Cover letter_JPR JOG_ACT approved - European Defence Agency

NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLICFormation flights and RESCORT patterns175Chapter 3Formation flights and RESCORTpatterns3.1 RW RESCORT types of formations0301. All distances and angles mentioned in this Annex are indicative. Actual detailsare dependent on the situation and are to be briefed by the formation leader 1 .3.1.1 Combat cruise0302. The sections will fly staggered left (approx. 45) with a separation of 200m withinthe section. The separation between the sections is 300m. For Night Vision Goggles(NVG) operations, it is mandatory that all helicopters within an element are visual witheach other. The lead of the second element has to maintain visual contact with thewingman of the first element. If visual contact can not be maintained between theelements, separation between elements will be effected by a fixed distance, which canbe checked by fixed calls on prepared points (e.g. spider points). Speed changes have tobe reported to all helicopters within the section. This procedure can also be applied tokeep separation between recovery vehicles and attached RESCORT.3.1.2 Free cruise0303. The basic formation is staggered left with a separation of 200m within the section.Helicopters within an section, as well as the sections themselves are free to manoeuvreapprox. 30 o right and left of each other. The distance between the sections willbe 400m.0304. For NVG operations, it is mandatory that all helicopters within an section arevisual with each other. The lead of the second element has to maintain visual contactwith the wingman of the first element. If visual contact can not be maintained betweenthe elements, or if deemed necessary, separation between elements will be effected by afixed distance and fixed speed, which can be checked by fixed calls on prepared points(e.g. spider points). Speed changes have to be reported to all helicopters within thesection. This procedure can also be applied to keep separation between recovery vehiclesand attached RESCORT.1 These formation procedures should be copied from ATP-49 Helicopters in Land Operations. Given thecurrently ongoing revision of ATP-49 the current text will be kept for the time being. Upon release of a newversion of ATP-49 these procedures are to be replaced by a reference to ATP-49.NATO UNCLASSIFIED RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC