Overhead Approach/Pitchout & Land
Note: Much of the following comes from the T-34 Formation Flight Manual, 4th Edition, edited for Grummans and our Cathouse Formation Standards.
The overhead approach entry to an airport traffic pattern is the fastest, most efficient method of handling flights in formation. It is also the safest way to keep aircraft from becoming entangled with one another over the airport. With this type of pattern entry all aircraft approaching the field for landing enter an “initial”/upwind leg at a specified distance (usually 1-3 miles) out on the extended centerline of the landing runway. When they cross this point they are at pattern altitude and headed straight in towards the runway. This is called “Initial”.
At pattern altitude, you will be higher than traffic on base and final. This allows the flight leader to set his power at cruise so that the other members of the flight have plenty of power reserve with which to maintain good formation and still carry sufficiently high airspeed to the field. A respectably high airspeed in the break makes for a good-looking flight breakup just in case anyone is watching (and they will be!).
At the designated position (usually over “the numbers”), the lead makes his break 180 degrees to downwind. (The preferred method is a brisk roll to a 45°-60° bank angle, followed by an equally brisk pull. This will result in additional G’s, which bleeds off airspeed to final-turn speed.)1 Other members of the flight follow suit at the briefed interval.
As the flight rolls out on downwind, 2 should always line up on a flight path outside of lead and behind him. Watch where lead rolls off “the perch” (the point where lead starts his turn to final) and try to turn at the same point. Both aircraft begin a 180° descending turn, in trail, this time to final. Land on alternate sides of the runway; lead normally, but not always, taking the downwind side leaving the upwind side for 2. It is recommended that lead land slightly long to give 2 (and 3,4 if necessary) some extra room.
Remember you are still a flight until the engines are shut down. At a towered airport, a clearance to land for the flight includes all members of the flight. No need for the wingman to obtain a separate landing clearance.
One note: The ATC definition of an overhead approach (see Cathouse Formation Standards) indicates that the initial/pattern altitude is 500-feet above normal pattern altitude. In my experience, this is not a big issue at towered airports. I recommend coming in to both uncontrolled and towered airports at normal pattern altitude. Be aware of this, however, in case the tower controller queries you.
Wizz
1(In addition to the level break described above, a pitch up to pattern altitude may be used if briefed, in which case the leader should have plenty of extra airspeed on initial to allow for a snappy pull up.)
Copyright © 1999-2001 Gregg Wilson and the Cathouse Gang