Many years ago I was a fish spotter off Cape Cod. I flew a C172 owned by another spotter; he flew a Decathlon. Both of us were former Air Force pilots who were flying fighters in the guard. All of our spotting was in VMC, so I didn't really need instruments, nor did I trust my instruments enough to fly a precision approach.
Late one afternoon we were returning to the Cape when the weather was reported right at Cat I ILS minimums at Hyannis. My initial plan was just to divert down to Long Island, but then he asked if I wanted to fly the approach on his wing. I said sure, and tucked up on his right side. We added the word "flight" to the call sign, and got cleared for the approach. We broke out right at minimums, he took the left side of the runway and I took the right, and we rolled out in formation.
As we came into visual range of the tower, the controller was incredulous. "Five six alpha whiskey, are there two of you?"
This is a case where the FAA is super reasonable with the regulations. They basically state that formation flying must be pre-arranged with all pilot in commands, cannot be flying for hire, and you cannot fly too close as to create a collision hazard. There is no steadfast rule for that last one but you better be able to defend yourself if you do have an accident.
Even more funny: when a company wants to show off their new aircraft, they might end up hiring a professional pilot and a camera operator to take air-to-air photos.
I'm pretty sure there's a provision somewhere that makes this legal as well.
That's cool to know! Can you confirm for this aviation noob, what flying for hire is? I'm assuming that means somebody is paying you to fly them somewhere (commercial airlines, private jets, etc). If a pilot is just taking their family up for a spin, that's not for hire, right? As in, the simple presence of passengers does not automatically mean a pilot is flying for hire?
Essentially yes. The definition is pretty loose, kinda like a “we know it when we see it”. Basically if you’re doing formation flying it’s because you’ve 1) been paid to do it and just that, no freight or passengers or anything else or 2) for the love of the game.
He gon steal it from the unsuspecting front one. Had this happen to me once and it sucked so bad. I had to circle around for days until I finnaly caught up with a student pilot and snatched his
That said, please get trained (there's really no formal FAA curriculum, but most ex-military CFI pilots can help) and just be careful, particularly in more gusty/unsettled air. It's one of those deals where you can succeed a bunch, but only fail once.
Gusty/unsettled air shouldn’t really make that much of a difference as both aircraft will be affected the same.
I find the true benefit of formation flying is the confidence it builds in your ability to control the plane. When you have a point of reference a few feet away, you get a lot of feedback on how stable you actually are.
All good advice here, but I’d say the key to successful formation flying is being confident in your basic aircraft control.
There definitely is. The FAA has an LOA with 15+ different signatory organizations who formally teach, practice, and credential formation flying (FAST, or Formation and Safety Team).
Havin' fun, probably. Flying formation. Totally fine to do (though you should have training) or it's a photo flight and one is taking pictures of the other. I flew with a photoship once. It had special portholes for the camera though, and I don't necessarily see those.
ClearedInHot@reddit
Many years ago I was a fish spotter off Cape Cod. I flew a C172 owned by another spotter; he flew a Decathlon. Both of us were former Air Force pilots who were flying fighters in the guard. All of our spotting was in VMC, so I didn't really need instruments, nor did I trust my instruments enough to fly a precision approach.
Late one afternoon we were returning to the Cape when the weather was reported right at Cat I ILS minimums at Hyannis. My initial plan was just to divert down to Long Island, but then he asked if I wanted to fly the approach on his wing. I said sure, and tucked up on his right side. We added the word "flight" to the call sign, and got cleared for the approach. We broke out right at minimums, he took the left side of the runway and I took the right, and we rolled out in formation.
As we came into visual range of the tower, the controller was incredulous. "Five six alpha whiskey, are there two of you?"
"Affirmative."
"Did you just land like that?"
"Affirmative."
"Is that allowed?"
"Affirmative."
"Uh, OK, taxi to the ramp."
The-Lifeguard@reddit
I choose to believe this.
flightwatcher45@reddit
Haha right. Like it might be legal but you better declare formation.
ratherabeer@reddit
The ATC sound bite of that would be epic
zzzzaap@reddit
Clearly the guy in back is road raging. They're in the left lane and front guy going so slow and won't get out of the way.
agha0013@reddit
Couple buddies playing at formation flying? Or one is taking pictures of the other
Automatic_Mud917@reddit
Is there like a legal limit to how close planes can get to each other, besides stunt pilots
MGreymanN@reddit
This is a case where the FAA is super reasonable with the regulations. They basically state that formation flying must be pre-arranged with all pilot in commands, cannot be flying for hire, and you cannot fly too close as to create a collision hazard. There is no steadfast rule for that last one but you better be able to defend yourself if you do have an accident.
RealUlli@reddit
Even more funny: when a company wants to show off their new aircraft, they might end up hiring a professional pilot and a camera operator to take air-to-air photos.
I'm pretty sure there's a provision somewhere that makes this legal as well.
MGreymanN@reddit
The provision is that flying for hire actually means flying passengers for hire.
Paid air-to-air photos falls under aerial work operations where the photographer would not be considered a passenger but be considered a crewmember.
RealUlli@reddit
Ah, that explains it. Thanks!
icheinbir@reddit
That's cool to know! Can you confirm for this aviation noob, what flying for hire is? I'm assuming that means somebody is paying you to fly them somewhere (commercial airlines, private jets, etc). If a pilot is just taking their family up for a spin, that's not for hire, right? As in, the simple presence of passengers does not automatically mean a pilot is flying for hire?
