# Formation Types Common formations used during multi-aircraft operations include fixed formations (such as echelon, staggered, or trail) and maneuvering formations (including combat cruise and combat spread). Army aviators should be familiar with basic formations and maneuvers described in the following paragraphs. All angles and distances can be modified based on aircraft and mission. The two helicopter team/section is the building block for all formations from which can be built upon to create platoon- and company-sized formations (figure 6-7). The intent is to allow aircraft to be able to fly together using common terminology and techniques. The only authorized formations for night/NVG flight at 80 feet AHO and below are combat cruise formations in conjunction with techniques of movement according to TC 3-04.11
## **Two-Helicopter Team** A team usually consists of two helicopters flying as lead and wingman. The wingman may fly to the left or right rear of the lead aircraft. When flying to lead’s left rear, the wingman is flying in echelon or staggered left. When flying to the lead’s right rear, the wingman is flying in echelon or staggered right. The correct angular location is approximately 45 degrees with consideration given to aircraft limitations. *** ## **Fixed Formations** These formations are used when more control is required. The flight acts as one aircraft regardless of the number of aircraft in the flight, and the movements of lead are mirrored throughout the flight. Fixed formations are useful for departure and arrival at LZs, airfields, administratively transiting airspace, deployment, and when environmental conditions do not allow or require tactical separation. When lead locks the wingman into these fixed formations, lead must consider the wingman’s obstacle clearance and provide appropriate horizontal and vertical clearance. Wingmen, as well as lead, must consider the reduction in altitude wingmen have when flying on the inside of turns and ensure adequate obstacle/terrain clearance. Spacing and separation must be considered during changes in altitude and headings. ### **Staggered** This is one of the most commonly used formations in Army Aviation and is flown as a staggered right or staggered left. Each aircraft of the formation holds a position approximately 45 degrees astern of the aircraft to its front, alternating left and right. Chalk 2’s position determines if the formation is staggered right or staggered left. Chalk 3 (and any other odd-numbered wingmen) flies in trail directly behind lead. A staggered formation is essentially a continuous, alternating series of the basic two-helicopter section/element. This formation is not limited to any prescribed number of aircraft. The mission requirement dictates its size. This formation gives wingmen the ability to estimate distance and rates of closure and allows some flexibility in relation to adjacent aircraft while affording lead control of the flight. Staggered formations are common formations used through congested airspace, for large formations in a low-threat area, for air assault approaches and takeoffs, or for traveling through narrow canyons. Formation changes between a left and right staggered formation are directed by lead. During the crossover, wingmen maintain appropriate clearance. Chalk 2 should use a heading change of approximately 5 to 10 degrees to cross from one side to the other. Chalk 3 maintains position behind lead. A slight vertical stacking is recommended during the crossover to avoid rotor wash. Staggered formation has the following advantages and disadvantages: **Advantages:** * Fixes position of wingmen. * Allows lead maneuverability. * Simplifies prepositioning of loads. * Allows rapid deployment of troops for all-round security. **Disadvantages:** * Increases pilot workload to maintain relative position to the aircraft in front of it when flying tight or close. * Requires a relatively long and wide landing area. * Places some restriction on suppressive fire by door gunners.
### **Echelon** This formation is flown as either echelon right or echelon left. Wingmen fly a fixed position on an approximate 30- to 45-degree offset from lead’s 6 o’clock position. All formation aircraft are positioned on the same side of lead at briefed horizontal and vertical distances. There is no requirement for wingmen to maintain a level plane when turning. This is especially true for turns toward the wingmen; wingmen may stack slightly low as required to keep the preceding aircraft in sight. **Advantages:** * Provides ease in maintaining view of the entire formation. * Allows rapid deployment of troops to the flank. * Allows nearly unrestricted suppressive fire by door gunners. * Provides excellent formation for dust/sand/snow takeoffs and landings. **Disadvantages:** * Severely limits flight maneuverability of the flight. The lack of maneuvering room makes aircraft more vulnerable during a threat engagement. * Requires a relatively long and wide landing area. * Presents some difficulty in prepositioning loads.
### **Trail Formation** The trail formation is the most difficult of the fixed formations. Each wingman/chalk follows leads movement within 10 degrees of the preceding aircraft. Trail formation can be used for landings and takeoffs and as a transition during formation changes. However, it should not be flown for extended periods of time as distances and rates of closure between aircraft are difficult to determine. Flight at the 6 o’clock position makes it very difficult for the preceding aircraft to scan for wingmen and can degrade situational awareness in the flight. **Advantages:** * Simplifies prepositioning of loads. * Allows nearly unrestricted suppressive fire by door gunners. * Allows rapid deployment of troops to the flanks. **Disadvantages:** * Creates difficulty in interpreting aircraft spacing and relative motion while in flight, especially during night flight–aided or unaided. * Presents a poor choice during dust/sand/snow takeoffs and landings. Aircraft can be engulfed by the cloud of the preceding aircraft. * Requires a relatively long landing area.
