Formation flight brief - Bryan Weatherup



Formation flight brief.

A. Good morning gentlemen. My name is ______ and I will be conducting the NATOPS portion of this brief. ________ will be conducting the MISSION portion of the brief. Hold all questions until the end.

B. Conduct of flight

1. Helicopter assignment and location. ________ will be in Factoryhand XXX located on spot _______. ______ will be in Factoryhand XXX located on spot _____. The lead will be _____. External call sing will be Factoryhand XXX and the internal call sign will be MAD DOG. The section leader will be ______.

2. Mission. Our missions will be the safe completion of HTACs____

3. Sequence of events. Will be covered in the MISSION portion of the brief.

4. Operating and Landing area. Will be covered in the MISSION portion of the brief.

5. Applicable preset frequencies. Refer to the smart sheet.

6. Navigation aids. Refer to the smart sheet.

7. Flight duration. We will call outbound for 2+30.

8. Fuel planning. We should have 80 gallons aboard. Our Go-no go fuel will be 70 gallons.

9. Weight and balance. Is completed and within limits for both aircraft.

10. Flight publications required. Please refer to the smart sheet.

C. Weather. Current weather is______________. Destination Weather is __________. Forecast weather is ___________. Minimum operating weather is 1000-3 for the route, and 600-2 for dual site ops, per the RWOP.

D. Emergencies.

1. Systems failures and emergencies will be handled internally, notifying the other aircraft when safe to do so. The section leader will determine the conduct of the remainder of the flight.

2. Inadvertent IMC: either aircraft can call inadvertent IMC. If Wing loses sight of Lead, wing will immediately turn away from Lead calling side and direction of turn. Lead will stabilize and call base heading and altitude. Wing will call passing through 90 deg of turn. Lead will then turn in the opposite direction. Both aircraft will turn for 170 deg. When lead rolls out, the PAC will commence a check-in with their status (i.e. VMC in sight, VMC not in sight, IMC) and fuel state. At this point one of three cases will exist.

A. Case 1. Both aircraft VMC: Aircraft will join up as specified by the section leader.

B. Case 2. One aircraft VMC and on IMC. The Section leader will call for a positive switch to Approach with a check-in. The IMC aircraft will contact approach, informing them of the situation and obtaining a discrete squawk. Once the IMC aircraft is under positive control, the section leader will dissolve the flight and both aircraft will proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.

Case 3. Both aircraft IMC. The section leader will call for a positive switch to approach with a check-in. The section leader will inform approach of the situation and obtain two discrete squawks. Once both aircraft are under positive control, the section leader will dissolve the flight and each aircraft will proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.

E. Coordinating Instructions

1. Communications. Lead will make all external calls using the section leader’s side number. Wing will initiate all maneuvers using the appropriate brevity codes. Anyone can make a safety of flight call.

2. ID and recognition. The Section leader will squawk the appropriate code in the ALT mode. The wingman will squawk the appropriate code in STANDBY. If the flight is dissolved or separated for any reason, each aircraft will squawk the appropriate code in the ALT mode.

3. Visual signals. Please refer to your smart sheet.

4. Lost Comm. For the purposes of demonstration, palms down signifies good comm/normal lighting, and palms up signifies lost comm lighting configuration.

a. Lead Lost comm.: If lead experiences a total radio failure, Lead will go to the lost comm lighting configuration and slow to 65 knots to gain Wing’s attention. The good comm. Aircraft will gain safe lateral separation and move abeam the lost comm. Aircraft then go to the lost comm. Lighting configuration to signify “I understand that you are lost comm. And I am in the position for a lead change.” The lost comm. Aircraft will return to normal lighting configuration to signify, “You have the lead.” The good comm Aircraft will return to the normal lighting configuration to signify, “I have the lead.” The lost comm. Aircraft will then slide back to the 45 deg bearing. The flight will then proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.

b. Wing Lost comm. If wing experiences a total radio failure, Wing will go to the lost comm. Lighting configuration, gain safe lateral separation and move abeam Lead to signify, “I am lost comm.” The good comm. Aircraft will then switch to the lost comm. Lighting configuration to signify, “I understand you are lost comm.” The lost comm. Aircraft will return to normal lighting configuration to signify, “You retain the lead.” The good comm. Aircraft will return to the normal lighting configuration, to signify, “I will retain the lead.” The lost comm. Aircraft will slide back to the 45 deg bearing. The flight will proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.

F. Loss of visual contact with flight. If wing loses sight of lead, wing will maneuver as necessary to gain safe separation from lead and call, “MAD DOG flight, lost contact.” Lead will remain predictable, calling base heading and altitude or communicate intentions, as appropriate. Join up will be per CASE 1 in inadvertent IMC. If loss of visual contact occurs in the pattern, it is a mandatory waveoff for Wing. Lead will continue to a landing.

G. Downed Pilot and aircraft. If an aircraft within the section goes down, the good aircraft will execute the On-scene commander checklist. If the flight should come across a downed pilot and/or aircraft, the Section Leader will execute the On-scene commander checklist. The other aircraft should remain clear unless tasked but the section leader.

