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Aviation Safety Letter 3/2002

Fly-ins: Poor Airmanship or Formation Flying?

Dear Editor,

I enjoyed Paul Tomascik's "Strikebound" in issue 2/2002 of the Aviation Safety Letter. But I think he may be "misinformed," or perhaps jumping to conclusions, when he states, "I've seen some undisciplined airmanship at fly-ins, including the busting of regulations and pilots doing other stupid things, such as landing two planes on an active runway at the same time (one touching down short and one landing long)."

I am a formation pilot, instructor and examiner, and Mr. Tomascik may not realize that he may have been witnessing a safe, standardized and entirely legal approach and landing by two aircraft flying in formation. I could run through the applicable regulations, but they're in the Canadian Aviation Regulations for all to enjoy. Sure, I've seen my share of "stupid pilot tricks," but what was described is not NECESSARILY one of them.

Name withheld on request

The only formation-specific requirement is found in CAR 602.24, and requires that pilots engaged in formation flight make adequate pre-arrangement among themselves, and when the formation flight is to take place within a control zone, that the appropriate air traffic control unit become part of the "pre-arrangement." Therefore, when pilots coordinate their formation activities, landing two planes on an active runway at the same time (one touching down short and one landing long) can be legal and safe. Keep in mind the requirement for pre-arrangements as specified in CAR 602.24, and it would be advisable to obtain training from an experienced instructor before trying formation flying. Finally, the A.I.P. provides further guidance on formation flight in section RAC 12.13.

Arlo Speer
General Aviation, Transport Canada

Date modified:
2010-05-20