Chapter Seven Standard division Procedures

CHAPTER SEVEN

STANDARD DIVISION PROCEDURES

700. INTRODUCTION

Division formations have three or four aircraft and are comprised of two sections aircraft.

DASH-1 is the lead of both the division and of the first section and DASH-3 is the lead of the

second section (if there is a DASH-4). This formation is commonly used in both administrative

and tactical military flights.

701. DIVISION FORMATION

Division Formation Responsibilities

Responsibilities are very similar to two plane formations, except now there are more wingmen to

back up the lead. In addition, it is common to detach the second section during severe weather or

in the event that an aircraft is having mechanical problems. For these reasons, DASH-3 should

be ready at all times to detach with DASH-4 as a section to complete the mission.

Division Formation Communication

Passing hand signals in division is very similar to section work, except the lead cannot see all the

wingmen all the time. Therefore, it is incumbent on each aircraft to pass hand signals up and

down the formation.

Radio communication in division formation is slightly more difficult because of the number of

aircraft. In VT-86, we will utilize positive check-ins and positive check-outs as previously set

forth in the "section formation procedures" chapter. For example, here is a frequency change for

a division flight with the call sign Turbo:

CTR:

"ROKT 207 switch Houston Center 288.15."

LEAD:

"ROKT 207 switching 288.15, Turbo."

DASH-2:

"Two."

DASH-3:

"Three."

DASH-4:

"Four."

On the new frequency:

DASH-4 passes a thumbs-up to DASH-3. DASH-3 and DASH-2 pass a thumbs-up to lead.

Lead will acknowledge the thumbs-up and then check the division in: