Formation SOPs

Question 1

How are callsigns established for a formation?

Answer 1

BY the program.
1st formation will be prefixed with 1 then second number refers to A/C in that formation (i.e. Raptor 11, 12 etc)
2nd formation will be prefixed with 2 …

Question 2

What is the patter for the initial formation check in?

Answer 2

Lead –> “Raptor Check”
-2 –> “Raptor 12”
-3 –> “3”
and on

Question 3

How are non-initial check in’s done ?

Answer 3

Lead –” Raptor push 5”
Everyone switches over to #5
Lead –> “Raptor 11”
-2, –> “2”
and on

Question 4

How does lead initiate a frequency change without a check in?

Answer 4

“Raptor switch 5” through use of “switch” not “push”

Question 5

How does lead initiate a frequency change on Comm2?

Answer 5

Prefixing with Comm2 (i.e. “Raptor COMM2 push 5”).

Question 6

1) What is normal taxi spacing ?
2) What can this be increased to if FOD is an issue or taxxing behind high performance A/C?
3) What cues can front pilot use to achieve 100m spacing?

Answer 6

1) 100m
2) 200m
3) HUD waterline symbol is 1/2 the wingspan of the Hawk ahead

Question 7

Line up Positions:
1) Line up position for pair?
2) Battle four line up?
3) Battle three line up?
4) VIC line up?

Answer 7

1) Each A/C on center of their half of runway. Wing should move forward to align trailing edge of horizontal tail with jet pipe.
2) #1 and #4 line up aligned with outside edge of 500ft markers. #2 and #3 should line up with their wingtip aligned with the runway centreline.
3) Same as pair except #3 lines up behind the pair on runway centreline.
4) Lead on centreline. #2 and #3 line up on their centre half of runway, #2 on right unless reverse line up is briefed.

Question 8

Xwind Line up:
1) If X-Wind > 10 kts, where should lead line up?
2) If X-Wind < 10 kts, where should lead line up?

Answer 8

1) On downwind side of runway regardless if they are entering from ORP or taxiway.
2) - If entering from a taxiway, on the far side
- If entering from the ORP, on the near side. Both should taxi out at same time so wing avoids the jet exhaust.

Question 9

What must all aircrew check on each others A/C prior to TO?

Answer 9

1) Canopy
2) Flaps
3) Fuel/Hydraulic Leaks

Question 10

What are pairs TO limitations?

Answer 10

1) X-Wind (including gusts) exceeds 15 knots
2) ATC/PIREP indicates standing water on the runway

Question 11

What are other restrictions to pairs TO if runways are 8000 ft or less in length?

Answer 11

Must not occur if:
1) Total mass of 16200 lbs and temp is 15C or greater
2) Mass of 15600 lbs and ambient temp is 30 C or greater.

Question 12

1) What is minimum stream interval for stream TO?
2) How should A/C perform it?

Answer 12

1) 20s
2) Normal line up, each A/C goes individually and converges onto centreline during TO roll.

Question 13

Close formation positions:
1) Ech (Front Cockpit) cues
2) Line astern (Front Cockpit) cues

Answer 13

1) Centre of upper wing tip formation light with centre of nav light + Trailing edge of horizontal tail with jet pipe
2) Aligning forward tips of strakes with inboard edge of flaps + tailplane appears as wide as HUD combining glass.

Question 14

Turns
1) During turns, how should A/C in close formation maintain station?

Answer 14

1) In the plane of lead except for extended echelons of 3 or more A/C during turns away from wingmen (Belly turns to be used)

Question 15

Stations Changes:
1) When is a wingman allowed to change stations?
2) How should wingman performa station changes?

Answer 15

1) If directed to by lead through RT/Hand Signals
2) Through the key (1 A/C behind and down of echelon position.

Question 16

Form Lead Changes
1) Can lead changes occur in IMC?
2) What is patter for Full Comm lead change?
3) What is patter for NOCOM lead change?

Answer 16

1) No only VMC

2) Lead –> “Raptor 12, take the lead”
-2 –> Moves out into wide echelon, drives forward, once passing lead says “Raptor 12, passing left/right, taking the lead”
Lead –> “Visual” (executive for lead change)

3) Lead –> Points at wingman then points at 12 o’clock
Wind –> Acknowledges with head nod then moves A/C out than forward
Lead –> Exaggerated head nod (executive) for lead change

Question 17

Fuel Call conventions:
1) What is fuel call conventions >1000 lbs ?
2) < 1000 lbs?
3) If lead queries fuel states, should wingman give reference bingo/joker?
4) Does bingo increase with distance?

Answer 17

1) Thousands of points rounded to nearest hundred. (i.e. 2150 = two point one)
2) Should be called to second decimal place (i.e. 930 pounds is point 9 3)
3) No just give the fuel number
4) Yes it does, need to watch it as wingman and need to call BINGO when reached.

