Flight of two, IFR

"Dave S" wrote in message
hlink.net...

However.. practically.. WHO is going to be responsible for
separation on a formation flight if it goes IMC?


Responsibility for separation within the flight rests with the flight,
whether that is practical or not. Responsibility for separation between the
flight and other IFR aircraft rests with ATC.



The military has procedures that
address this.. i am curious to know if the US civil sector does, and
I've not seen anything pertaining to it..


US ATC procedures do not distinguish between civil or military with regard
to formation flights. The FARs prohibit formation flights by aircraft
carrying passengers for hire. Formation flights by civil VFR aircraft are
not uncommon. I issued an IFR clearance to a civil formation just once,
that I can recall. It was during the EAA convention, a group of T-34s
wanted to get away from OSH to practice their routine, the weather was MVFR.



FAA Order 7110.65P Air Traffic Control

Chapter 2. General Control

Section 1. General

2-1-13. FORMATION FLIGHTS

Control formation flights as a single aircraft. When individual control is
requested, issue advisory information which will assist the pilots in
attaining separation. When pilot reports indicate separation has been
established, issue control instructions as required.

NOTE-
1. Separation responsibility between aircraft within the formation during
transition to individual control rests with the pilots concerned until
standard separation has been attained.

2. Formation join-up and breakaway will be conducted in VFR weather
conditions unless prior authorization has been obtained from ATC or
individual control has been approved.



Chapter 5. Radar

Section 5. Radar Separation

5-5-8. ADDITIONAL SEPARATION FOR FORMATION FLIGHTS

Because of the distance allowed between formation aircraft and lead
aircraft, additional separation is necessary to ensure the periphery of the
formation is adequately separated from other aircraft, adjacent airspace, or
obstructions. Provide supplemental separation for formation flights as
follows:

a. Separate a standard formation flight by adding 1 mile to the
appropriate radar separation minima.

REFERENCE-
FAAO 7110.65, Formation Flights, Para 2-1-13.
FAAO 7110.65, Application, Para 5-5-1.
FAAO 7110.65, Separation, Para 7-7-3.
P/CG Term- Formation Flight.

b. Separate two standard formation flights from each other by adding 2
miles to the appropriate separation minima.

c. Separate a nonstandard formation flight by applying the appropriate
separation minima to the perimeter of the airspace encompassing the
nonstandard formation or from the outermost aircraft of the nonstandard
formation whichever applies.

d. If necessary for separation between a nonstandard formation and other
aircraft, assign an appropriate beacon code to each aircraft in the
formation or to the first and last aircraft in-trail.

NOTE-
The additional separation provided in para 5-5-8, Additional Separation
for Formation Flights, is not normally added to wake turbulence separation
when a formation is following a heavier aircraft since none of the formation
aircraft are likely to be closer to the heavier aircraft than the lead
aircraft (to which the prescribed wake turbulence separation has been
applied).



§ 91.111 Operating near other aircraft.

(a) No person may operate an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to
create a collision hazard.

(b) No person may operate an aircraft in formation flight except by
arrangement with the pilot in command of each aircraft in the formation.

(c) No person may operate an aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, in
formation flight.