Heist Prep: Alkonost

"Ah, the high-altitude option. You fly in above the radar, parachute in undetected. Such drops need specialist pilot, but I happen to know such a man."

- Pavel's briefing on the planning screen.

Alkonost is a prep mission featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of The Cayo Perico Heist update, and is a freeroam mission that can be completed at any time while The Cayo Perico Heist strand is active. It is one of six missions within the Approach Vehicle category that is mandatory for completion, but becomes optional if another of the missions has been completed.

Overview
Pavel tells to the player that in order to approach the island for a HALO jump, they must secure a specially adapted plane used by the military. He swiftly points out that stealing one from them would be too risky, but has discover that Merryweather Security is currently overseeing arrangements for purchase of an Alkonost at Fort Zancudo.

Completing this mission will acquire an Alkonost plane for approaching Cayo Perico in finale, but it cannot be used until the player completes an additional mission to secure a pilot.

"So, kapitan, you want to steal an aircraft capable of high-altitude troop infiltration over Caribbean island loaded with anti-aircraft defenses? The good news is, it can be done. The bad news: the kind of people who have this aircraft are serious about security. So serious, they keep it at military fort. I suggest you tread softly..."

- One of Pavel's briefings.

The player is instructed to go to Fort Zancudo, where they must access the hangar in which the plane is stored.

Pavel also informs that they have gained a temporary clearance level to visit the base without problems (in case they do not own a hangar there).

When approaching the hangar, Pavel suggests the option of finding a circuit box near the entry point to the hangar, which will reduce the vision range of the mercenaries for a while; however, they must bring along night vision goggles to see clearly and a meter bar will be shown on the lower right corner, indicating the backup generator power – it will be gradually filled and when complete, the lights inside the hangar will turn on again.

Regardless of whether they cut the power, the mercenaries inside will not be aware of their presence until they either hear gunfire or witness one of their members being killed, at which point they will become hostile. Regardless of the approach, players must search the hangar for a laptop, using it to unlock the hangar doors, and then board the plane.

After spawning on the runway, they must leave the base, lose the cops, and then fly the plane to Miguel Madrazo's private hangar at LSIA to complete the mission.