ENROUTE TO OSHKOSH
Aircraft Positions En route
Each group
leader will precisely fly the briefed flight profile. Aircraft are
arranged in groups of 6. The odd numbered plane to the left and the even
numbered plane behind and to the right. Spacing is established by the 4 second
take-off interval and the en route cruise speed of 125 kts (Approximately 1,500
feet between elements and 500 feet within each element). The group leader has
the responsibility for navigation, airspeed and altitude control.
ALL OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE GROUP HAVE ONE
AND ONLY ONE DUTY, WHICH IS TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SPACING AND SEPARATION. KEEP YOUR
EYES OUTSIDE THE COCKPIT EXCEPT TO CROSS CHECK YOUR ENGINE STATUS.
Responsibilities of A Group Leader
The Group
Leader is the navigator for the Group. They have two primary responsibilities:
(1) Fly
exactly the flight profile conforming to course, altitude and airspeed
(2) Adjust speed slightly as necessary to
maintain a constant position relative to the group ahead.
Responsibilities of Other Group Aircraft
The other
aircraft in the group must only maintain position relative to the leader and
each other. Each left hand aircraft will have an aircraft about
one-quarter mile ahead, another about 1/8 mile ahead at their
1:30
position and another 1/8 mile away at the 4:30 position. Each right hand aircraft will have aircraft about
one-quarter mile head, another about 1/8 mile ahead at their 10:30 position and another 1/8 mile away at the
7:30 position.
·
Left hand
aircraft should maintain position with the aircraft at their 1:30 position and directly ahead.
·
Right hand
aircraft should maintain position relative to the aircraft to the left at 10:30 and directly ahead.
·
All aircraft
shall be responsible for separation from all the aircraft in front of them
Any
adjustments you make to maintain position should be done smoothly and gradually
to prevent those changes from being amplified further back in the flight. Thus, simply keep it smooth.
·
No sudden
power changes. Use slight, gradual
changes only. Observe results before
changing further.
·
No 360 turns.
·
No landing
gear or speed brakes for speed control.
Very shallow S turns should be the most
extreme maneuver used.
All aircraft
are responsible for separation from the aircraft in front of them. You MUST keep the aircraft ahead of
you in sight. Ask your co-pilot to
help. Keep your eyes outside the
cockpit. NEVER get above or overtake
the preceding aircraft. During
descent, use flaps and reduce power to keep your aircraft nose from being high
and blocking your view. Maintain visual spacing and separation.
En Route Course
In the
briefing, the actual flight route and profile will be presented.
The En Route
portion will be flown at 2,500 feet MSL or lower as required by weather. Climb
at 95 kts (110 mph). Cruise speed shall be 125 knots (144 mph) IAS. Descent
shall be at 105 kts IAS and 500 fpm.
Note that
normal compression of Caravan aircraft slowing for landing will cause each
subsequent group to reduce speed sooner. BE PREPARED TO SLOW YOUR AIRSPEED WHILE
ENROUTE!
Pilots should
practice ahead of time to determine the power settings needed to achieve the
climb and cruise target speeds at 2,500 feet MSL at expected takeoff weight.
Remember……the group leader will determine
the exact airspeed and altitude flown, all others will keep their eyes outside
to maintain visual spacing and separation.
In prior
years, the flight has encountered heavy crossing traffic. This is VFR traffic
headed toward Ripon and the VFR arrival procedure into
OSH. Be on the lookout.
All distances are DME from
OSH VOR (not airport)
Identifying Position
All position
reports will be given as distance from
OSH
VOR (not the airport). This distance can be determined by GPS, Loran, or
DME. For example:
"Mooney Lead, eight miles south, turning to heading of 360, planning a left
downwind to Runway 27"
IMPORTANT: Be
sure to use the VOR and not the airport as reference.
Altitude or Route Deviations
If weather or
ATC dictates, the flight may make deviations from the briefed flight route. Each
group leader should listen carefully to the Mooney and ATC frequency in use
since they will be expected to follow the new route. Any changes in
routing requested by ATC will be repeated by the flight leader on the Mooney
frequency with an indication of the Flight leader's position.
For simplicity, all positions will be stated as
distance from the OSH VOR. For example.
"Mooney Lead, 20 miles south, turning to heading of 360, planning a right
downwind to Runway 09"
If the flight
leader wishes to deviate for weather or descend for low clouds, he/she will
announce on the Mooney frequency, for example:
"Mooney Flight, 40 Miles South of
Oshkosh, descending to 2000 feet for low clouds" or
"Mooney Flight, 23 Miles South of
Oshkosh, deviating 20 degrees right for weather."
The Flight
leader's announcements are for the purpose of informing the rest of the flight
of a change in course, speed or altitude. It is necessary for each element
leader to visualize where the deviation has taken place and plan to make a
similar deviation at the same point, not at your present position. Follow the
element in front.
. Do NOT cut corners — fly to the
course-change point before turning. Maintain visual spacing and separation.
Individual Aborts En Route
Review the
Abort Procedures below.
Flight Abort
Review the
Abort Procedures below.