Question 18

Switches Safe call:
1) When should switches safe call be completed?
2) What is switches safe defined as?

Answer 18

1) Prior to 10NM to recovery airfield
2) - Master arm - safe
- RADEM switch - OFF
- If releasable stores are carried - GEN NAV mode

Question 19

What is OPS drill procedure?

Answer 19

1) Select ATIS on COMM2 and listen to full cycle
2) Once ATIS received select SQN OPS and wait to be checked in
3) Once checked in, each element will do switches safe call + relevant Armstrong code

Question 20

Close Formation Recovery:
1) When should leaders set the formation?
2) Can a four ship penetrate cloud?
3) What is echelon pitch interval? What bout if brake chute going to be streamed or circuits are to be conducted?
4) For pairs approaches, what should wingman provide lead once they have configured?
5) If doing a pairs landing with brake chute (which should generally be avoided), when should lead stream their chute?
6) When is a runway unsuitable for a pairs landing?

Answer 20

1) Prior to entering IMC with all consideration given to relevant factors
2) Yes but only thin layers
3) 4 seconds. 8 seconds for the other two cases.
4) “Three Greens” and current fuel state
5) Once wing has called “good chute”
6) - X wind (including gusts) > 15 knots
- ATC/PIREP indicates that there is standing water on runway

Question 21

1) When can the VMC wingman drag procedure be used?
2) How is it conducted?

Answer 21

1) If pairs are visual by 4nm and runway appears unsuitable for a pairs landing, lead can say “drag”.
2) Lead accelerates to on-speed + 30 KCAS (Nominal 160KCAS), wingman maintain on-speed. Lead decelerates to on-speed on short finals which should achieve 3000ft separation. Following elements need to be advised.

Question 22

How should a close formation overshoot be conducted?

Answer 22

1) Lead sets 580-590 TGT and 5 deg NU VV during a formation overshoot.

Question 23

Touchdown and rollout:
1) Where should lead aim to land to ensure wingman don’t land short?
2) IF wingman are on exit side of the runway, what do they need to call once under control and sufficient longitudinal separation has been established?

Answer 23

1) 500 footers
2) C/S under control”

Question 24

Lost visual procedures:
1) What is initial action if a wingman loses contact in close formation?
2) What are subsequent actions?
3) What vertical separation should lead ensure ASAP?

Answer 24

1) Reduce power to ensure nose-tail separation (unless they are on on speed AoA for approach config)
2) - Wings Level = Wingman turn 20 deg away from leaders heading, call BLIND, maintain heading for 20s then adopt a heading and/or altitude called by the leader
- Turning away from wingman = wingman level wings, call BLIND, maintain wings level for 20s and then resume turn/adopt heading/altitude called by the leader
- Turning toward the wingman = Wingman increase AoB by 20 deg and call BLIND. Lead will level wings for 20s and proceed as required.

3) 1000 ft

Question 25

What are two prohibited proceudres?

Answer 25

1) Form T + Gos and VIC form landings must not be conducted.
2) Unless emergency requires, mixed A/C recoveries not ot be flown.

Question 26

Collision Avoidance
1) Who avoids who in a formation?
2) If wing cannot ensure separation, what should they call?
3) What are the two situations where collision avoidance contract changes?

Answer 26

1) Wing avoids lead. In larger formations, collision avoidance is in ascending order.
2) C/S BLIND
3) - Formal lead change
- “Press/Lag” call.

Question 27

Pairs TO aborts:
1) For pairs TO, what will lead call when he needs whole formation to abort?
2) For pairs TO, If one A/C needs to abort, what will be the call?
3) If one A/C aborts in should other abort? Are there sympathentic aborts in pairs?

Answer 27

1) “Abort abort Raptor abort”
2) “Raptor 2, aborting”
3) No, in pairs other A/C should continue. No sympathetic aborts.

Question 28

Stream TO abort:
1) Should all A/C abort if ahead A/C aborts?

Answer 28

Yes

Question 29

NORDO procedures:
1) How are A/C with radio failure lead home?
2) If lead gets NORDO, what should they do?
3) If wing gets a NORDO, what should they do?

Answer 29

1) For visual initial and pitch or a pairs landing.
2) Get wingman in close with wingrocks, then used HEFOE/Hand signals to get them to take the lead and lead you home
3) Position 2000 ft abeam the lead A/C, rock wings by day or turn strobes on at night to signal loss of radio, lead to join on wing .

Question 30

Post ejection responsibilities:
1) 2 A/C formation, what is surviving A/C responsibilities:

Answer 30

1) Visually track and mark parachutes position. Make MAYDAY call, do not fly below parachutes altitudes
2) Adopt role of SAR commander. Call for assistance from other airborne A/C. Establish radio comms with survivors, Coordinate rescue assets, Follow SAR Commander checklist. Fly for endurance. Maintain visual with survivors.