SKE Techniques & Procedures

Question 1

SKE Description & Limitations:
SKE provides the capability for up to _______ (but limits the number of aircraft on a single SKE frequency to _______)
Aircraft must be within ______ of master
Aircraft must be within ______ of leader for TWS to function properly
Difference SKE frequency should be _____ away from each other

Answer 1

36, 31, 10NM, 4NM, 80NM

Question 2

SKE Formation Spacing
Wingmen:
Element Lead:

Answer 2

Wingmen: 4000INTK / 500R XTRK

Element Lead: 8000INTK / 00R XTRK

Question 3

SKE Formation Spacing: Extended Cruise
Wingmen:
Element Lead:

Answer 3

Wingmen: XTRK 1000

Element Lead: XTRK 12,000

Question 4

SKE: Primary reference to maintain SKE position

Answer 4

PPI

Question 5

SKE: Priority of FCI signals

Answer 5

Altitude, Heading, Airspeed

Question 6

SKE: All aircraft in the formation climb and descent (enr route) at the same time using _________ fpm or as briefed

Answer 6

1,000fpm

Question 7

SKE: Lead will signal heading changes of ________ or more.

Answer 7

10 degrees

Question 8

SKE: Element leaders are limited to _____ degrees angle of bank before slowdown (for planned en-route turns)

Answer 8

20

Question 9

SKE: Element leaders are limited to ______ degrees angle of bank after slowdown

Answer 9

10

Question 10

SKE: Lead will signal airspeed changes of _____ KIAS or more, and should use ______ TIT to accelerate and ______ TIT to decelerate.

Answer 10

10 KIAS; 900 TIT; 600 TIT

Question 11

SKE: Desired landing interval between aircraft

Answer 11

6,000 feet

Question 12

SKE: Minimum landing interval between aircraft

Answer 12

5,000 feet

Question 13

SKE: Weather minimums for formation take-off and landing?

Answer 13

Minimums for the airport navigation aid used, but not lower than 200 feet and 1 SM (5000RVR).
During formation operations, adhere to both ceiling and visibility minimums.

If departure ceiling or visibility is below published landing minimums, but above 200 feet and 1 SM, the formation may take-off if the requirements for a departure alternate are met. If the runway has dual RVR readouts, both ends must be at least RVR 5000.

Question 14

SKE: What is minimum assembly altitude in IFR?

Answer 14

1,000 feet (2,000 feet in mountainous terrain) above the highest obstruction to flight (man-made obstacle, terrain feature, or spot elevation), rounded up tot he nearest 100th, within 5 NM of centerline (10 NM outside the US).

Question 15

SKE: Formation departure & assembly speeds for lead and wing

Answer 15

Lead: 180 KIAS and 1500fpm
Wing: After positive identification of all preceding aircraft, follower aircraft may climb at airspeeds up to 190 KIAS to close to en-route spacing. Once on assembly altitude may accelerate to 220 KIAS.
** Element leaders do not need to signal airspeed changes until the formation is rejoined.
** Follower aircraft will fly the departure procedure or SID individually while completing the assembly and monitoring PPI.

Question 16

Define Minimum IFR Enroute Altitude

Answer 16

1,000 feet (2,000 feet in mountainous terrain) above the highest obstruction to flight (man-made obstacle, terrain feature, or spot elevation), rounded up tot he nearest 100th, within 5 NM of centerline (10 NM outside the US).

Question 17

Loss of SKE: What do you do?
VMC?
IMC?

Answer 17

Notify lead in all cases
- When in IMC and safety permits, do not turn the formation until the situation is resolved.
- Troubleshoot by switching masters, selecting an alternate SKE frequency (if available), switching the SKE antenna, or by turning the SKE system off and then back on.
(30 seconds to re-synchronize the SKE system after each change).
VMC: If only the PPI is inoperative, maintain position with lead’s concurrence. The route, drop, and recovery may be flown
IMC: Loss of all SKE indications requires a breakout. Lead will contact or direct follower aircraft to contact ATC for separate clearance.

Question 18

SKE: Procedures for a breakout (straight and level, in a turn, climb or descent):
When should it be used?

Answer 18

Straight and Level: Climb 500 feet, turn 30 degrees in safest direction for 30 seconds, then return to previous heading
In a Turn: Roll out of the turn and climb 500 feet
In a Climb or Descent: Roll out of the turn (if necessary) and level off (terrain permitting)

Perform a breakout when:
- Loss of all SKE indications

Question 19

SKE: How to perform a lead change

Answer 19

• Formation leader commands the lead change, the new formation leader acknowledges.
• The relinquishing formation leader turns 45 degrees away from base heading in the safest direction (based on airspace, flight path, and terrain), until achieving 1NM offset from the formation
• Reset SKE parameters, and drifts back to rejoin at the end of the formation.
  (VMC, the old formation leader may rejoin to any coordinated position within the formation)
• After new leader in position, should conduct a new FCI check.

