So I decided to give the Relocation mission a shot (wherein the player is part of a mixed Havoc/BS flight heading to a FARP along with separate flights of Hinds, MI-8s, and SU-26s). When starting the mission, the game spawned me in the air along with all of the other helicopters, and my ship was in proper position with the Havocs. I assumed this was normal, and started seeing radio chatter from the SU-25 flight taking off. However, after about a minute of flight time, I started seeing chatter directed at me - "251, put your collective down! You're not cleared to take off!" And then, "251, land slowly, take your hand off the collective, and report to me!" And about 10 seconds later, "Mission Fail."
I assume that the mission is not supposed to start in the air, but rather on the ground, taking off along with the other flights? I wasn't given any options or anything.