AFI 11-2C-130v3 - BITS

234 AFI11-2C-130V3 23 APRIL 2012
18.10.2.6. The MC will brief lighting procedures (if the wingman calls ―blind‖, etc.).
18.10.2.7. Wingmen should avoid flying the line right/left positions for extended periods
of time.
18.10.2.8. Fluid trail spacing will be no closer than 2000' between aircraft.
18.10.2.9. Crews will brief altitude and airspeed terminate criteria for threat reactions.
18.11. Visual Slowdown Procedures.
18.11.1. Unless tactically unsound, night slowdowns will include an aural or visual signal.
18.12. Visual Airdrop Procedures.
18.12.1. Minimum spacing for CDS airdrops is 6,000 feet between aircraft. WARNING:
Attempting to regain position by only reducing power or airspeed places the aircraft in a nose
high, low-power situation and may lead to a stall.
18.13. Visual Recovery. Lead determines the type of visual recovery based upon formation
geometry, threat scenario, traffic pattern, traffic flow, etc. Attain traffic pattern altitude and
airspeed before arriving at the recovery field.
18.13.1. Downwind Recovery.
18.13.1.1. Roll out on final at no less than 150 feet AGL. Aircraft will not descend below
preceding aircraft during the recovery.
18.13.2. Overhead Recovery.
18.13.2.1. Roll out on final at no less than 150 feet AGL. Aircraft will not descend below
preceding aircraft during the recovery.
18.14. Landing. The desired landing interval is 20 seconds, minimum 15 seconds.
WARNING: Do not perform touch-and-go landings during formation recoveries.
18.15. SKE Procedures.
18.15.1. Use the pressure altimeter and GSI to monitor altitude during climb or descent. The
formation lead announces the altitude passing each 2,000 feet (including departure and
recovery). All aircraft report reaching assigned altitude in sequence to the formation leader.
Formation lead will not report the formation level to ATC until all aircraft have reported
level at the assigned altitude.
18.15.2. Priority of FCI signals are: altitude, heading and airspeed.
18.15.3. Unless otherwise briefed, spacing between aircraft will be 4000 feet and spacing
between element leads will be 8000 feet. Minimum SKE spacing is 4000 feet between
aircraft.
18.15.4. Lead will signal turns of 10 degrees or more and airspeed changes of 10 KIAS or
more.
18.15.5. Element leads will not exceed 20 degrees of bank for planned enroute turns. For
formation check turns all aircraft (including element leads) will use 30 degrees of bank
unless otherwise briefed.
18.16. Loss of SKE-Individual Aircraft. Notify lead in all cases.