THE FORMATION THE FORMATION GUIDE – flyfast.org

 

 

THE
FORMATION
PILOTS’ KNOWLEDGE GUIDE
Fundamentals of Formation for All Aircraft
Based On FAST Formation Protocols

E
D
I
U
G
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O
I
T
A
M
R
O
F
E
H
T

Version 2.0

2

INTRODUCTION

The Formation And Safety Team (FAST) was formed in

1995 to develope, and codify standards for formation
f lying throughout the warbird community. SInce that
time, FAST has expanded to 18 signatories and includes a
wide variety of aircraft.

This manual contains all the formation fundamentals in-
cluding:

• Wingman procedures and techniques

• Operating procedures

• Contingency procedures

• Comm procedures and techniques, hand signals, and

aircraft signals

R M ATION PILO

T

F O

FAST

NOMENCLATURE
Several conventions have been used throughout this man-
ual. The terms he, him, his, and himself are used in a ge-
neric sense and apply to all individuals, male or female,
without bias or prejudice.

The terms Lead, leader, f light leader, #1, and lead pilot are
used interchangeably—all these terms refer to the same
individual—the pilot in command responsible for leading
an individual formation.

COPYRIGHT
The material contained in this manual was derived from
the United States military formation training protocols
and, as such, is not copyrighted. Any individual or orga-
nization is welcomed to copy, adapt and modify the con-
tent of this manual to suit their needs. FAST assumes no
responsibility or liability for the use of this material, in
part or in whole.

PREFACE

Formation f light dates back to World War I when the

military began f lying in formation as a means to pro-
vide mutual support in the skies over battlefields. The
military continued to develop and refine formation con-
cepts over the years and employs these concepts, in all the
militaries of the world, to this day.

to other pilots. The formation student needs to approach
training well prepared, both mentally and physically.

Being prepared mentally encompasses knowledge of:

• Aircraft systems

• Aircraft procedures

The principles presented in this comprehensive formation
manual are derived from these same military concepts
and have been adapted to the meet the needs of the civil-
ian aviation community.

•

•

• Your organization’s standard operating procedures

Formation signals (hand, aircraft and radio calls)

Formation protocols, detailed in this manual

The formation concepts presented in this manual are ap-
plicable whether you are interested in f lying with like-
minded pilots in the local area or you want to f ly in the
waivered airspace typically delineated at airshow venues.
Regardless of your motivation, the following priorities
apply:
First—Proficiency/safety
Second—Mutual support
Third—Symmetry/aerial display

STUDENTS
Formation f lying is a particularly demanding skill set.
You will be f lying in close proximity to other aircraft, so
an error can ripple through the formation, causing harm

Being prepared physically means you are:

•

Physically fit for f light

• Hydrated

• Rested

WINGMAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Being a good wingman means more than just hanging on
Lead’s wing. The wingman is part of a disciplined team,
and with that comes additional responsibilities:

•

Provide mutual support

• Maintain formation integrity

• Assist in mission planning, if requested

• Keep Lead in sight at all times

Formation FundamentalsVersion 2.0 • Be aware of departure, enroute and arrival routing so

he can assume the lead, if required

• Monitor Lead for proper configuration and abnormal

conditions

• Assist during abnormals or emergencies, as directed

• Monitor radio communication

• Trust and follow Lead’s direction

Safety equipment
The following is a list of equipment for formation f light.
Though not all items are required, the recommended
equipment adds an additional layer of safety to your op-
eration and could save your life one day.

• Nomex or other fire-retardant f light suit and gloves

Recommended:

•

Parachute

• Helmet

Required (with IP on board):

•

Intercom system

• Ability for instructor to transmit/receive on radio

demo-do
The onboard instructor will utilize the “demo-do” pro-
cess—each task will be demonstrated and explained to
the student, followed by repeated practice by the student,
with the instructor providing constructive feedback and
guidance.

pilot in Command
The formation student pilot is the legal pilot in command
and is ultimately held responsible for the condition of the
aircraft and its safe operation. It may be in the best inter-
est of all parties to execute a hold-harmless agreement to
establish a no-liability relationship between the instruc-
tor and student prior to beginning f light instruction.

tranSfer of airCraft Control
In the course of formation training, particularly in tan-
dem-seat aircraft where the pilots cannot see one anoth-
er’s controls, it is imperative that positive control of the
aircraft be maintained at all times.

Transfer of aircraft control, back and forth between in-
structor and student, must be performed in a positive,
confirming manner. “The shaker is the taker” is a com-
mon, confirming technique. When aircraft control is
passed from one pilot to the other, the surrendering pilot
will state, over the intercom:

“You have the aircraft.”

The accepting pilot will shake the control stick or yoke
and state:

“I have the aircraft.”

From this point on, the accepting pilot has full control of
the aircraft.

3

Especially in the formation training environment, there
is always the potential for a situation to deteriorate rap-
idly. If this should happen and the instructor recognizes
the need to immediately take command of the aircraft to
prevent a mid-air collision, “the shaker is the taker” pro-
tocol does not apply. The instructor will announce, in a
forceful manner, “I have the aircraft” and the student will
immediately surrender control of the aircraft.

