I am putting out a feeler for any RV (or similar) pilots who are interested in participating in a formal formation training syllabus. This includes a training manual, ground school, and flight training. I currently have two pilots lined up for training and am happy to take on more if there is an interest. Those interested please PM me. I will give you details on my qualifications and provide greater detail on the training syllabus. I am not affiliated with any other formation training programs. Thanks in advance.
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Eastern Washington Formation Training
- Thread starter Pete G
- Start date
Pete,
This sounds wonderful, and I wish you the best. There's no need to write a whole new book. I recommend you base your training approach on one of the FAA-supported formation groups' syllabi. Formation Flying Inc. (FFI) and Formation and Safety Team (FAST) maintain FAA-approved formation safety standards, and the two organizations acknowledge each others' carded qualifications through reciprocity. BTW, FFI's formation standards were written BY RV pilots FOR RV pilots.
Formation Flying Inc: WWW.FFI.AERO
Formation and Safety Team: WWW.FLYFAST.ORG
Either way, achieving wingman cards in either organization qualifies a pilot to fly in waivered airspace (ie, the airshow box) in formation.
Please consider giving these a look.
This sounds wonderful, and I wish you the best. There's no need to write a whole new book. I recommend you base your training approach on one of the FAA-supported formation groups' syllabi. Formation Flying Inc. (FFI) and Formation and Safety Team (FAST) maintain FAA-approved formation safety standards, and the two organizations acknowledge each others' carded qualifications through reciprocity. BTW, FFI's formation standards were written BY RV pilots FOR RV pilots.
Formation Flying Inc: WWW.FFI.AERO
Formation and Safety Team: WWW.FLYFAST.ORG
Either way, achieving wingman cards in either organization qualifies a pilot to fly in waivered airspace (ie, the airshow box) in formation.
Please consider giving these a look.
Pete- I would encourage you to get signed up for one of the clinics. Typically RV’s follow the FFI program.
It would be wise to have at least one of your people, if not yourself, qualified for lead. This may take some time as the FFI program is a “building block” system requiring even the most experienced pilots to start at ground zero; ride along, two ship, four ship, then lead if appropriate.
I recall one practice session when a new guy showed up. Ex military pilot with tons of formation experience. He refused to do the ride along: “I have more experience than all of you combined” and stormed off…. Good.
FFI has a great system that insures consistency. This allows any pilot that has been through the program to seamlessly integrate with others even if they have never flown together. I was an alternate and got “plugged” into a four ship element of the 50 ship in Phoenix due to one of their regulars not making the trip. Although I did not have the experience, skill, or hours the others had, I was able to successfully and safely fill that spot.
If I ran into anyone that had an FFI card, I had confidence in them immediately.
Good luck on your mission!
It would be wise to have at least one of your people, if not yourself, qualified for lead. This may take some time as the FFI program is a “building block” system requiring even the most experienced pilots to start at ground zero; ride along, two ship, four ship, then lead if appropriate.
I recall one practice session when a new guy showed up. Ex military pilot with tons of formation experience. He refused to do the ride along: “I have more experience than all of you combined” and stormed off…. Good.
FFI has a great system that insures consistency. This allows any pilot that has been through the program to seamlessly integrate with others even if they have never flown together. I was an alternate and got “plugged” into a four ship element of the 50 ship in Phoenix due to one of their regulars not making the trip. Although I did not have the experience, skill, or hours the others had, I was able to successfully and safely fill that spot.
If I ran into anyone that had an FFI card, I had confidence in them immediately.
Good luck on your mission!
