# Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 of 26 September 2012 laying down the common rules of the air and operational provisions regarding services and procedures in air navigation and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1035/2011 and Regulations (EC) No 1265/2007, (EC) No 1794/2006, (EC) No 730/2006, (EC) No 1033/2006 and (EU) No 255/2010 (Text with EEA relevance), Division SERA.3135: Formation flights

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Aircraft shall not be flown in formation except by pre-arrangement among the pilots-in-command of the aircraft taking part in the flight and, for formation flight in controlled airspace, in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the competent authority. These conditions shall include the following:
(a)one of the pilots-in-command shall be designated as the flight leader;
(b)the formation operates as a single aircraft with regard to navigation and position reporting;
(c)separation between aircraft in the flight shall be the responsibility of the flight leader and the pilots-in-command of the other aircraft in the flight and shall include periods of transition when aircraft are manoeuvring to attain their own separation within the formation and during join-up and breakaway; and
(d)for State aircraft a maximum lateral, longitudinal and vertical distance between each aircraft and the flight leader in accordance with the Chicago Convention. For other than State aircraft a distance not exceeding 1 km (0,5 nm) laterally and longitudinally and 30 m (100 ft) vertically from the flight leader shall be maintained by each aircraft.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2012/923/annex/section/3/chapter/1/division/SERA.3135 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2012-923/annex/section-3/chapter-1/division-SERA.3135
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.