FLIGHT LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES
Assuming the role of f light leader is a huge undertak-
ing. In addition to being able to f ly smoothly, providing a
stable platform for the wingmen, Lead must monitor the
wingmen, monitor the f light environment, and plan well
ahead of the formation. The f light leader’s responsibilities
also include, but are not limited to:

• Verification of pilots’ credentials, currency and com-

•

•

Safe conduct of f light

Selection of wingmen

petency in type

• Mission planning

• Briefing the mission

• Debriefing the mission

• Training new formation pilots

•

Endorsing Formation Proficiency Reports (FPR)

• Recommending pilots for Wing and Lead check rides

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Discipline and situational awareness are part and parcel
to every pilot’s modus operandi, but formation f light re-
quires taking these to a higher level.

The academic definition of situational awareness is:

The continuous observation of current conditions and,
along with the integration of previous knowledge, the abil-
ity to quickly form a coherent mental picture to anticipate
future needs and direct future actions.

Or, in more prosaic language, “Don’t let your aircraft oc-
cupy space where your brain has not already been.”

It is absolutely critical that every formation pilot has his
“head in the game” at all times. There is little room for er-
ror and errors can propagate quickly throughout a f light
of aircraft in formation.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of
fundamental formation concepts and theory.
StudentS
The student should begin by studying the Preface, Chap-
ters 1 through 9, and Appendix A. This will provide the
student with a solid, basic understanding of formation
structure and protocols. Once the student has completed
this “academic” portion of training, he should coordinate

www.flyfast.orgVersion 2.0 WARNINGS, CAUTIONS AND NOTES
Throughout the manual, there are Warnings, Cautions,
and Notes. These are defined and indicated in the manner
designated.

4

with a qualified formation f light instructor to begin the
f lying portion of training.

For the f light phase of training, the student should seek to
first become proficient in 2-ship formation. Once 2-ship
has been mastered, the student will progress to 4-ship
formation.

flight leaderS
Flight leaders must have a thorough knowledge of the
Preface, Chapters 1 through 9, and Appendix A.

There are two levels of formation f light instruction. The
first level of instruction is that provided by the f light lead-
er during the post-f light debrief. The f light leader must
possess the wherewithal to critique the f light in such a
manner that the what, why, how aspects of the f light are
thoroughly addressed. “What” means what happened in
the course of each task—this requires keen observational
skill. “Why” means why was the task not performed to
standard—this requires keen diagnostic skills. “How”
means how do you correct the observed task to stan-
dard—this requires a deep understanding of the mechan-
ics of the maneuver and brings into play observational,
diagnostic and analytical skills to meaningfully present
a solution.

flight inStruCtorS
The second level of instruction is that provided by an on-
board f light instructor. This instructor must be capable
of demonstrating and teaching all the formation tasks
from takeoff to landing. In addition, this instructor must
possess the wisdom and experience to recognize when it
is necessary to take the aircraft from the student in order
to prevent an incident or accident.

To that end, the on-board f light instructor should have
thorough, in-depth knowledge of this entire manual.

R M ATION PILO

T

F O

FAST

Formation FundamentalsVersion 2.0WARNING Warnings signify situations where injury or death may resultCAUTION Cautions signify situations where aircraft or property damage may resultNOTE Notes provide additional information useful to the understanding of the material CONTENTS

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Introduction .
Preface .
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Safety Equipment .
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Demo-Do .
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Pilot In Command .
Transfer of Aircraft Control .
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Flight Leader Responsibilities .
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Situational Awareness .
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How to Use this Manual .
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Flight Leaders .
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Flight Instructors .
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Warnings, Cautions and Notes .

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Table of Contents .
Chapter 1
FLIGHT ORGANIZATION
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Formation Configurations .
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Echelon .
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Trail .
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Diamond .
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Route .
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Chapter 2
MAINTAINING POSITION
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Station Keeping .
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Turns in Fingertip .
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Turns Into the Wingman .
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Turns Away from the Wingman .
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Echelon Turns (Low-Wing A/C) .
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Summary .
Chapter 3
START, TAXI, TAKEOFF
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Engine Start .
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Taxi .
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Takeoff .
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Interval Takeoff .
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Element Takeoff .
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Takeoff Aborts .
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Chapter 4
2-SHIP MANEUVERS
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Wing-Work .
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Cross-Under
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Echelon Turn .
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Close Trail .
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Extended Trail .
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Tail Chase .
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Lead Change .
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Pitch out and Rejoin .
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Straight Ahead Rejoin .
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Turning Rejoin .
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Overshoot .
Chapter 5
RECOVERY
Single-Ship, Interval Landing .
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360° Overhead Pattern .
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Gear Check Radio Call .
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Hot/Cold Landing .
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Staggered Landing .
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Downwind Break .
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360° Overhead Go-Around .
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Downwind Break Go-Around .
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Element Landing .
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Element Go-Around .
Debrief .
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Chapter 6
4-SHIP MANEUVERS
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Engine Start .
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Taxi .
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Runway Lineup .
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Elements in Trail .
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Elements in Offset Trail .
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Number 4 in the Slot .
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Echelon .
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Takeoff .
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Interval Takeoff .
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Element Takeoff .
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Rejoin After Takeoff .
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Wing-Work .
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Cross-Under
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Diamond .
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Close Trail .
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Extended Trail .
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Tail Chase .
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Lead Change .
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Pitch out and Rejoin .
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Straight Ahead Rejoin .

