Originally Posted by
Islandlad
Take care - land after is not ICAO. Our friend is writing from Germany. Not sure about SERA.
What are the UK rules anout Formation takeoff and landing?
Memory is a little rusty but UK military was that a formation was considered as a single element for the issuance of clearances.
ie "Blackcat line-up, wind 220, 16 knots"
"Blackcat, clear take-off, wind 230 12 knots"
The clearance applied to all aircraft in that formation and not just those actually on the runway so 1 and 2 might line up and go, followed by 3 and 4.
When they returned to the circuit, they were treated as one element for the first circuit only, after which they were treated as individual aircraft. First circuit we could issue a "land in turn" clearance. If they rolled or did an overshoot for further circuit then it would be a a clearance issued for Blackcat 1, and if Blackact 2 called "finals gear down" he would either be given:
a) A "continue" if Blackcat 1 was not yet down.
b) A "Cleared to land, one on well up" if Blackcat 1 was on the runway but had passed the PAR building.(almost at midpoint)
c) A "Cleared to land" if Blackcat 1 had either landed and vacated, or executed an overshoot.
Going back a few years now and things may have changed. Certainly an expeditious way of getting multiple jets safely down and was tested when they flew the 16-ship formation which came back to Colt as 4 formations of 4 jags each.