Jump to content

AIP/formation flying


Guest Marius Grobler

Recommended Posts

Guest Marius Grobler

Hi fellow aviators

 

I'm preparing for General Flying Progress Test...please help!

 

1. Where can I get a copy of the AIP?

 

2. How close may two pilots fly from each other (both are non-endorsed for formation flying)?

 

Thanks:help:

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Marius,

 

1. AIP is available online at the Airservices website http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/aip.asp?pg=10

 

2. From memory, there is actually no defined distance regarding aircraft proximity. There are references to "not so close as to cause danger to another aircraft" or similar, but no specific distance defined. Will go investigate to see if my memory is correct. Found it, as per CAR 1988 -

 

163 Operating near other aircraft

 

(1) The pilot in command of an aircraft must not fly the aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard. Penalty: 50 penalty units.

 

(2) The pilot in command of an aircraft must not operate the aircraft on the ground in such a manner as to create a hazard to itself or to another aircraft. Penalty: 50 penalty units.

 

(3) An offence against subregulation (1) or (2) is an offence of strict liability.

 

Cheers,

 

Matt.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Marius Grobler

Hi Matt

 

I think you are right. However, it appears that there was new AIP issued a month ago and in ER 55.1.1 it states a vertical distance (and I assume that the same goes for horizontal) of 1,000 ft. Please let me know if I got it wrong...

 

Thanks

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest airsick
Hi fellow aviatorsI'm preparing for General Flying Progress Test...please help!

1. Where can I get a copy of the AIP?

 

2. How close may two pilots fly from each other (both are non-endorsed for formation flying)?

 

Thanks:help:

First, the easy one. You can get a copy of the AIPs online at http://www.airservicesaustralia.com.au/publications/aip.asp?pg=10

 

With respect to how close you can fly, this is not explicitly defined anywhere. CAR 163 states "the pilot in command of an aircraft must not fly the aircraft so close

 

 

to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard". As far as I am aware there is no strict definition in terms of distance as to how close this might be. CAR 163AA discusses formation flying:



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the purposes of this regulation, 2 or more aircraft are flown in formation if:



 

 

 

 

 



(a) they are flown in close proximity to each other; and

 

 

 

 

 



(b) they operate as a single aircraft with regard to navigation, position reporting and control.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 



Again, close proximity is not defined in explicit terms. The second part is easier to define as it is quite explicit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Vertical separation is a different matter though. Depending on the flight rules you are under and the magnetic heading you are maintaining there are prescribed cruising levels that should be followed. CAR 173 deals with these in detail but at this sta=ge you will only be flying under VFR so if:

 

 

 

 

 



1. your heading is 0 through 179 you will maintain odd + 500 ft levels. Eg. 5500, 7500, etc.

 

 

 

 

 



2. your heading is 180 through 359 it will be even + 500. Eg. 6500, 8500, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



These levels are mandatory above 5000ft and, contrary to popular belief, also below wherever practicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Given you haven't started your nav's yet you may not be required to know these cruising altitudes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Not part of your question but it is also worth taking a look at separation minima for aircraft taking off and landing. Take off can be found in the AIPs. Good exercise for you to look them up and figure out what the go is! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest airsick

First, Matt beat me. Bugger.

 

Hi MattI think you are right. However, it appears that there was new AIP issued a month ago and in ER 55.1.1 it states a vertical distance (and I assume that the same goes for horizontal) of 1,000 ft. Please let me know if I got it wrong...

Thanks

This only applies to aircraft operating FL290 and FL410. Can't see a 150 getting up there. :)

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Marius,

 

ER 55.1.1 relates operations in controlled airspace (Vertical Separation in the Australian FIR) for aircraft operating between FL290 and FL410. Beyond that I don't believe there are any separation / proximity requirements other than in the circuit area for landing, takeoff etc.

 

Reference AirSick's post about vertical separation, the hemisperical altitudes are prescribed to minimise aircraft heading in opposite directions running into each other. Nothing to say you can't fly at the same altitude as someone else heading in exactly the same direction.

 

And before anyone gets in about formation, a formation flight is defined as "more than one aircraft operating as a single aircraft for navigation and communication purposes"...or something similar. Doing similar but navigating and communicating independantly is known as "in company"...or "same day, same way" ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Matt.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I read recently somewhere that formation flying was flying together at 100 feet or less. I will have to see if I can find the reference as it seems very close and if true would allow flying at 101' If I can find it I will follow this up. It may have been from Callide Dawson Flying Club.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest brentc

Ian - you are correct, but that is for RA-Aus flying. GA is slightly different and no specific limits apply as noted above.

 

Marius - are you RA licenced yet? If so, I wondered why you are doing your GFPT?

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Marius Grobler
Ian - you are correct, but that is for RA-Aus flying. GA is slightly different and no specific limits apply as noted above.Marius - are you RA licenced yet? If so, I wondered why you are doing your GFPT?

Sorry if I mislead you...totally due to ignorance, I assure you. No, I don't have my PPL yet. My words are quoted directly from the manual. So, if GFPT is applicable to GA then it must be some other test equivalent for RA.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Marius Grobler
hi Yenn I read the formation flying limit was up to 100ft somewhere recently too, buggared if I can find it now thoughsteve

Funny you should mention that: one of the answers in the "try" test is 100 ft

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest airsick
I obviously have a lot to learn: what is CAR?

CARs are the Civil Aviation Regulations.

 

CAOs are the Civil Aviation Orders

 

CASRs are the Civial Aviation Safety Regulations

 

AIPs are the Aeronautical Information Package which incorporates the ERSA (Enroute Supplement Australia)

 

If you are just doing your RA stuff don't worry too much about what each one contains but it wouldn't hurt to be familiar with them anyway.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest brentc

If you're talking about RA-Aus, then 100 ft applies, so your test exam is indeed correct.

 

If it's GA, then the other situation applies.

 

I'm still a little consfused as to whether you are doing your RA-Aus BAK or your GFPT for GA, but that's just me having a slow morning.

 

That being said though, 100ft is pretty damn close!

 

I guess the GA rules are sensible. If you want to fly up next to your mate and take a photo or whatever, then great, you can, but once you start doing formation flying, take off's and landings, that's when you need an endorsement. Ultimately people are going to fly close now and then and this doesn't necessarily mean they are going to crash into each other.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest brentc

I would have assumed wingtip to wingtip. An optimist like yourself might assume fuse to fuse ;) Good luck to he who tries to ping you for flying too close and quantifying his measurements.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Andys@coffs

Actually I would have thought a horizontal measurement was relatively easy, a photo will do it, you know the wingspan and therefore know the distance.

 

Ive always wondered how on earth vertical distance would be measured in terms of quantifying a breach. A much more difficult scenario to prove I would have thought.

 

Andy

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...