9.16. Lost Sight Procedures.

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9.16.1. Objective. Flight path deconfliction and notification of a lost sight condition.

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9.16.2. Description. When one aircraft loses sight of another (usually number 2 loses sight of number 1), the formation achieves at least vertical separation then completes rejoin when visual contact is regained.

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9.16.3. Procedures. If visual contact with number 1 is lost, number 2 will notify number 1 and state current altitude (“Texan 2, blind, 17 thousand”). If there is no timely acknowledgement of the “blind” call, number 2 will maneuver away from the last known position of number 1 and alter altitude. In some cases, heading or turn information may also be appropriate for this call (“Texan 2, blind, 17 thousand, right turn through heading 130”). Technique: In extreme cases, such as during ET, adding climbing or descending to the altitude call may be useful to achieve safe separation (“Texan 2, blind, climbing through 17,000").

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9.16.3.1. If number 1 maneuvers into the sun, number 2 may lose sight. Although visual contact is usually regained within moments, a momentarily blind condition could pose a great hazard for midair collision. A “sun-blind” condition is an actual lost-sight case; apply proper procedures immediately.

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9.16.3.2. The formation member with visual contact transmits a relative position from the “blind” aircraft; for example, “Texan 1, visual, right, 2 o’clock, high.” If number 1 is “blind,” but number 2 has number 1 in sight, number 1 has the option to direct a rejoin. In this case, number 2 does not rejoin closer than a route position until number 1 calls “visual”. If number 2 is “blind,” and number 1 has number 2 in sight, and the situation requires immediate aircraft separation, number 1 maneuvers to ensure separation between the two aircraft. Number 1 can also direct number 2 to maintain an altitude or heading to aid in separation or visual acquisition.

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9.16.3.3. If both aircraft have lost sight of each other, number 1 must immediately direct a minimum of 1,000 feet altitude separation. Lead should make sure to establish altitude separation without causing aircraft to cross altitudes. Until visual contact is regained, number 1 must take positive action to ensure flight path deconfliction. Both formation members maintain this separation until either visual contact is regained and a rejoin is initiated or clearance to recover separately is received.

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