Low speed formation flight?

[Connor Yeatman 1371014]

I saw that you can't do a high speed formation flight without being a part of a VA.

Me and my friend was planing a low speed(C172s) formation flight to the "Never dull at Dulles" event. Is that possible without getting into trouble?

[Ernesto Alvarez 818262]

not sure where you saw high speed, but speed has nothing to do with the regulation. you cant do military, doesnt matter how fast you are going.

 

Formation flying expressly for the purpose of simulating any military/paramilitary activity

 

you can do civi formation with no problem.

 

now, doing it during an event, thats another issue and probably not the best time to do a formation, but, if ATC accepts the request, have at it. nothing lost asking, worst they can do is deny the request and youll have to fly separately

Edited November 9, 2016 at 09:33 PM by Guest

[Andrew Ogden]

Not at all. With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

EDIT: Damn Ernesto... beat me to it

[Ernesto Alvarez 818262]

[Ross Carlson]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

[Dhruv Kalra]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

I've worked a flight of 6(!) VFR BE36 Bonanzas in during an FNO push. It's challenging, and yes they were required to delay for a bit by orbiting outside my Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] B, but the resultant arrival sequence was pretty cool - B738, BE36, BE36, BE36, BE36, BE36, BE36, H/B772

[Ryan Geckler]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

 

I'd allow it. But the second you screw it up, it's over

[Andrew Ogden]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

 

True, I should have probably clarified what 'never' meant because we dont get the same volume of traffic down in NZ, i dont really have an idea of how much traffic a FNO gets, if it was a SNO down in New Zealand, I would allow it. In fact, it would be quite fun!

Edited November 10, 2016 at 12:13 AM by Guest

[Andrew Ogden]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

 

True, I should have probably clarified what 'never' meant because we dont get the same volume of traffic down in NZ, i dont really have an idea of how much traffic a FNO gets, if it was a SNO down in New Zealand, I would allow it. In fact, it would be quite fun.

 

 

EDIT: Posted twice, my fault!

[Sean Harrison]

Shouldn't we first ask two questions;

 

What cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] Airspace (and which country)

 

What flight rules (VFR or IFR)

[Connor Yeatman 1371014]

Thanks for all your replys. To answer your question, Sean, It will be VFR from Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] E though Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] G and into Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] B Dulles. I thought that the "Never dull at Dulles" and we might make it "not dull" for the controllers.

[Connor Yeatman 1371014]

With an event the size of that, you would never be allowed to do a formation flight. If there was no event, then go for it, but as far as i know you wouldnt be allowed to.

 

"Never" is too strong a word here ... there are plenty of controllers that would have no problem handling a formation flight during an event. It depends on way too many factors to say it would never be allowed.

I'll go ahead and contact Washington DC ARTCC just to make sure.

[Ernesto Alvarez 818262]

they wont be able to explicitly tell you ahead of time if youll get it as its all going to depend on the traffic situation at the time during the event. if they can fit your request in, youll get it (you dont need to request anything if departing from uncontrolled airfield and while out of controlled airspace (the Bravo for example).

 

when you are ready to enter the airspace, make the call, theyll either have ya orbit, deny it for a bit and ask you call back again, or youll get it right there.

[Don Desfosse]

Andrew, to answer your question, Friday Night Operations (FNO) is typically a 4-5 hour event every Friday evening in the states. during the middle 75% of the event, [Mod - Happy Thoughts]uming a major Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] B airport is in use (typically the case), the airport/ is seeing 60+ operations per hour, often more than the real world guys.

 

For that reason, Connor, Ernesto is exactly right. You'll need to call the controller when you're getting ready to enter the airspace. If they can accommodate, they will, else likely have you remain outside the airspace until they can. Based on historical traffic levels, you are most likely to get in with relative ease during the first and last hour of the event; you may want to plan accordingly. If you try to do it in the middle, you may be circling for a few hours....

[Andrew Ogden]

Andrew, to answer your question, Friday Night Operations (FNO) is typically a 4-5 hour event every Friday evening in the states. during the middle 75% of the event, [Mod - Happy Thoughts]uming a major Cl[Mod - Happy Thoughts] B airport is in use (typically the case), the airport/ is seeing 60+ operations per hour, often more than the real world guys.

Ooh! Would like to see that down in NZ!!!!! Whenever i log onto a center position, i never get more than maybe 2-3 guys in a single hour!

[Trent Hopkinson]

If you use the correct phraseology for your request (this can be different from one region to another), confidently on the radio, ATC should handle it like the real world. Just do it right.