Radio and Hand Signals

Instructions may be given either over the radio or by using visual hand signals Visual signals should be used whenever practical. Standard hand signals are listed at Standard Formation Hand Signals. A good Wing will always acknowledge a hand signal with a small head nod. Lead should look at the Wing when using hand signals to ensure that the Wing has seen and understood the signal.

Radio is used in formations of more than two aircraft, or when the Lead believes that Wing will not be able to discern a hand signal. Radio format is, [Callsign], [action required], go. When in echelon, compliance is the only acknowledgement necessary. When there is a formation change where the Lead cannot see all aircraft, the last aircraft in the configuration should confirm the completion of the change with the call, [Callsign], in.

The overriding factor in all cases is that there must never be any possibility of ambiguity in a formation.

When communicating with other air or ground stations the aircraft leading at the time will make all necessary radio calls on behalf of the formation. The exception to this is when receiving a clearance to land. The lead aircraft will have called "[Callsign], Downwind." on behalf of the formation. When the tower controller clears the formation to land, only the lead aircraft will respond with Clear to land, [Callsign].