H. Aborts. If an aircraft aborts prior to takeoff, the pilot will notify the other aircraft as soon as possible. On takeoff, if Lead aborts, Wing will abort with lead if it is safe to do so. If not, Wing will continue to takeoff, enter a downwind and land clear of Lead. If wing aborts, Lead will continue to takeoff, enter a downwind, and land clear of wing.

This concludes the NATOPS brief. ________ will conduct the mission brief.

A. Pre-launch

1. Time Hack: The time is Hour:Minute:Second. Does anyone require a time hack?

2. Preflight will be completed by_______

3. Turn-up will be completed by_______

4. Check-in will be at _____, VHF 121.95, UHF button 6.

5. Automatic switch to ATIS then positive switch to Ground via Clearance delivery. Taxi with an AUTO switch to TWR prior to the hold short.

6. Lead takes the center of the runway. Take off in cruise formation at ______

7. Depart via PT ______, Automatic switch to Pensacola Departure and Button 17/13 when cleared by Tower.

8. Route of flight will be______, in ________ Formation.

B. Formation (HTAC 7-9)

1. Operating area and obstacles of flight. Aircraft, Birds, Class C airspace, Power lines, Towers, and the restricted area 2915A. The western boundary of the operating area runs north south from the town of Munson to the town of Harold. The northern boundary of the operating area is Highway 4 from Munson until it intersects the 270 Radio of the CEW VORTAC. The eastern boundary of the training area is the CEW 180 radial south until Highway 90. The southern boundary is defined by Highway 90 as it extends from the town of Harold, east to the CEW 180 radial. There is one tower at Munson which is 630 ft MSL, and one tower at Harold which is 443 ft MSL. There is one tower west of the CEW VORTAC which is 443 ft MSL. The 1168 ft MSL tower on the map is no longer there and is considered a typo. There are several towers south of Highway 90, the tallest of which is 485 ft MSL. To the south of Highway 90 is the Restricted area R-2915A, which will also be avoided.

2. A/S 80 KTS, Alt 1000MSL

3. Bingo fuel will be 20 gal (per the SOP) from the Crestview VORTAC proceeding to Point Juniper via course rules for arrival back to South Whiting Field.

4. Sequence of Maneuvers will be: CO, CT, CD, BR, OR as required, LD, repeating the sequence except for LD.

5. T/O and Landings. At the completion of the second sequence, Wing will call for takeoffs and landings, “Tango Lima.”

6. Positive switch to BTN 10 (Harold), and check-in.

C. Navigation (HTAC 10-11)

1. Nav Route _______

2. Route of flight to the nav route will be _______, in cruise formation, a/s______, Alt______.

3. Our Bingo fuel will be_____.

4. Map-Change over point will be ________.

5. Obstacles/Hazards ABCTR

6. A/S _________, Alt___________. In case of disorientation we will climb to 500 ft and circle the last known checkpoint or distinguishable terrain feature, re-orient and return to the route.

7. Call commencing, each check point or 15 minutes, and complete.

8. Lost comms on route. We will climb to 500 ft and execute NATOPS lost comm. Procedures.

9. T/Os and landings

10. Positive switch to BTN ____ and check-in.

D. Landings

1. Landing site _______

2. Route of flight _______, formation ________A/S______, ________MSL.

3. Bingo fuel will be _______ from the OLF to NDZ

4. Entry Point will be

5. Splitting/Break. Lead will be making the call for spitting and the break, if required.

6. Sequence of approaches: Normal, HS, LD, repeat sequence except for LD.

7. Waveoff.. All waveoffs are mandatory regardless of who calls it. All calls for a waveoff shall be repeated verbatim by the other aircraft. Three scenarios are:

a. Scenario 1. When someone external to the section makes the waveoff call, Lead will make the internal and external calls. Both aircraft will waveoff.

b. Scenario 2. Someone internal to the section may call for a section waveoff by calling, “MAD DOG flight, Waveoff.” Both aircraft will waveoff and Lead will make the external call.

c. Scenario 3. If wing waves off, Wing will make an external call using his own side number. Controls will be transferred to the pilot with the best situational awareness.

8. RTB/PTR. Wing will call for the next phase of the mission.

9. Departure call, Positive switch to Button 6, check-in. Lead aircraft will make the call to SKEDS.

E. RTB

1. Route of flight will be course rules to ______, for a PT ________ arrival. We will be in ______ formation, A/S 100kts, 700MSL.

2. Call to Skeds. Lead will make the call to skeds.

3. Positive Switch to Approach. Via ATIS. Once cleared by approach the flight will switch to Tower. There will be no check-in on TWR or APP frequency.

4. Call for Landing/break.

5. Land in ______ formation.

6. There will be an Automatic switch to ground. Lead will close out the flight.

AT THIS TIME ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

NATOPS CREW COORDINATION BRIEF.

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