### **V-Formation** The V-formation consists of a leader and two wingmen, each positioned in echelon, left and right, approximately 45 degrees astern of the leader. Pilots must scan for both aircraft to maintain proper position in the formation. **Advantages:** * Allows rapid deployment of troops for all-around security. * Requires a relatively small landing area. * For dust/sand/snow condition takeoffs and landings, small V-formations can be used with light wind conditions. Increased rotor disk separation prevents being engulfed in the cloud from the preceding aircraft. **Disadvantages:** * Restricts suppressive fire from inboard door gunners.
*** ## **Maneuvering Formations** Maneuverability is the prime consideration for formations flying in tactical situations. The following formations provide the basis for team maneuvering flight and are used to provide maximum maneuverability, flexibility, and survivability due to greater separation between aircraft. They also promote security by providing overlapping fields of view and fields of fire. These formations allow lead to maintain formation integrity, yet maneuver the formation with few restrictions. Wingmen must maintain a position that does not hamper the preceding aircraft's ability to maneuver. Wingmen must also understand that due to their authority to maneuver, lead is free to maneuver near terrain, expecting wingmen to provide their own horizontal and vertical clearance. The positions and distances described in this document are guidelines and can be modified as the situation dictates. Over open terrain or during high illumination, greater spacing is used to increase survivability and flexibility. Formation spacing should be tighter in rough terrain or reduced illumination/visibility. Formation positions nearer the abeam make scanning more difficult in keeping the preceding aircraft, as well as approaching terrain, in sight. Many wingmen move to the outside of turns to more easily keep lead and approaching terrain in sight, while maintaining altitude (or stacking high). Conversely, wingmen must be extremely vigilant if assuming a position on the inside of turns, as a rapid scan is required to maintain SA on lead and approaching terrain. This is especially critical when stacking low in the turn. It is important to avoid flying the entire formation over the same spot on the ground. Variations in flight path between teams should be the rule. The mission dictates aircraft separation and team separation. Aircraft and team separation may range from three to five rotor disks to 1 kilometer or more. Primary concern when establishing separation is METT-TC and the ability to provide mutual support. Basic team formations are combat cruise, combat cruise left/right, combat trail, and combat spread. They can be enlarged to accommodate multiple teams, platoon size, and larger formations. ### **Combat Cruise or Combat Cruise Teams in Trail** Combat cruise replaces the term free cruise to incorporate joint terminology. Combat cruise is the basic formation utilized by a team and provides maximum flexibility and adequate mutual support. Lead retains the freedom to maneuver and engage targets without affecting the wingman’s flight path unless aircraft are flying in tight formation. Observation sectors must be divided between lead and wing to provide overlapping observation and fire. The wingman should inform lead when changing from one side to the other if this information is required for SA. The wingman is allowed to vary separation and angle anywhere in the maneuver area from approximately 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock. Since the formation does not require an absolute position, flight crews can concentrate on navigation, terrain masking, and enemy detection/avoidance. Wingmen position themselves where they can best visually cover lead (optimum position is 45 degrees) and should be prepared to deliver ordnance in support of lead.
In rough terrain, the formation is normally tighter than in open terrain. When lead initiates a turn, wingmen maintain longitudinal clearance on the aircraft directly ahead by sliding and utilizing the radius of the turn created by lead. As soon as lead rolls level, positions are resumed. Since the position in combat cruise varies, the wingman should avoid presenting a linear target during break turns. Extended flight in lead’s 6 o’clock is not recommended. Formations of more than two aircraft can utilize combat cruise. Figure 6-13 shows a flight of four in combat cruise with the maneuver area limited to 45 degrees. Each subsequent aircraft flies a relative position off the preceding aircraft. To maintain team integrity for attack/reconnaissance Scout weapons teams, the term combat cruise teams in trail can be used and spacing between teams are extended slightly.
### Combat cruise Left/Right Another formation used by flight lead to limit maneuverability is combat cruise left/right (figure 6-14). Combat cruise left/right is a modified staggered formation which allows for tactical maneuverability and spacing yet maintains some predictability. Subsequent aircraft remain in either right or left cruise and change sides only after briefed by flight lead. Using combat cruise left/right, the wingman remains in an arc 0 degrees aft to 90 degrees abeam of lead to the left or right side. Optimum position is 45 degrees. Observation sectors are divided between lead and wing providing overlapping observation and fire. Figure 6-15 illustrates combat cruise left for more than two aircraft.
### Combat Trail While combat cruise allows wingmen maximum flexibility, there may be instances where flight lead requires more control of the flight and must restrict some maneuverability. Combat trail can be used to limit wingmen’s movement to plus or minus 30 degrees from the preceding aircraft (figure 6-16). This formation is useful for negotiating narrow terrain or landing in narrow LZs. It should not be flown for extended periods of time or at night due to the difficulty of determining rates of closure for preceding aircraft.
### Combat Spread Combat spread is a formation used when maximum observation to the front is desired or an attempt to limit package exposure time over open areas is made. When flight lead announces combat spread, they include the command right or left. Wingmen should move toward that abeam position, either lead’s 3 o’clock or 9 o’clock position (figure 6-17). Flying in combat spread requires a rapid scan to maintain SA on the other aircraft and approaching terrain. This requires even more vigilance at night.
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