ales Posted June 3, 2008 Posted June 3, 2008 Hello. I have a request, especially for military helicopter pilots. I need some example of SOP (standard operating procedures) for helicopter formation flying. If anyone of you have any suggestion I would be thankful. Ales Quote
Gomer Pylot Posted June 4, 2008 Posted June 4, 2008 In general, stay above the ship in front, to stay out of turbulence from rotor wash. Keep it in close, but not too close. One to two rotor diameters is about right, IIRC. Back in the days before NVGs were invented we flew night formation flights with no external lights, using the instrument lights of the ship we were flying formation on for reference. The entire formation landed on one pathfinder with a single strobe. That's about all I can remember, and I'm probably lucky to remember that much. Quote
palmfish Posted June 4, 2008 Posted June 4, 2008 Hello. I have a request, especially for military helicopter pilots. I need some example of SOP (standard operating procedures) for helicopter formation flying. If anyone of you have any suggestion I would be thankful. Ales Well, it's not an SOP, but this is from the UH-1 Aircrew Training Manual (ATM): TASK 2010 PERFORM MULTI-AIRCRAFT OPERATIONSCONDITIONS: In an UH-1 helicopter and given a unit standing operating procedure (SOP).STANDARDS:1. Participate in a formation flight briefing in accordance with unit SOP and the mandatoryitems per the multi-aircraft operations briefing checklist.2. Perform formation flight and techniques of movement as briefed.3. React to loss of visual contact in accordance with the unit SOP.DESCRIPTION:1. Crew actions.a. The pilot on the controls (P*) will focus primarily outside the aircraft, maintainingcontact with the other aircraft in the formation. The P* will announce any maneuver ormovement before execution and inform the pilot not on the controls (P) if visual contact islost with other aircraft. If visual contact is lost with other the aircraft, the crew willimmediately notify the flight and begin reorientation procedures. If instrument meteorologicalconditions (IMC) are encountered execute IIMC breakup as briefed.b. The P will provide adequate warning of traffic or obstacles detected in the flight pathand/or identified on the map. The P will assist in maintaining aircraft separation. They willinform the P* if visual contact is lost with other the aircraft, and if threat elements aredetected or sighted. The P will perform duties as briefed and will notify the P* when attentionis focused inside the aircraft. The P should frequently assist the P* by communicating hissituational awareness perceptions and formation / multiship observations. Additionally the Pshould assist the P* by monitoring aircraft systems, operating the navigation system, and byscanning the air route for possible enemy activity or other hazards and obstacles that couldimpact the integrity and security of the flight.Note: When an aircraft has lost visual contact with the flight, immediately notify the flightand execute reorientation procedures. Except for enemy contact, all mission requirements aresubordinate to this action.2. Procedures. Maneuver into the flight formation, changing position as required. Maintainhorizontal and vertical separation for the type of formation being flown. If the tactical situationrequires, perform techniques of movement as briefed. The following procedures will beperformed unless otherwise established in unit SOPs.a. Takeoff: All helicopters should leave the ground simultaneously. The trailing aircraftmust remain at a level altitude or stack up 1 to 10 ft vertically to remain out of the disturbedair of the aircraft in front of them. In the event an aircraft in the flight loses visual contactwith the formation, The aircrew will immediately make a radio call to the formation and theP* will initiate a climb above the briefed cruise altitude and attempt reorientation of theformation.b. Cruise: Free cruise formation should be employed when operating at terrain flightaltitudes or in a combat environment. This will allow the individual aircraft more flexibilityto move within the formation, avoiding terrain, obstacles, and enemy threat. During periods of degraded visibility, crews are more susceptible to losing other aircraft in the formation.Crews should consider flying a close formation to maintain orientation on the flight. In theevent an aircraft in the flight loses visual contact with the aircraft they are following, theywill immediately make a radio call to lead. Lead will announce heading, altitude, andairspeed. Lead must maintain this heading, altitude, and airspeed until all aircraft haverejoined the flight. The aircraft that has lost visual contact with the flight will immediatelyassume the flights heading and airspeed in order to maintain horizontal separation as briefed.If enemy and terrain allow, the aircraft that has lost visual contact will also maintain verticalseparation by initiating a climb to a briefed altitude. When a flight becomes separated,immediate altitude separation is a quick and efficient way to prevent an accident. Unit SOPsmust state the procedures for reestablishing contact with the flight. Considerations shouldinclude but are not limited to rallying to an inflight link-up, rallying to a known point, use ofcovert/overt lighting, and ground rally. Mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops andsupport available, time available, civil considerations (METT-TC), power available, andambient light will influence how contact is reestablished. When a flight rallies to a knownpoint, the point may be an Air Check Point ACP along the route, a position sent by lead, or aterrain feature. Situations may occur when an aircraft rejoins the flight in a position otherthan the position briefed. Mission commanders should use altitude, a Way Point/Target(WPT/TGT), cardinal direction, or other method (manmade or natural features) to maintainseparation. Only after the entire flight is formed should the mission commander proceed withthe mission.c. Approach: The lead aircraft must maintain a constant approach angle so other aircraft inthe formation will not have to execute excessively steep, shallow, or slow approaches.Aircraft should not descend below the aircraft ahead of them in the formation and enter theirrotor-wash. This could result in an over-torque, loss of aircraft control, or entering a settlingwith power condition. In the event an aircraft in the flight loses visual contact with theformation, the aircrew will immediately make a radio call to the formation and execute a goaroundin the briefed direction.d. Aircrew Briefing: All multi-aircraft operations will be briefed using a unit approvedmulti-aircraft/mission briefing checklist. Table 4-1 lists mandatory briefing items that must beincluded in all multi-aircraft briefings.Table 4-1. Multi-aircraft operations briefing checklist (mandatory items)1. Formation type(s): Takeoff, Cruise, Approach2. Altitude3. Airspeed: Outbound to Start Point (SP), Cruise, Inbound from Release Point (RP)4. Aircraft lighting5. Loss communications procedures6. Lead change procedures7. Loss of visual contact/in-flight link-up / Rally points8. Actions on contact9. IIMC procedures10. Downed aircraft procedures / Personnel Recovery / Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)NIGHT OR NIGHT VISION DEVICE (NVD) CONSIDERATIONS: Increase the interval betweenaircraft to a minimum of three to five rotor disks. Keep changes in the formation to a minimum. Allcrewmembers must avoid fixation by using proper scanning techniques.1. Night. During unaided night flight, the crew should use formation and position lights to aid inmaintaining the aircraft's position in the formation. Lighting will be in accordance with AR 95-1and unit SOP.2. NVG. When conducting NVG formation flight, the crew should use the formation lights andif equipped the infrared (IR) anti-collision and position lights to maintain the aircraft's position inthe formation.TRAINING AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:1. Training will be conducted in the aircraft.2. Evaluation will be conducted in the aircraft. Quote
ales Posted June 4, 2008 Author Posted June 4, 2008 Thanks for help, but the point is, that I want to write an SOP (Im an IP). I dont want to discover already discovered, so I was looking for SOP template or something like that ( just to adjust it for our environment and procedures). Ales btw. Gomer, I cant imagine how it was to fly night formation with instrument lights. Probably you are lucky to remeber that. Quote
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