Incidentally, I can't find the bit in the rules that prevents an aircraft disengaging if it troops consolidate into it. 3.1.3 says it can't take an action afterwards, but that's fine. I've had opponents planetfall aircraft with troops inside, who consolidate (or withdraw) into them and disengage the same turn and I thought that was fine. That makes me think it's something in the aircraft rules, but I can't find it.

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It is in the FAQ under assaults etc, which includes consolidation:-
1.12.9 Winner Consolidates



Ha - same reply, but at least I said where it was

To expand on the answer Hena and Ginger provided, it is an extension of the WE transport rule that prevents a WE from acting after troops consolidate onto it.

The reason for it is to prevent the so-called "eternal air assault" sequence:
Turn 1: Air assault - consolidate - disengage - rally off-board.
Turn 2: Air assault - consolidate - disengage - rally off-board.
Turn 3: Air assault - consolidate - disengage - rally off-board.
Turn 4: Air assault - consolidate - disengage - rally off-board.

I'm guessing you need 2 Air transports to pull this off, with the assaulting units consolidating (or withdrawing) into a position so that all would be within 5cm of the second transport when it lands, allowing it to load them. Then at the end phase both air transports consolidate off board.

Yes, you need 2 transports to pick up the formation after it has assaulted.

Exactly.

For reference, though, it's not a "consolidate" move to go off board. It's an aircraft disengage move. Pedantic, I know, but saying that consolidation happens in the end phase is wrong and could cause major confusion. Consolidation moves happen during the assault action.

Hey neal

I am all for being pedantic, otherwise misunderstandings can occur...

Thanks for the correction - I appreciate it

Ok, I totally understand the two thunderhawks to carry out the eternal air assault thing, one drops off, one scoops up, reversing their roles each turn... but this is an acceptable practice instead isn't it?

A thunderhawk carrying say, a unit of bikers carries out a ground assault.. assault goes to plan, bikers remain on the board and consolidate somewhere safe. Later in the turn, a detachment of assault marines marches to the thunderhawk and embarks. The thunderhawk is then free to move off the board at the end of that turn and return on the following turn to deliver its payload of angry assault marines?

That's the scenario Mephiston explained to me the other night, just want to be 100% sure I've got it right before I try to pull it off in a game and find out I've got it all wrong

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OK thanks for the FAQ quotes guys. So it is specific to consolidation and does not apply when units mount as part of their own action, withdrawal moves, or when an aircraft lands within 5cm of them.

I appreciate the situation that it was trying to avoid, but I guess it leaves some similar (in terms of timing realism) possibilities:
1. Air assault with a Vampire and some aspects, then advance/double (shoot then move) with another formation into the same Vampire, which disengages ready to come back next turn. Especially tricksy doubling out of a wraithgate.
2. Teleport some terminators into support range, air assault with TH/assaults/devs, then advance the termies into the TH
3. As above but engage with the terminators, using the TH to evac them if they lose the assault.
4. A landing craft air assault fails, the troops/tanks withdraw into the (fearless and outside 15cm) landing craft, disengage and get somewhere safe to rally.

Edited to add: enri's situation is basically a variation on my #1/#2

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And then your 2nd empty thunderhawk can land within 5cms of all the bikes and pick them up for another go next turn.

Yes to both.

Neal,

To clarify, the reason why the above example is okay is because the embarking move actively belongs to the Assault Marines and not to the Thunderhawk, correct?

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It's because the embarking move is not a consolidation. It's only a straight up consolidation move that keeps air transport on the board. Any other method of embarkation (by the loading formation or by the aircraft via free embark on landing) and the aircraft disengages as normal.