Formation SOPs

Question 1

When should all formation elements squawk at low level?

Answer 1

When the spacing between elements is expected to exceed 1nm

Question 2

You split as a formation for GH before planning to reform - both formation members are now squawking. How can you inform ATC that you don’t require traffic information on each other?

Answer 2

“C/S, request non-standard formation”

Question 3

During ML lead changes, which aircraft should squawk? What is the exception?

Answer 3

Lead should retain the squawk for the formation.
If No.2 leads the recovery to the airfield, on receipt of a squawk or on changing to stud 5, No. 2 should set the squawk and 1 should strangle their squawk.

At Valley the formation will now be “Swift 2 flight” in all RT. At a landaway airfield just inform ATC of the new order when able.

Question 4

You are at LL in formation and spot a nearby TCAS conflict above you on the nose that may be a factor, how should you raise this to the formation?

Answer 4

“Swift 2, contact, 12 o’clock, 2000’ above”

Question 5

What callsigns should you use if the formation splits?

Answer 5

Your individual formation callsign

Question 6

What are the hand signals for the collector and guard frequencies?

Answer 6

Collector - 1 finger
UHF guard (243.000) - 2 fingers
VHF guard (121.500) - 3 fingers

Question 7

What height should the lead climb to on take-off before turning?

Answer 7

1000ft at 180KIAS

Question 8

For a Hi-Lo-Hi takeoff, approximately what nose up angle (WL) should the formation elements on a Hi profile fly?

Answer 8

10 deg. NU WL

Question 9

What height should wingmen not turn below on takeoff?

Answer 9

500ft

Question 10

How will individual aircraft abort a takeoff?

Answer 10

“Swift 2 aborting”, etc

Question 11

How can the lead abort the whole formation on takeoff?

Answer 11

“Abort, abort, Swift, abort”

Question 12

If an aircraft ahead of you aborts in a stream takeoff, what action should you take?

Answer 12

Also abort, maintaining a straight line down the runway. Action the abort, then make the call.

Question 13

What is the max AoB the lead should use in cloud?

Answer 13

30 deg.

Question 14

Who should call the ‘Jokers’ in a formation?

Answer 14

The subordinate aircraft, i.e. if No.2 has taken the lead then No.1 will call to No.2.

Question 15

If closing with excessive closure during a turning join, what action should you take and what call are you waiting to hear before you can re-cross the leader’s 6?

Answer 15

Ease the AoB and pass along the HORIZON to the outside of the turn, maintaining height separation.

Wait to be cleared to ‘cross and rejoin’

Question 16

What is the lost leader procedure when VMC?

Question 17

What is the only way formation changes between vic and reverse vic can be made?

Answer 17

Through line astern or arrow

Question 18

How will the lead initiate flat turns (180kts for academic practice)?

Answer 18

“Swift, Flat Turn, Rolling IN”

On the word IN, the lead will roll to 60 deg. AoB over 3s and maintain 180kts.

If expecting to maintain the turn for practice, the lead will initiate a slight climb or descent to avoid the formation’s own wake turbulence.

Question 19

How will the lead exit flat turns?

Answer 19

“Swift, Flat Turn, Rolling ouT”

On the ‘T’, the lead will roll out over 3s and adjust power to maintain speed.

Question 20

What range should you aim to stabilise within during a tailchase?

Answer 20

350-1000ft

1000 = Size of FPM
350 = Can clearly read markings

Question 21

After the last aircraft calls ‘in’ on the break for a tailchase, what should the lead now fly?

Answer 21

Tighten for G-aware and then further for G-warm.

Make calls:
“Swift, 4g”
“Swift, 5g”

Question 22

You are leading a tailchase and your wingman calls ‘blind’. They cannot regain visual so level off and call “Swift 2 level 8000ft”. What actions should you take as the lead?

Answer 22

Establish AT LEAST 500ft separation without flying through the wingman’s level.

Direct the join up - could be using an RV, but if you are visual with them it is easier to call your position relative to the wingman to guide their eyes on to you. Can then re-direct a join up or have them call ‘in’ and continue.

Question 23

From what formation do routine lead changes take place?

Answer 23

Echelon L/R

Question 24

How is a lead change flown?

Answer 24

Lead calls the formation in to Echelon L/R.

Leader should pass the formation’s position if req. and transmit:
“Swift 2, Yours”

Wingman acknowledges: “Swift 2”

Wingman taking over moves out and accelerates to overtake the leader. As they pass abeam the leader, they assume the lead by transmitting:
“Swift 2, Mine, Swift 1 clear join echelon L/R”

Ex leader acknowledges the clearance and joins as directed.

Question 25

In line abreast, what call must be made immediately after the commencement of a turn where a mistake has been made regarding the responsibility of collision avoidance or an error in the way the turn is to be flown has been made?

Answer 25

“STOP, STOP STOP”

Both aircraft should immediately resume the original reference heading

Question 26

What does the call “Swift, REFERENCE XXX” imply?

Answer 26

Regain line abreast on the specified heading

Question 27

What does the call “Swift, FLOW XXX” imply?

Answer 27

Fly the specified heading regardless of formation shape

Question 28

What does the call “Swift, SET XXX” imply?

Answer 28

Directs the formation to fly the specified speed

Question 29

What does the call “Swift, ELEVATE XXX” imply?

Answer 29

Directs the formation to climb/descend to the specified altitude

Question 30

What is the minimum power for a formation descent?

Answer 30

10% TQ

Question 31

If the lead is conducting a low approach as a formation for the wingman to land, what height should they not go below?

Answer 31

150ft

Question 32

Which aircraft calls ‘vacated’ to ATC and then pushes the formation to ground?

Answer 32

The last aircraft to vacate the runway

The leader then requests taxy from ground. There is no requirement to check the formation in on this change.

Question 33

On a LL abort as a formation, to what altitude will the lead climb?

Answer 33

SALT + 1000ft

Wingman will climb to SALT

Question 34

What are the SOP flinches?

Answer 34

Tac lead - 250ft MSD
Wingman - 750ft MSD

Question 35

What is the minimum speed at LL as a formation?

Answer 35

210 KIAS