BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005 377
problems.
17.6.3.4.2. Crew Coordination. Specific procedures concerning division of
workload and crew coordination should be clearly understood and covered in the
preflight briefing.
17.6.3.5. Flying Formation. All of the general principles for dealing with spatial
disorientation apply to formation flights. Additional procedures are necessary since
the potential for spatial disorientation is greatest for formation flights during night or
weather conditions.
17.6.3.5.1. Proficiency. Pilots scheduled for formation flights in night/IMC
should be current and proficient in instrument, night, and formation flying.
Particular attention should be directed to the number of sorties and flying hours in
the past 30 days.
17.6.3.5.2. Safe Formation Flight. There are two essential requirements for safe
formation flight. First, the flight leader must be experienced, competent, and
smooth. Second, the wingman must be proficient in formation flying. The
wingman must have total confidence in lead and concentrate primarily on
maintaining a proper wing position.
17.6.3.5.3. Night Join-ups. Night join-ups are inherently difficult, particularly
when conducted at low altitude over water or dark terrain. Alternative profiles,
such as a trail departure and climbout, should be considered.
17.6.3.5.4. Deteriorating Weather. If the weather encountered during a formation
flight is either too dense or turbulent to ensure safe flight, the flight leader should
separate the aircraft under controlled conditions. This may be better than having a
wingman initiate lost wingman procedures at a time that may be dangerous or,
worse yet, when the wingman is severely disoriented.
17.6.3.5.5. Disoriented Wingman. In the preflight briefing, the flight leader
should cover specific procedures to manage a disoriented wingman.
17.6.3.5.6. NOTE: Lost wingman procedures are designed to ensure safe
separation between aircraft in a flight when a wingman loses sight of lead. Lost
wingman procedures are not designed to recover a wingman with severe spatial
disorientation. Precise execution is required to perform lost wingman procedures;
a severely disoriented pilot may not be able to accomplish this.
17.6.3.5.7. Communication. The flight lead should encourage a wingman to
verbalize a feeling of disorientation. A few words from lead may reassure the
wingman and may help form a mental picture of the flight’s position in space.
For example: “Two, we are level at 20,000 feet in a 30 degree left bank at 300
knots.”
17.6.3.5.8. Persistent Problem. If the wingman continues to have problems, the
lead should bring the flight to straight-and-level and advise the wingman. If
possible, maintain straight-and-level for at least 30 seconds and up to 60 seconds.
Generally, the wingman’s symptoms will subside in 30 to 60 seconds. Advise
ATC if an amended clearance is necessary.