Question 20

SKE: When must a wingmen or element lead be in position by to perform the drop?

Answer 20

1 minute prior to TOT (VMC)

IP (IMC)

Question 21

SKE: Overrun Procedures
Wingman
Element Lead

Answer 21

Wingman: Start a turn in the direction of set XTRK, set 1,000 and monitor position on the PPI and TWS. Wingmen announce an overrun by giving formation position. After correct ITRK spacing has been attained, reset and intercept the appropriate XTRK.
Element Leader: Start turn in the direction of set XTRK, set 2,000 and monitor position on the PPI and TWS. Element leader announce an overrun by giving element number, base heading, and base airspeed. After correctITRK spacing has been attained, reset and intercept the appropriate XTRK

Question 22

SKE Formation Rejoins

Answer 22

• Enter leader’s slot number & all others in the formation
• Set the PPI to the maximum range setting
• Approach the formation 1,000 feet above or below
• Establish radio contact with the formation lead, and confirm the SKE frequency and your leader’s lost number
• When the formation appears on the PPI, check the “master lost” indication has extinguished
• Identify your leader on the PPI, and request FCI check from the formation lead
• Stabilize the aircraft in position while maintaining 1,000 feet altitude separation
• Once stabilized in position with the lat aircraft in the formation identified, request clearance to rejoin the formation
• When cleared to rejoin the formation, climb or descent to formation altitude.

Question 23

SKE Check Turns: Before and After Slowdown

How to check back to centerline, when to call the turn

Answer 23

30 degrees before SD; 10 degrees after SD
300yds XTRK (headwind); 500yds (no wind) 700yds (tailwind)

Question 24

SKE Slowdown Procedure

Answer 24

• The entire formation slows down simultaneously to maintain spacing
• Lead signals 30 seconds prior to slowdown with “SD”
• Lead signals 5 seconds “-“
• Lead signals “E” (If tactical situation permits, lead should also make a “slowdown” call over interplane.
• 1,000inlbs of torque, lower the flaps 50% on-speed, and slow to 140 KIAS

Question 25

Define IFR Drop Corridor

Answer 25

Where aircraft may operate below Min IFR en-route altitude, 3 NM either side of centerline from DZ Entry through DZ Exit Point

Question 26

DZ Entry Point

Answer 26

A fixed point on the DZ Run-In course centerline where an aircraft or formation may safely begin descent from Minimum IFR en-route altitude to minimum IFR drop altitude. The DZ Entry point is a maximum of 40 NM from the DZ Exit Point, Formation lead will not initiate eh descent until the last aircraft in the formation (or last aircraft in the flight or element if using waterfall descent procedures) is at or past the DZ Entry Point

Question 27

DZ Exit Point

Answer 27

A fixed point on the DZ escape flight path centerline where an aircraft or formation will be at the Minimum IFR En-route Altitude. The DZ Exit point will be planned no less than 4 NM from the trailing edge of the DZ. WARNING: Analyze pre-drop gross weight to determine if obstructions can be cleared with one engine inoperative. If not: reduce aircraft gross weight revise run-in and/or escape course, or increase drop altitude.

Question 28

Earliest Descent Point define:

Answer 28

The earliest point in the IMC drop corridor where the formation lead may descend the entire formation to IMC drop altitude and be assured of obstacle clearance. (Normally, unless otherwise briefed, the EDP provides a 6-NM IMC stabilization point)

Question 29

Latest Descent Point define:

Answer 29

The latest point in the IMC drop corridor where the formation lead may descend the entire formation and still ensure that all aircraft in the formation are stabilized on drop altitude and airspeed prior to the release point. LDP varies with load type and descent profile.

Question 30

SKE Descent define: | What conditions must be met to descend?

Answer 30

- 5 second "down prep" then "E" - All aircraft in the formation descend at 140 KIAS and 1,000fpm 1) Lead's position is positively identified 2) The entire formation is within 3 NM of DZ Run-In course centerline 3) The last aircraft in the formation (or last aircraft in the flight or element if using waterfall descent procedures) is at or past DZ Entry Point - Each element stacks 50 feet above the preceding element's drop altitude - Wingmen maintain same drop altitude as their element leaders by reference to the pressure altimeter and SKE TWS.