The RPA Flight Leader Red Star Pilots Association

The RPA Flight Leader Red Star Pilots Association

Before We Begin Cell Phones – off/vibrate please Questions, contributions—please speak up… Red Star Pilots Association

Objectives 1. Define your responsibilities as a Lead Pilot 2. Provide you with tools to succeed 3. Promote safety and standardization Red Star Pilots Association

The Big Picture Formation And Safety Team (F. A. S. T. ) Signatories 1. Airpower West 2. Army Aviation Heritage Association 3. Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association 4. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum 5. Classic Jet Aircraft Association 6. Commemorative Air Force/TRARON 7. EAA Warbirds of America 8. Fighter Formation Qualification Group 9. Joint Liaison Formation Committee 10. New Zealand Warbird Association 11. North American Trainer Association 12. Red. Star Pilots Association 13. Sport Class Air Racing Association 14. Stearman Flight 15. Swift Formation Committee 16. T-34 Association 17. Valiant Air Command 4

What Are Your Responsibilities As A Flight Leader? Red Star Pilots Association

Lead Pilots’ Responsibilities • • Selection of flight members Verification of credentials Mission planning Briefings and debriefings Safe conduct of flight Provide training Risk management Leadership Red Star Pilots Association

FAST Program Responsibilities 1. Endorse Formation Proficiency Reports 2. Recommend pilots for checkrides Red Star Pilots Association

Formation Proficiency Report The Formation Proficiency Report (FPR) is the reporting form that Lead and Wing Pilots use to record that they meet the FAST standard for safe, competent formation flight throughout the complete range of maneuvers, from takeoff to landing. (FF&P, page 4) Red Star Pilots Association

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Recommendation for Checkride What is the first thing you do when asked for a recommendation? Red Star Pilots Association

Wing Pilot Qualifications • Private pilot certificate* • 350 hours total time (250 hours with a commercial certificate) • 10 hours formation time within the previous two years (military or civilian) • Complete a formal ground school conducted by an FAA* recognized formation organization • Current member of an FAA* recognize formation organization • Practical test recommendation by a current lead pilot • Successfully complete practical test * or non-US, country equivalent Red Star Pilots Association

Lead Pilot Qualifications • Private pilot certificate* • 500 hours total time (350 hours for current or former CFI*, military or airline IP) • 30 hours logged formation time as a credentialed FAST wing pilot • Demonstrated proficiency in each position of a 4 -ship • Complete formal FAST lead upgrade training program • Current member of an FAA* recognized formation organization • Practical test recommendation by a current FAST lead pilot • Successfully complete practical test *or non-US, country equivalent Red Star Pilots Association

What is the difference between the FPR, the recommendation form, and the checkride form? Red Star Pilots Association

Lead Pilot Kit Bag Materials Required for the Practical Test (Flight Leader Practical Test Guide, page 5) To be an effective flight leader and instructor, and to ensure standardization, all applicants for lead pilot should have in their possession the following materials: Four-part FAST Intercontinental Formation Guideline: 1. FAST Foundation and Principles 2. FAST Maneuvers Guide 3. FAST Radio Communication and Visual Signals 4. FAST wingman and flight leader practical test guides • Formation manual for applicant’s formation organization • All other applicable SOPs and policy guides for the applicant’s formation organization • Formation proficiency report forms • Formation checkride forms Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Planning • The fundamental responsibility of the Flight Leader, regardless of delegation. • The depth of mission planning is often reflected in the leaders ability to maintain situational awareness, adapt to change and effectively execute the briefed mission. • The briefing is not the place for mission planning---do your homework. Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Planning • • • Wingmen position assignments (deputy lead) Define mission objectives (training priorities) Ground ops/taxi plan Departure plan Sequence of events and timing Recovery plan Weather/terrain/ATC/airspace Communications plan Fuel planning: bingo/joker Hard deck Abort fields Alternate missions/go-no-go criteria Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Briefing Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Briefing • In the brief, Lead sets the tone for the entire flight • You should be prepared, able to communicate the plan effectively, in detail. • Follow a standard flow (checklist) Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Briefing 7 Suggested Briefing Steps 1. Time hack 2. Mission objectives 3. Weather and environmental 4. Sequence & Standards 5. Contingencies 6. Execution 7. Wrap Up Red Star Pilots Association

Mission Briefing Checklist Use a checklist Red Star Pilots Association

Risk Management Red Star Pilots Association

Risk Analysis and Management 85 % of all general aviation accidents can be attributed to poor risk management The process of risk management starts in mission planning Red Star Pilots Association

Risk Analysis and Management • Risk analysis - What are the risks? • Risk management - What actions will you take to reduce or eliminate those risks Red Star Pilots Association

