PATCH and MATCH Employment 

The PATCH is more advantageous than the MATCH when a precise “hover at” point is not necessary, (e.g., if the approach and escape/go-around path is into the wind, or there is no wind, and the approach and escape/go around is clear of obstacles/terrain). The classic PATCH scenario is a deep draft MEDEVAC, offshore in fog. The vessel is moving but there is a large radar contact that can be harnessed for a real time gate. Furthermore, because there is no terrain or other obstacles, the course can be flown into the wind and the operator can create a clear go-around or escape by flying a course with an offset from the ship. Additionally, the moving object can be tracked on radar providing the pilots with the appropriate gate, whereas the MATCH’s reliance on FMS programing is not dynamic enough to update with real time RADAR information. 

A MATCH is more advantageous than the PATCH when precision is required and/or the helicopter cannot maneuver clear of obstacles and terrain to fly generally into the wind. The classic MATCH scenario is using the FMS to maneuver clear of obstacles and terrain to establish a hover at a precise point and then air taxi to get visual with a fixed location of distress or LZ (e.g., mariners stranded on a rock, mariners stuck in a tight bay or fjord, an airport near the shoreline for a facility-to-facility MEDEVAC or fueling location – SEAK scenario). These are scenarios where the hover point can be fixed, an out of the wind line approach can be managed, and precision is necessary.