RTB

Return To Base (RTB) is a military aviation term indicating that an Aircraft is leaving the battlefield to return to a nearby friendly installation for repair, rearm, or switching over to another Aircraft. The term is also used to instruct an Aircraft to do so.

There are many reasons why an aircraft may RTB. Transport Helicopters may RTB to pick up additional cargo or passengers, or to drop off passengers picked up from the battlefield. Attack Helicopters and Jets may RTB to replenish their ammunition. All Aircraft may need to RTB to refuel, or to repair damage (usu. by switching the aircraft to another of the same model). Occasionally, a Pilot may need to RTB to completely replace the aircraft they are flying with a different model due to changing mission parameters (e.g. switching from an Attack Helicopter to a Transport Helicopter for Extract at the end of a mission).

Aircraft must inform their controller (usu. the FAC) that they are RTB, as this action will likely affect the decision-making process for Command or the other ground forces. If there is no emergency, the Pilot will likely ask for permission to RTB before actually doing so, giving the controller discretion about the exact timing of the action.

An aircraft returning to base is "Off Station" (outside the battlefield and not ready to receive tasking). Once the aircraft has returned to the battlefield, they are known as "On Station".