OPS 3-9 Formation Procedures

Question 1

What are responsibilities of formation leader?

Answer 1

1) Ensuring that a thorough pre-flight brief is conducted - elements of the brief may be delegated but responsibility is on the leader
2) Briefing any variations to procedures
3) Ensuring sortie is executed efficiency and effectively
4) Debriefing the formation

Question 2

What are the additional duties that can be delegated in preparation for the sortie?

Answer 2

1) Brief, auth, mission plan, decon
2) Wx, NOTAMS, verify/load PMM and source checklists, KPC

For multi-ship, #3 deputy lead, flight plan and decon
                        #4 load/verify and return PMM/Checklists and KPC

Question 3

What are standard timings for formation activities?

Answer 3

Brief = TO - 60
Walk = TO - 35
Start = TO - 15
Check-In = -10 
Taxi = TO - 9

Question 4

What are the two methods of starting A/C in form?

Answer 4

1) Pre-briefed time

2) Hand on canopy signal

Question 5

What flightID should be set for form members?

Answer 5

VOOD, VOOD2, VOOD3

Question 6

What does ‘push’ mean when changing frequency? What does switch mean when changing frequency?

Answer 6

• Push means a check in is required on that frequency

- Switch means no check in is required on new frequency

Question 7

What is taxi separation between A/C? What about if FOD is present? What are visual cues for 50m?

Answer 7

50m, 100m if FOD is present

Cue is Horizontal Stabilizer on flap hinges

Question 8

What is taxi speed in the lines? What is taxi speed for lead out of lines? Max taxi speeds for other A/C out of lines?

Answer 8

10 kts in lines
15 kts for lead out of lines
20 kts for form members out of lines

Question 9

What is constraints on RWY condition for form TO?

Answer 9

No standing water

Question 10

For pairs TO, what is the:

1) Min. runway width?
2) Max. xwind component?
3) What is to occur if crosswind exceeds 10 kts, what side should lead line up on?
4) What TO should occur if X-wind is exceeded?

Answer 10

1) 30m
2) 15 KTS
3) Downwind side
4) Stream TO

Question 11

For VIC TO, what is:

1) Min runway width?
2) Max Crosswind?

Answer 11

1) 45 m

2) 10 kts

Question 12

What side should lead line up on if X-Wind is at/below 10 kts?

Answer 12

1) If entering from a taxiway, on the far side of the runway

2) If entering from an ORP, on the near side of the runway.

Question 13

If crosswind is above 10 kts, what side should lead line up on?

Answer 13

On the downwind side regardless of whether the formation enters from the taxiway or an ORP.

Question 14

What are line up positions for pairs TO?

Answer 14

A/C are to line up aligned with the inside edge of 500ft markers, with wing on the echelon line

Question 15

What are line up positions for Vic formation?

Answer 15

Lead on centerline
#2 + #3 will line up on the outside of 500ft markers
#2 is on the right

Question 16

What does good airmanship dictate WRT TO checks?

Answer 16

Checking that all A/C have flaps TO and landing light on.

Question 17

When should stream TOs be conducted?

Answer 17

Whenever crosswind or ambient temperatures precludes an element TO, or when FOD/standing water is present.

Question 18

What TO interval is to be observed for stream TO?

Answer 18

10s

Question 19

What should wing call if unable to maintain position due to a lack of excess power?

Answer 19

C/S, Revs

On this lead, reduces power by 10%

Question 20

How should A/C rejoin after stream TO?

What height limitation is to be observed before affecting the rejoin?

Answer 20

Wingmen are to rejoin to echelon right, or to the echelon on the inside of the turn.

500 ft

Question 21

When are wingmen to squawk their IFF code?

Answer 21

1) When operating outside of a standard formation
2) When separating from the form for an individual RTB
3) When lost contact (blind) IMC
4) During an emergency
5) Lead change

Question 22

How is the initial and pitch to be flown?

Answer 22

• At a distinct cadence, using idle and airbrake.
• Airbrake selected in at 180 KIAS
• Power set 25 KIAS at 160 KIAS
• leave power set let it trickle back to 120.

Question 23

What is standard pitch interval from echelon? What about spread formation?

Answer 23

4 seconds from echelon

2 seconds from spread formation

Question 24

1) For stream landing, what is the minimum distance between formation aircraft at touchdown?
2) What does 2000 ft separation picture roughly mean?

Answer 24

1) 2000 ft

2) Preceding aircraft crossing the threshold as following aircraft is at 200’ AGL

Question 25

What are the three ways to effect a lead change?

Answer 25

1) Standard hand signals
2) With R/T
3) NOCOM lead change

Question 26

What are three prohibited procedures for formation:

Answer 26

1) No touch and goes
2) No mixed aircraft type instrument recoveries
3) Close formation at night

Question 27

Collision Avoidance:

1) Normally who’s responsibility is collision avoidance?
2) In a multi-ship formation, what is the collision avoidance?
3) What is the exception to this rule?
4) What are the two means by which lead may change the collision avoidance responsibility within their formation?

Answer 27

1) Wing
2) #4 avoids #3 avoids #2 avoids #1
3) Concorde formation where #3 avoids #2 avoids #4 avoids #1
4) - Formal lead change
- When lead calls “C/S 1 visual”, when lead thinks that wingman cannot maintain
visual when maneuvering

Question 28

How can lead request a fuel check?

Answer 28

1) R/T

2) Hand signals

Question 29

1) What should occur when first A/C reaches pre-planned fuel?
2) At what point should RTB be commenced?
3) Do Joker and Bingo need to be called when RTB has been commenced?

Answer 29

1) First A/C to reach pre-planned fuel is to advise lead, and lead will acknoledge.
2) When first A/C reaches Bingo fuel in the formation
3) No

Question 30

How should internal communications be acknowledged?

Answer 30

By using a formal C/S when using the radio (e.g. VOODOO2) or a head nod when not using comms.

Question 31

What QNH should be set?

Answer 31

Unless remaining on QNH in local training areas, altimeter settings at transition altitude and level must be transmitted by the leader on formation common frequency.

Question 32

1) What does a terminate or KIO call mean?

2) Does this call have to be acknowledge by all A/C?

Answer 32

1) All A/C must ceases aggressive maneuvering, adopt a predictable flight path and maintain standard formation deconfliction procedures.
2) Yes, starting with the lowest number.

Question 33

When is a terminate call used?

Answer 33

1) Desired learning objectives (DLOs) achieved

2) DLOs unachievable

Question 34

When is a KIO call used?

Answer 34

Used to indicate there is a safety infringement that requires cessation of the current sequence:

1) Hard Deck infringement
2) A/C emergencies prohibiting continued formation maneuvering
3) Overstress
4) Loss of visual/tally if responsible for collision avoidance
5) Infringement of the RoC
6) BINGO fuel

Following KIO call, instigator should brief lead as to reason.