hotastable tables (0/6 complete) pending. Total commits: 582.

2026-02-18: Repetition audit session. First external contribution to the project: forum user Daddyk identified content repetitions in v0.4.1.0 via BMS forum post #450980. Systematic chapter-by-chapter analysis of the full guide (C1–C5) conducted. 10 repetitions catalogued in misc/notes-repetition-analysis-v0_4_1_1-20260218.md: R-01 (C2: SOI definition duplicated in 2.1/2.1.1), R-02 (C2: master mode “determines” re-stated in 2.2.1), R-03 (C2/C3: DMS physical description repeated), R-04 (C2/C5: CMS boilerplate in 3 locations), R-05 (C3: NAV/A-G PRE DMS Down paragraphs literally identical), R-06 (C3: Snowplow/MARK/OFLY exception states described twice), R-07 (C3/C5: “Each table entry specifies” block repeated 4×; includes copy-paste error line 1359 “DMS hat” in CMS table), R-08 (C5: CMS Down joint consent stated twice consecutively), R-09 (C5: high-G rationale paraphrased in 5.2.4), R-10 (C5: IDIAS/CMS Left distinction — classified Aceitável, no action). Issue #42 opened and structured with prioritized checklist. Milestone 6 active. Forum reply posted. C4 WIP (Issues #38–#40) suspended; v0.4.1.1 takes priority. Total commits: 587.

2026-02-19 → 2026-02-23: Style revision decision and C5 completion. Community feedback received on BMS Forum (users Van and mirv) prompted v0.4.2.0 style revision pass. Issue #44 opened. Milestone “v0.4.2.0 — Style Revision” created (due 2026-03-20). TMS milestone due date updated from 2026-03-10 to 2026-04-20. STYLE-GUIDE created and promoted to public (misc/STYLE-GUIDE-v0.2.0.md). BRIEFING §5.3 updated with mandatory STYLE-GUIDE reference. WIP file: wip/chapter-C5-style-rev-review-2026-02-22.tex (36,771 bytes). C5 style revision completed (§5.1–§5.3): full prose rewrite, hotastable cells revised, Dash-34 validation pass executed (imprecisions corrected, Program 5 mention added, RF Switch Override rewritten). Sub-issue #48 opened: BYP and STBY modes not covered in §5.2.1 — cascade impacts mapped across C5. WIP status: review (pending #48 + author final check → final). Total commits: 603 → 649 (+46 commits).


END OF PROJECT TRACKING v5.0.0