Formation Flight Survival Rules

Unless youre trained for it, we dont think its a good idea. But if you must-a photo mission, for example-here are some safety tips.

D Higdon

Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Formation flying for aerial photography is exceptionally dangerous, even for seasoned professionals, as evidenced by past fatal accidents often resulting from a failure to adhere to basic safety rules.
Safe execution requires formally trained and qualified pilots and photographers, supported by a meticulous pre-flight briefing covering all mission aspects, from flight plan and equipment to coordinated airspeeds and maneuvers.
The most critical safety measure is a clearly established "lost-contact rule" or "break procedure" for immediate, predetermined separation if visual contact is lost, alongside constant vigilance and strict avoidance of maneuvering directly over or under another aircraft.

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Many pilots lust after hanging one of those magazine-cover-quality air-to-air shots of their airplane on the wall. Speaking as a pilot lucky enough to spend part of my life working my cameras to create some of those photos, you should think long and hard before forming up on another airplane. What you dont know can easily kill you.

With some solid planning and execution, one of those great photos could soon be hanging on your wall. But, even armed with solid preparation, flying formation for photos presents some significant risks, even if you have some well-founded formation flying experience.