Formation brief

Form Mission Brief

Introduction:
Attention to Brief, Good morning gentlemen. I am ________ and I will be conducting the first half of today’s brief and _________will be conducting the second portion. Please hold all questions until the end.

Orientation:
Time Hack: The current time is ______ and __, ___, ___ seconds. At my hack, the time will be ____, in 30… 20.. 10… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 HACK 1, 2, 3… At my hack the time was ___. (DSN 762-1401)

Aircraft Assignments: ________,and _________will be the lead aircraft in ______ on spot ______. __________and _________will be the wing aircraft in _______ on spot _______.

Section Leader & Call signs

-The section leader for today's flight is _____.

-The external call sign is 8Ball, Factoryhand, Lucky _____. (Section Lead's side #.)

-Internal call sign is _____ flight.

Smartcard: The following Pen and Ink changes should be made to the smartcard:    ____________________

Maps Required: The maps and pubs required will be per the SOP.

Weather: The current weather is _____________________. The forecasted weather is ___________________. The required weather for the flight is 600-1 to launch and 1000-3 in the area.

Situation:
Not applicable to this flight.

Mission:
The mission is the safe completion of Form-400_.

Execution:
Concept of Operations:
 * Flight will depart South Whiting Field via course rules to conduct formation training in the Eastern Form area then proceed via course rules to OLF Harold for pattern work. At the completion of pattern work at OLF Harold, we will return to NDZ via course rules.
 * Boundaries:
 * N: Hwy 4 east to CEW 270 Radial
 * E: CEW 180 Radial to Hwy 90 @ Sawmill
 * S: Hwy 90,
 * W: An Imaginary N/S line from Community of Munson down to Harold.

Obstacles:
 * Aircraft--there will be numerous other aircraft in the operating area including BI, Low Level, and general aviation traffic.
 * Birds—maintain a lookout for birds and, cognizant of wingman, avoid birds if safe to do so.
 * Class C airspace: there is a 5-10NM shelf extending off 70X, from 1400’ MSL to 4200’ MSL
 * Towers: All tower heights in ft MSL: (Starting in the NW corner, (1)Munson 630’, (2)E of Cotton Bridge 610’, (3) near the saw mill at 512', (4) near point racetrack numerous towers to heights of 580’, (5) S of Harold 443’
 * Restricted Area: have 2915A, we will make sure to contact Eglin approach before going south of Hwy 90
 * Power lines: 2 sets of east-west oriented lines, one N, one S.

Scheme of Maneuver:
 * Preflight will be conducted at T-30
 * Turn-up will be conducted at T-15.
 * Check-in will be at T-10 on VHF (instructor common, 121.95) and UHF (BTN 5). After outbound call to base there will positive switch to ground (BTN 3) via one turn in ATIS (BTN 1).
 * Taxi for take-off at T-5. When lead is 200’ prior to Hold-Short, we will conduct an auto switch to tower (BTN 4).
 * Take-off at T time, from appropriate spot, in cruise formation.

Enroute:
 * a) Able Dep, Able, then 110 to Pt. Fish, (900’MSL, 100 kias, sqwk 0100, in cruise form).
 * b) @ Pt Fish, sqwk 4677, switch to Form Common (BTN 17), with a positive check-in, Blackwater R. to Deaton Bridge (900’MSL, 100kts Cruise form).
 * c) Deaton Bridge, turn to hdg of 060, decelerate to 80 KIAS, climb to 1000’MSL, (maintain 4677, BTN 17 UHF, 121.95 VHF, Cruise form).

Sequence of events: CO, CT, CD, BR, OR as required and LD. Repeat the sequence minus LD.
 * Upon completion of Maneuvers, Wing will call for T/L
 * Landings: Fly to Pt. Racetrack in cruise formation, once clear of the Orange Route, descend to 700’MSL, 100kts, sqk 1200, conduct positive switch to BTN12 w/ check-in, and call inbound to Harold.  We will conduct normal (and HS) landings with a LD and repeat minus the LD.
 * RTB: Wing will call for RTB. Lead will call departing Harold, follow course rules for Juniper arrival, perform a positive switch to base (BTN 5), and inform base that flight is inbound. Lead will then call for a positive switch to Tower via one turn in ATIS (BTN 1, then BTN 4).  Departing Harold, the flight will climb to 700’MSL, 100kts, squawking 0400, heading N to Deaton Bridge.  At Deaton, turn 340 to Pt Juniper, with an automatic switch at Pt. Juniper to Tower and report (side number) and flight Juniper inbound for the break (or Juniper inbound for section landing). If required, wing will call for the parade formation (PF) on 121.95, then return to BTN 4, after performing the break, land in trail at NDZ. If performing a section landing, land only to the duty runway (similar to night operations).  As Lead crosses the hold-short, there will be an automatic switch to ground, Lead will close out with ground when wing is clear of the runway, and the flight is automatically dissolved.

