Quote:
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The existence of a standard overhead maneuver pattern does not eliminate the possible requirement for an aircraft to conform to conventional rectangular patterns if an overhead maneuver cannot be approved.
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Someone quoted this from the FAR's. I think it applies quite well... Despite the fact that as formation pilots we know a little more about flying formation than non-formation pilots, we do need to operate in their environment. At a controlled airport, the tower will provide separation, and if the tower controller isn't aware of formation manoeuvers, Lead needs to briefly explain the plan before the approach.
We've avoided using the term "initial", as the large number of training airports near us are more IFR-aware, and people assume IFR-like procedures when we say such things (and as an aside, VFR pilots haven't a clue what "initial" means either). Instead, we'll set ourselves up such that we'll be given a straight-in approach based on runway in use, and we'll request the overhead break for landing. If any questions arise (and tower controllers sometimes do need to ask what that means) we explain that it's straight in at X altitude, then 180 degree break with Y second spacing to a tight downwind, followed by an immediate full stop landing for all aircraft.
So far, that has brought *no* issues at a controlled airport, and many comments that it was a remarkably efficient way to handle that many planes.
The one time we did get into trouble, was at an uncontrolled airport, where a student was in the circuit with his instructor (the only plane in the circuit). Despite this airport being popular with formation pilots, and regularly seeing overhead breaks to landing, the instructor seemed blissfully unaware of how that worked. The timing of our approach put us ahead of the student plane, so we requested that he extend his circuit slightly, so we could do a break for landing. His response was "sorry guys, this is a commercial flight, no can do". We elected to try and squeeze the break in anyway, as we were ahead of him in the circuit, and half-way through our break he started asking what we were doing and saying we cut him off, etc.
I think the instructor had a bad attitude, but in hindsight when we saw the other plane we should have circled around and flown the circuit *behind* them instead, making room for ourselves. It would have added some formation practise, and accommodated the other aircraft in the area.
Still, no paint was swapped, so it wasn't all bad, and it was a learning experience all around.
Actually four
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