Task 2010

Exract: TC 1-211 AIRCREW TRAINING MANUAL UTILITY HELICOPTER, UH-1H/V SERIES

TASK 2010
PERFORM MULTI-AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

CONDITIONS: 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 mandatory
items 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, maintaining
 contact with the other aircraft in the formation. The P* will announce any maneuver or
 movement before execution and inform the pilot not on the controls (P) if visual contact is
 lost with other aircraft. If visual contact is lost with other the aircraft, the crew will
 immediately notify the flight and begin reorientation procedures. If instrument meteorological
 conditions (IMC) are encountered execute IIMC breakup as briefed.
 
 b. The P will provide adequate warning of traffic or obstacles detected in the flight path
 and/or identified on the map. The P will assist in maintaining aircraft separation. They will
 inform the P* if visual contact is lost with other the aircraft, and if threat elements are
 detected or sighted. The P will perform duties as briefed and will notify the P* when attention
 is focused inside the aircraft. The P should frequently assist the P* by communicating his
 situational awareness perceptions and formation / multiship observations. Additionally the P
 should assist the P* by monitoring aircraft systems, operating the navigation system, and by
 scanning the air route for possible enemy activity or other hazards and obstacles that could
 impact the integrity and security of the flight.

Note: When an aircraft has lost visual contact with the flight, immediately notify the flight
and execute reorientation procedures. Except for enemy contact, all mission requirements are
subordinate to this action.

2. Procedures. Maneuver into the flight formation, changing position as required. Maintain
horizontal and vertical separation for the type of formation being flown. If the tactical situation
requires, perform techniques of movement as briefed. The following procedures will be
performed unless otherwise established in unit SOPs.

 a. Takeoff: All helicopters should leave the ground simultaneously. The trailing aircraft
 must remain at a level altitude or stack up 1 to 10 ft vertically to remain out of the disturbed
 air of the aircraft in front of them. In the event an aircraft in the flight loses visual contact
 with the formation, The aircrew will immediately make a radio call to the formation and the
 P* will initiate a climb above the briefed cruise altitude and attempt reorientation of the
 formation.
 
 b. Cruise: Free cruise formation should be employed when operating at terrain flight
 altitudes or in a combat environment. This will allow the individual aircraft more flexibility
 to 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 the
 event an aircraft in the flight loses visual contact with the aircraft they are following, they
 will immediately make a radio call to lead. Lead will announce heading, altitude, and
 airspeed. Lead must maintain this heading, altitude, and airspeed until all aircraft have
 rejoined the flight. The aircraft that has lost visual contact with the flight will immediately
 assume 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 vertical
 separation 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 SOPs
 must state the procedures for reestablishing contact with the flight. Considerations should
 include but are not limited to rallying to an inflight link-up, rallying to a known point, use of
 covert/overt lighting, and ground rally. Mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and
 support available, time available, civil considerations (METT-TC), power available, and
 ambient light will influence how contact is reestablished. When a flight rallies to a known
 point, the point may be an Air Check Point ACP along the route, a position sent by lead, or a
 terrain feature. Situations may occur when an aircraft rejoins the flight in a position other
 than the position briefed. Mission commanders should use altitude, a Way Point/Target
 (WPT/TGT), cardinal direction, or other method (manmade or natural features) to maintain
 separation. Only after the entire flight is formed should the mission commander proceed with
 the mission.
 
 c. Approach: The lead aircraft must maintain a constant approach angle so other aircraft in
 the 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 their
 rotor-wash. This could result in an over-torque, loss of aircraft control, or entering a settling
 with power condition. In the event an aircraft in the flight loses visual contact with the
 formation, the aircrew will immediately make a radio call to the formation and execute a goaround
 in the briefed direction.
 
 d. Aircrew Briefing: All multi-aircraft operations will be briefed using a unit approved
 multi-aircraft/mission briefing checklist. Table 4-1 lists mandatory briefing items that must be
 included in all multi-aircraft briefings.
 
  Table 4-1. Multi-aircraft operations briefing checklist (mandatory items)
   1. Formation type(s): Takeoff, Cruise, Approach
   2. Altitude
   3. Airspeed: Outbound to Start Point (SP), Cruise, Inbound from Release Point (RP)
   4. Aircraft lighting
   5. Loss communications procedures
   6. Lead change procedures
   7. Loss of visual contact/in-flight link-up / Rally points
   8. Actions on contact
   9. IIMC procedures
   10. Downed aircraft procedures / Personnel Recovery / Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)

NIGHT OR NIGHT VISION DEVICE (NVD) CONSIDERATIONS: Increase the interval between
aircraft to a minimum of three to five rotor disks. Keep changes in the formation to a minimum. All
crewmembers must avoid fixation by using proper scanning techniques.

1. Night. During unaided night flight, the crew should use formation and position lights to aid in
maintaining the aircraft's position in the formation. Lighting will be in accordance with AR 95-1
and unit SOP.

2. NVG. When conducting NVG formation flight, the crew should use the formation lights and
if equipped the infrared (IR) anti-collision and position lights to maintain the aircraft's position in
the formation.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Training will be conducted in the aircraft.
2. Evaluation will be conducted in the aircraft.

REFERENCES: Appropriate common references.