Aircraft and Blast markers

The ways that aircraft formations collect Blast markers are a little different than for ground formations, and the effects differ too.

It takes time to rearm and refuel aircraft after a mission. Aircraft in a formation that has come under heavy attack — and which therefore have a lot of Blast markers — will take longer to ready. This reduces the chance that the formation will be available for further actions in the game.

Placing Blast markers on aircraft in flight

While an aircraft formation is in flight (that is, not landed), place Blast markers on it only as follows:

• Coming under fire. When an aircraft formation is targeted for shooting during a flak attack or interception, place one Blast marker. No matter how many attacks are directed at it, the formation can only receive a maximum of one Blast marker during the approach move and another one during the disengagement move, for coming under fire.
• Damage. Place one Blast marker for each aircraft unit that is shot down. Or, for war engine aircraft, place one Blast marker for each point of damage they suffer.
• Returning over enemy territory. Place one Blast marker if the formation exits the play area at any table edge other than the controlling player's own table edge. This represents the hazards of flying over enemy territory.

Effects of Blast markers on aircraft in flight

While aircraft formations are in flight (or in reserve), the effects of Blast markers are a bit different to the effects on other formations:

• Aircraft are not suppressed or Broken by Blast markers.
• You cannot rally aircraft in the End phase. Instead, the next time that you want to take an action with the formation apply a -1 modifier for each Blast marker on the formation.

Blast markers and landed transport aircraft

While transport aircraft formations are landed, they collect and suffer the effects of Blast markers just like ground formations. This also means that you can attempt to rally them in the End phase — but remember than disengagement moves happen before Rally tests, so you must choose one or the other for each landed formation.

If your landed aircraft take off again later (that is, you make a disengagement move with them), make sure that whatever Blast markers they have at that point go with them, plus any more they pick up as they return to base.