Risk Analysis: Specific Areas • Wingmen • Aircraft • Environment • External Pressure Red Star Pilots Association

Wingmen 1. General capability vs. mission profile 2. Formation attitude: ability to follow 3. Deputy lead capability Red Star Pilots Association

Wingmen We have moved away from: “Wingman, all I want to hear from you is “two” and “Lead you're on fire. ” Teach your wingmen to provide assistance when appropriate. Red Star Pilots Association

Aircraft 1. Maintenance status 2. Dissimilar aircraft Red Star Pilots Association

Environment 1. Airport facility 2. Weather 3. Airspace 4. Terrain/Obstacles Red Star Pilots Association

External Pressures 1. Get-home-it is 2. Need to complete training/checkride 3. Audience 4. Mission complexity, airshow demands Red Star Pilots Association

Instruction Red Star Pilots Association

For the national formation program to succeed and continue, it is critical that there be a system to both train new formation pilots and to provide for maintaining the proficiency of all formation pilots. The Lead Pilot is the key position fulfilling these roles. Lead Pilot Practical Test Guide, page 3 Red Star Pilots Association

The Lead Pilot is responsible for providing additional training as required, for recommending decertification of Wing Pilots, if necessary, and for recommending Wing Pilot and Lead Pilot applicants for flight tests. Lead Pilot Practical Test Guide, page 3 32 Red Star Pilots Association

Instruction Two critical skill sets: • Back-Seat Instructional Skills • Table-Top Instructional Skills Red Star Pilots Association

Table Top Instructional Skills Lead Goal: To provide instruction to the wing pilots via post-flight analysis. What? Why? How? Red Star Pilots Association

Observation/Diagnostic Skill What happened? • Use abbreviated notes without sacrificing vigilance (matrix technique) • Reconstruct the events in the order they occurred Red Star Pilots Association

Analytic Skill Why did it happen? Red Star Pilots Association

Problem Solving Skill How do you fix it? Red Star Pilots Association

Putting Your Skills to Work: Common Errors • • Element takeoff Wing work Cross-under Echelon turn Extended trail Pitch-out/rejoin Overhead pattern 38

The Flight Leader Is the Training Officer Training flights • Prioritize the training objectives in the briefing • Adapt to conditions and pilot performance, real time, to maximize time and/or fuel. • During training flights, don’t be ruled by the sequence if it is not serving the needs of the student(s) • Use a knee board and develop an abbreviated note-taking technique Red Star Pilots Association

Training Records: Lead Red Star Pilots Association

Training Records: Wingman Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics Starts In Briefing • Mission objectives established • Set a debrief time • Set a debrief place Ends in Debriefing • Restate Objectives • Have flight notes & white board/drawing materials available, if able • Stand & lead the debrief! Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics • It’s a Positive Instructional Event • Use a nameless/rank-less debrief culture – Technique: try using position numbers • It’s focused – Recognize the good work – Analyze the not-so-good work Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics • • Objectives Ground Ops Take Off Enroute Area Work – Meat of Mission RTB Pattern and Landing Ground Ops Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics • Can Learning Take Place? – If yes, then: • What? • Why? • How? • Never Speculate • Always differentiate between procedures and techniques • If everything was executed properly, move on. Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics • Solicit wing pilot comments, particularly when it’s effective to student training – It can be helpful to know student’s perspective • Ask “What” the student saw – Identify student understanding of the problem • Ask “Why” — Identify student understanding of possible solutions • Then bring in the “How” to correct Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics • The Wrap-Up – Centered on objectives – Highlight lessons learned • End with positive final comment • Ask for wing pilot comments – In order Red Star Pilots Association

Debriefing Basics Questions? Red Star Pilots Association

It is recognized that the Lead Pilot is the cornerstone of the F. A. S. T. formation program. The selection, training, recommendation, and evaluation of new Lead Pilots should be held to the highest standards. (Lead Pilot Practical Test Guide, page 2) Red Star Pilots Association

Going Forward • Work to improve your skills • Help your fellow aviators realize their full potential • Contribute to the good of the cause • Be professional • Have fun Red Star Pilots Association

RPA Training Philosophy We prepare our fellow pilots for success; we do not set them up for failure. 51

“Culture of Excellence” The integrity of the F. A. S. T. program, and our Association is only as safe and as good as you make it, one sortie at a time. Red Star Pilots Association

Objectives 1. Define your responsibilities as a Lead Pilot 2. Provide you with tools to succeed 3. Promote safety / standardization 53

“Don’t drive your men to drink. Lead them!” - Commander Blackjack Slyfield, USN Red Star Pilots Association