Understanding Time in JAS
Throughout the GUIs there are numerous places where time must be entered. It is important to understand what these times mean and how they are used to achieve desired results.
A JAS run starts at Time = 0. This is midnight GMT, so you have to do the calculation to figure what local time would be depending on where your scenario is. This is important in that day/night environmental conditions are based on local time. Since your scenario may cover a wide area of many time zones, JAS uses the location of your JTF HQ to determine the Zulu-to-local time conversion. (One exception: For IMINT sensors, JAS uses local time at the target to determine day/night conditions.)
Campaign Planning > Annex C > Air Operations > ATO Cycle Parameters shows values that govern the production of the ATO. You can adjust the lead times for the ATO production. The start date and end day are set under Overview. But if you want to change when the first ATO goes into effect (the First Cycle Start Date and Time) you have to go to Data View > c2Data > JointTaskForceCommanderData > [side] > ATO cycle. The value in LaunchWindowCycleStartTime is elapsed hours after the start of the run for the first ATO to go into effect. Note US and OPFOR may be different. You also have to allow time for the ATO lead times to occur. Once set here, the Campaign view will show the first day and the Zulu time of the day for all ATOs. This time represents the earliest possible takeoff, and all takeoffs for any given ATO will occur in the 24-hour period starting with this time. All JTCB TOTs must occur during the 24-hour period given by adding the TOT Forward Offset to the start and end times of the ATO day. Consider distance from your bases to targets and [push periods-] in setting the Forward Offset, since the takeoff time must fall within the ATO cycle (see FAQ 20).
Each flying unit has block times. These times are in GMT. For example if the ATO start time is 0600, and the first block time for a unit is 0600, its aircraft are available for takeoff at the start of each ATO cycle day. Note: Users are advised to align each air unit’s first launch block start time with the planning cycle start time (see FAQ 27).
Push Times are assigned by side, and by state/phase. These times are offsets from the start of the ATO day, plus the TOT Forward Offset. For example, a push time of 01:00 to 03:00, with an ATO start time of 0600 and 0 TOT Forward Offset, means pushes will occur each day (of that phase/state) at 0700 – 0900 GMT. With a TOT Forward Offset of 4 hours, the 01:00 to 03:00 push will occur at 1100 – 1300 GMT. There is a relationship between block times and push times. If any part of a block overlaps with a push, aircraft in that block may be scheduled to launch to make the push.