INTRODUCTION
Please print these 2010 Mooney Caravan Procedures. Read them, study them, write
notes and questions in the margins and bring them with you to
Madison. In order to reduce Caravan expenses to each
participant, there will not be additional copies provided in
the materials handed out in the information package at
Madison
It is
imperative that all pilots read and understand these procedures exactly. Safety
is conditional on all pilots knowing the necessary procedures without
hesitation.
The first
Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh was in
July of 1998. Each year we learned quite a bit about what was
important in such an affair and these revised procedures reflect some lessons
learned. There have been a few years our procedures were superseded by
last minute procedural changes demanded by FAA
Tower operations at
Oshkosh due to weather and field conditions.
Nonetheless, we adapted and our procedures ensured a safe event. In 1998 we
limited our group to 50 aircraft and 42 planes actually took off from
Madison, WI. In 1999 we increased the size of the Caravan to 100
aircraft and 86 took off. In 2000, we had 97 aircraft. In 2001 we
had 64 aircraft. Due to construction
at Madison in 2002, we used
Watertown, WI. as our point of departure
to Oshkosh and had 80 Mooneys depart for AirVenture under
adverse wind conditions. After construction was completed at
Madison, we moved our assembly point back to Madison in 2003. We limited our number
to 42 and reemphasized safety. This year we are at Madison with a goal of 48 airplanes
for the 2010 Mooney Caravan and we are again demanding first-rate pilot skills
with the primary goal of safety. We will not hesitate to exclude anyone with
marginal understanding of our procedures or questionable piloting proficiency.
If you wish to be a part of this great event, we expect you to be a great pilot
and fly as a team.
A group
flight with this many aircraft has the potential to be hazardous if each
participant is not completely familiar with what is expected of them and what
they should expect from other aircraft. The purpose of this material is to
define the procedures to be used during the flight so we all enjoy ourselves and
have a safe flight.
Traveling in
the Mooney Caravan saves you much of the navigation and communication work, but
makes it even more essential to maintain the critical elements mentioned in the
article; namely separation by visual spacing with precise airspeed and altitude
control.
Concept
The Mooney
flight is intended to be a close and carefully spaced flight from
Madison, WI. (MSN) to the
EAA Convention, AirVenture, approximately a 30 minute flight of 75 nm. Special
handling has been arranged with the FAA to permit this group arrival, which
bypasses the normal VFR arrival procedures. This will permit us to arrive
together and park together at the convention.
Formation Flying
As defined by
the FAA, the different types of formations are:
Standard –
All aircraft within 1 nm laterally or 100 ft vertically.
Non-Standard
– Prior coordinated –greater than standard. This can be anything the pilots need
for the mission.
Cell – 2 or
more aircraft with the same intended route of flight maintaining stationkeeping
operations by either or both visual and electronic means.
The Mooney
flight is a “Cell Formation”. Close formation flying is difficult and requires
practice and considerable experience. Our structure will consist of groups of 6
airplanes flying in two lines 'in trail'.
Odd numbered aircraft will be on the left; even numbered aircraft will be
on the right. The FAA definition of a formation is: One or more aircraft
which by prior arrangement between the pilots, operate as a single aircraft with
regard to navigation and position reporting. We
receive one clearance for the flight since our Caravan operates as a singe
aircraft in the eyes of the FAA. Separation between aircraft within the
formation is the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots of the other
aircraft in flight.
Flights, Groups, and Elements
The name of
the entire group will be Mooney flight. The flight will be divided
up into eight groups of six aircraft. These groups will be named Alpha
Group to Hotel Group. The first plane
of each group will be the group leader. For example, the group leader of
the forth group (Delta) will use the radio call sign, Delta Leader.
The other planes in the group will be addressed as Delta 2 through
Delta 6.
Group leaders
will be selected prior to arrival at
Madison. Pilots will be invited to be an element leader
based on overall flying experience, prior
Oshkosh
experience, participation in Caravan working groups, and aircraft equipment.
Mooney Lead and Mooney Tail
The FAA has
directed that the first plane in the Mooney Caravan (who will be the flight
leader) shall have the call sign "Mooney Lead". Mooney Lead will also be the
leader of Alpha group. The last plane in the Caravan shall have the call sign
"Mooney Tail." The leadership aircraft will be designated based on
Caravan experience and pilot skill.
Mooney Lead:
Alternate
Mooney Lead: (Alpha 2)
Mooney Tail:
The Alternate
Lead (Alpha 2) will be prepared to become flight leader in case Mooney
Lead has to abort for any reason.