ATrainDerailReturns@reddit
Great guess
AmbitiousEconomics@reddit
Essentially yes. The definition is pretty loose, kinda like a “we know it when we see it”. Basically if you’re doing formation flying it’s because you’ve 1) been paid to do it and just that, no freight or passengers or anything else or 2) for the love of the game.
MGreymanN@reddit
You pretty much get it. If you are flying friends with, they can even pay for their share of the fuel/oil, rental fees, etc without it being for hire.
You just cannot charge for a seat directly.
SpaceForceLazers@reddit
Idk why people are down voting you. You had a legitimate question
Automatic_Mud917@reddit
If I had to guess it’s grammar national socialists because I forgot to add a question mark and used a comma with out a period at the end lmfao
Outtheregator@reddit
No.
Shudnawz@reddit
They're filming for their OnlyProps.
DrEarlGreyIII@reddit
unzips
WhoCheeMama@reddit
They're both boys.
Immediate_Garden_716@reddit
towing maneuver ? due to some mechanical failure…. lol
ofcourseIwantpickles@reddit
It’s mating season
ametren@reddit
This is how mid-wing aircraft are made.
JaStrCoGa@reddit
When two airplanes love each other very much…
One is a mail plane!
BarnytheBrit@reddit
Ones giving the other a tow, trying to bump start
Digger_Pine@reddit
Probably broke down and is getting towed in
Dialed_Inn@reddit
Why back guy have no landing gear?
d_maeddy@reddit
He gon steal it from the unsuspecting front one. Had this happen to me once and it sucked so bad. I had to circle around for days until I finnaly caught up with a student pilot and snatched his
ThrownAwayGuineaPig@reddit
Ran out a fuel. Towing him to a gas station
BlueberryVoltage@reddit
the left one is a BMW plane
Same_Security8144@reddit
He was out middles moving in closer and switching to guns
2wicky@reddit
Looks more like he's out of bullets and is switching to hand-to-hand combat.
Altruistic_Bunch_523@reddit
“I HAVE YOU NOW!” As he pulls out a pistol, tries to shoot it and it ricochets of the window back to him
LeckereKartoffeln@reddit
Drafting him for better fuel economy, obviously.
finnznz@reddit
theyre in love
OIL_99@reddit
Maverick and Cougar
Exact_Conclusion_784@reddit
they requested flight following… literally…
FalineTheZoroark@reddit
Its because they're good friends :)
Strega007@reddit
People fly formation for fun. Perfectly legal and safe if you're trained to do it.
fredly594632@reddit
That said, please get trained (there's really no formal FAA curriculum, but most ex-military CFI pilots can help) and just be careful, particularly in more gusty/unsettled air. It's one of those deals where you can succeed a bunch, but only fail once.
ShittyLanding@reddit
Gusty/unsettled air shouldn’t really make that much of a difference as both aircraft will be affected the same.
I find the true benefit of formation flying is the confidence it builds in your ability to control the plane. When you have a point of reference a few feet away, you get a lot of feedback on how stable you actually are.
All good advice here, but I’d say the key to successful formation flying is being confident in your basic aircraft control.
silentaba@reddit
Also a big difference if you're flying something slow and light like a sports craft compared to the big jet fighters (chose extremes intentionally).
Strega007@reddit
There definitely is. The FAA has an LOA with 15+ different signatory organizations who formally teach, practice, and credential formation flying (FAST, or Formation and Safety Team).
fredly594632@reddit
Sorry, I should have said "certificate", not "curriculum". You are absolutely right.
m1lfluva@reddit
Just two friends flying formation like me and my buddy
Timely_Light8736@reddit
For funzies
Maydayman@reddit
Was this in NC today?
-GameWarden-@reddit
Guy flipped him off at the gas pump and now is propgating him
derekcentrico@reddit
About to see them make a baby plane
Kai-ni@reddit
Havin' fun, probably. Flying formation. Totally fine to do (though you should have training) or it's a photo flight and one is taking pictures of the other. I flew with a photoship once. It had special portholes for the camera though, and I don't necessarily see those.
midnightllamas@reddit
The daddy plane likes the mommy plane
emzine@reddit
They are about to mate
FrancoWriter@reddit
The radio isn't working. They are exchanging signs. Domestic relations.
HogmanDaIntrudr@reddit
We were inverted
Antique-Kitchen-1896@reddit
Fuel saving, with the strait closed you do what you can... :P
AreWeThereYetNo@reddit
Well you see when two playns ove each other…
MosYEETo@reddit
When a BMW is behind you on the freeway
Parfilov@reddit
Cezzna-female is trying to provoke Cezzna-male for the pairing, wild nature is wonderful
IM_REFUELING@reddit
Because they can
officialkfc@reddit
It’s called air rage. The plane infront cut off the one behind and he’s pissed
thunderclogs@reddit
"I'm going to hit the brakes, he'll fly right by"
CarminSanDiego@reddit
Cosplaying as fighter pilots
Novel_Manner4483@reddit
Mating time.
A3bilbaNEO@reddit
Cocainum runner fell asleep. Mate's about to give him a wing bump.
(see Barry Seal)
definitivgross@reddit
Flying bulls from temu
AbeFromanEast@reddit
Say this is New Jersey without saying it
gingersuslik@reddit
typical race
kempff@reddit
I hate tailgaters.