Principles of Formation Leadership

If you are the formation lead, be master! Know the brief; leave no room for ambiguity in your briefing, your radio calls, or your actions in the air.

You are responsible for at least two aircraft and multiple lives: be their eyes, ears and voice. Your lookout must be constant and you must allow for lack of normal manoeuvrability. Think of the formation as one huge aircraft with the dimensions of the entire formation. You must try to anticipate potential confliction with other aircraft and act early to avoid confliction.

Watch your navigation, and the time of the flight to ensure that the lowest fuel state aircraft has sufficient reserves. Ensure you are not about to enter cloud or are not approaching an airspace boundary.

Fly smoothly and accurately using small control movements. When rolling into a turn ensure you smoothly accelerate to the desired rate of roll and decelerate at the same rate to achieve the desired angle of bank. Always be considerate to your wingmates.

Note: At all times, avoid maximum and minimum power settings and flying close to the aircraft limits.

Have a thorough knowledge of the aircraft and emergency procedures, and be prepared to provide advice and location information to any member of the formation when needed.

Make correct, clear, concise radio calls and hand signals.

Note: Clock code traffic calls may be made by any member of the formation.

Regularly look at the wingmates to ensure that they are still there! And that there are no potential problems.

If you need maximum manoeuvrability consider placing your formation in line astern.

Think ahead. Change frequency in good time. Remember, you have to check-in the formation before transmitting to ATC.