Coordinating Instructions:
 * Emergencies: System failures and emergencies will be handled internally, notifying the other aircraft when safe to do so.  Emergencies will be considered actual unless prefaced with the word "simulated." The Section Leader will determine the conduct of the remainder of the flight.
 * IIMC: 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 continue turn and climb 200' above base altitude and call passing through 90° of turn.  Lead will then turn in the opposite direction.  Both aircraft will turn for 170° or until established VMC.  When Lead rolls out, the PAC will commence a check-in with their status (i.e. VMC (in sight or not in sight or IMC)) and fuel state.  At this point one of three cases will exist:
 * 1) Both aircraft VMC: Aircraft will join up as specified by the Section Leader. Wing shall maintain 200 ft above base altitude until visual contact with Lead is established.  Once join up is initiated Wing may descend as appropriate.  Section Leader will determine conduct of the remainder of the flight.
 * 2) One aircraft VMC and one 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.
 * 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.

______________________ Switch to second student__________

Lost Contact: If Wing loses sight of Lead, Wing will maneuver as necessary to gain safe separation and call “_______ flight, lost contact.”  Lead will remain predictable, calling base heading and altitude or communicate intentions, as appropriate. Join up will be per Case 1 under inadvertent IMC. If loss of visual contact occurs in the pattern, it is a mandatory waveoff for Wing. Lead will continue to landing.

Disorientation Procedures: If flight becomes disoriented, the flight will climb to ID a known point, circle until reoriented and continue the flight. If lead passes a CP without calling the point or steers off route more than 1 NM, Wing will make a “Magellan” call with hdg and distance.

Downed 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 by the On-scene commander.

Aborts: If an aircraft aborts prior to takeoff, the pilot will notify the other aircraft as soon as possible. If Lead aborts on takeoff, 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 on takeoff, Lead will continue to takeoff, enter a downwind and land clear of Wing.

Waveoffs: ALL WAVEOFFS ARE MANDATORY REGARDLESS OF WHO CALLS IT. All calls for a waveoff shall be repeated verbatim by each Pilot at controls. There are three scenarios as follows:
 * 1) When someone external to the section makes the waveoff call, Lead will make the internal and external calls. Both aircraft will wave off.
 * 2) Someone internal to the section may call for a section waveoff by calling “______ flight waveoff.” Both aircraft will waveoff, Lead will make the external call.
 * 3) If Wing waves off, Wing will make an external call using his own side number and Lead will continue to landing.
 * 

Administration and Logistics
Flight Duration: We will call outbound for 2+30.

Fuel:
 * Mission fuel is _____. (75 gallons)
 * Go/No Go fuel is ___. (70 gallons, based on 2+00 hours to complete flight w/ landings, or to refuel site)
 * Bingo Fuel from CEW, the furthest point in the area, is _17 gallons 
 * Bingo @ Harold is 20 gallons as per the RWOP
 * Bingo’s are calculated using max range airspeed of 115 knots for a landing with 10 gallons, based on today’s conditions.

Command and Signal
Chain of Responsibility: The section leader for the flight is _____________.

Callsign:
 * Internal callsign is ________ Flight.
 * External callsign will be Eightball _____.

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.
 * Frequencies and Navaids: Frequency and naviad selection will be per smartcard.
 * Frequency changes: All changes will be positive switches unless over an automatic change point.
 * Lost communications: (step out from podium) For the purposes of demonstration, palms down signifies normal lighting configuration and palms up signifies lost comm lighting configuration.
 * 1) LEAD LOST COMM: If Lead experiences a total radio failure, Lead will switch to the lost comm Lighting configuration and slow to 65 KTS to gain Wing’s attention.  The good comm aircraft will gain safe lateral separation and move abeam the lost comm aircraft, and go to the lost comm lighting configuration to signify, “I understand you are lost comm, I am in 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 degree bearing.  The flight will then proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.
 * 2) WING LOST COMM: If wing experiences a total radio failure, Wing will switch 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 then return to the normal lighting configuration to signify, “You have 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° bearing.  The flight will proceed as necessary, returning to base if possible.

ID and Recognition: The Section Leader will squawk appropriate code in the ALT mode. The other aircraft 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.

Visual Signals: The visual signals will be per smartcard.

NATOPS by Exception Brief:
System Failures Ditching/Emergency Landing Emergency Egress Flying pilot responsibilities Monitoring pilot responsibilities Control Changes Lookout Doctrine Training time-out