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www.flyfast.orgVersion 2.0 6

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Turning Rejoin .
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Overshoot .
Chapter 7
OPERATING LIMITATIONS
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Takeoff .
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Runway Length .
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Runway Width .
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Takeoff Intervals .
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Lift-Off Interval .
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Timed Interval .
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Crosswinds .
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Fluid maneuvering .
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Landing .
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Runway Length .
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Runway Width .
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Minimum Landing Interval .
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Go Around .
Tailwheel Aircraft .
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Chapter 8
ABNORMAL PROCEDURES
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Ground Abort .
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Takeoff Abort .
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Element Abort .
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Single-Ship, Interval Takeoff Abort .
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Airborne Emergencies .
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Radio Failure .
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Intercom Failure .
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Recovery
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System Failures—HEFOE .
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Knock-It-Off (KIO) .
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Reasons to Call KIO .
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KIO Procedures .
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Terminate .
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Reasons to Call Terminate .
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Terminate Procedures .
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Break Out .
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Lost Sight .
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The Blind Aircraft
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The Visual Aircraft .
Both Aircraft Blind .
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Coordination & Support for Damaged or Disabled
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Aircraft .
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Flying Chase .
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Chase Pilot Responsibilities .
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Bird Strike .
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Bailout/Ejection .
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Coordination & Support .

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Search and Rescue (SAR) .
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Responsibilities of the SAR Commander .
Chapter 9
COMMUNICATION
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Voice Communication .
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Two-Step message Process .
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Frequency Change & Check-In Procedure .
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Go Verses Push .
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Call Sign Terminology .
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Air Traffic Control Calls .
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Hand Signals .
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Engine Start .
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Engine Run-Up .
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Ready for Takeoff .
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Start Takeoff Roll .
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Gear Up .
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Gear Down .
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Flaps Up/Down .
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Change Frequency .
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Change to Pre-Briefed Frequency .
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Climb .
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Descend .
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Level Off.
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Add Power .
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Reduce Power .
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Stack Down .
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Pitchout .
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Kiss Off .
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Lead Change .
Fuel Check .
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Oxygen Check .
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Pitot Heat On .
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Rotating Beacon On/Off .
Landing Lights On/Off .
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Stop Squawk (transponder off) .
OK or Ready to Go (not on active runway) .
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65
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Formation FundamentalsVersion 2.0 Appendix A
GLOSSARY .

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Aircraft Signals .
Go to Route .
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Reform/Tighten Formation
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Cross-Under .
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Fingertip to Trail .
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Attention in the Air .
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Go Around .
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Ops Checks .
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Fuel Management .
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Joker Fuel .
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Bingo Fuel .
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Rejoin .
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Rendezvous .

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74

Version 2.0www.flyfast.org 8

CHAPTER 1
FLIGHT ORGANIZATION

#1

2-ship element

of two elements, a f light of six is made up of three ele-
ments, and so on.

#2

In a f light of four aircraft, the aircraft positions are num-
bered #1 (f light leader), #2, #3, and #4. There will be two
elements and therefore two element leaders. One element
leader is designated as the f light leader (#1), and the other
will f ly the #3 position and act as deputy lead. The wing
pilots will be in the #2 and #4 positions. The two elements
will maintain integrity within the 4-ship f light. That
means #2 will f ly off #1 and #4 will f ly off #3, moving
with #3 whenever #3 changes position or separates from
the f light.

Within a 4-ship, #1 will usually be the most experienced
pilot of the group. Number 3 (deputy lead) will be the
next most experienced, and preferably a lead qualified pi-
lot. The #2 and #4 wing pilots will typically be the junior
f light members.

CAUTION
Never put a non-formation qualified or inexperi-
enced pilot in the lead position of a formation.

FORMATION CONFIGURATIONS
There are numerous ways to arrange formations, some
becoming very elaborate. A formation may f ly in differ-
ent configurations at different times during a f light. The
basic formation configurations are fingertip, echelon, and
trail. Most other configurations are variations of these.

fingertip strong right

TERMINOLOGY
First, we need to define some of the basic terms we use.
Simply put, any group of more than one aircraft is called
a “f light.” A f light may consist of two aircraft, 16 aircraft
or 116 aircraft, all f lying with respect to one another.
Flights are made up of “elements.” An element consists
of a f light leader and a wingman. All f lights are made up
of elements. There are never more than two aircraft in an
element. For instance, a f light of four aircraft is made up

Version 2.0Formation Fundamentals