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TRARON |
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Last Update: July 9, 2007
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The Mission of TRARON (Training Squadron One) is to be the sole authorized provider of formation training and certification for members of the Commemorative Air Force. Such activities will be in accordance with the National FAST protocol and CAFRs. TRARON will also serve as the liaison and signatory representative to the National FAST Board.
TRARON has ordered a six foot round table and chairs that will be placed in the new the Gunfighter Pub of the O'Club when it is completed. This table will be for the use of TRARON members when they are in Midland. The TRARON patch will be carved in the top of the table along with the wings of the CAF, USN, USAF,and the USA. The table top will be covered by Lexan for protection. This table is styled upon those found throughout the world in military Officer's Clubs. A picture will be be provided in the future on this site. Sent: 4/25/2007 12:14:18 PM Subject: National Formation Manual Gentlemen, We are now in the "beta" test mode with our national formation manual. All eight chapters of the manual are loaded up on the national FAST website at www.flyfast.org , on the Pubs page.I know some of you have already started using the manual at your clinics and I encourage all of you to take it for a test drive. We will run this beta test phase during the summer flying season and then conduct a final review and vote on the adoption of the manual at the FAST BOD meeting at Oshkosh. Please provide your feedback to the group as you conduct your trainings this summer. Again, thank you all for your participation in this project. As I complete the appendices to the manual I will post them on the website and let you know. Some appendices require review prior to posting (such as the "Practical Test Guides")--those we will handle just as we have the chapters in the past. Regards, Mike
April 2007 That real job thing is keeping me from the FAST Board meeting at Sun
N Fun, but we do have our Sec/Tres. Doug Matthews in attendance, more from
him later. The big news is the “formal” approval of the NEW National
Formation Manual! This comprehensive document has replaced the old T-34 Manual as the
standard. It is a living
document, so Greg will put downloadable, printable files on the website.
You should print those out and put them in a 3 ring binder and
bring to any clinics you attend. You
may also note, I didn’t say anything about cost – there is none.
However, since it’s free from the computer at your public
library, Kinkos, or your home/office: I
WON’T BE BRINGING ANY! Sorry, guys but you’re going to have to be a little proactive in
your training. You’re also
going to have to bring that grade book stuff with you, too.
Now, as I said, this Manual is living and breathing, so if you can a
suggestion, forward it on to me. But,
indicate the problem, why it’s a problem, and the solution.
Also, the couple of years it took to write this thing were because
FAST Standard (from ALL signatories), USAF and USN Training Command
protocols were combined into a single source document.
Meaning I think the horse is about dead; but that doesn’t mean we
caught everything. Also, I
remind you the Flight Lead has to ability to brief everything and if what
you perceive as a problem is just because you don’t do it that way –
remember, this Manual went to ALL FAST signatories, flying all different
types of equipment. That’s why there’s the TRARON Supplement, that should also be
printed out and placed with the Manual.
I apologize for not writing and getting it reviewed as fast as FAST
can. Item 2 is from the last update.
The numbers are the numbers, I’ve gotten several emails from
those of you that don’t feel you have to follow what is a National
Standard that TRARON and the CAF had only a small part in.
Whatever your opinion of how things are done, that’s how they are
done. The biggest issue seemed
to be with the 10 hours of formation time now required to receive the
card. That’s a National
Standard. Everyone in the
country, from jets to L-birds now must comply; it doesn’t have anything
to do with the CAF except we live with it. Now, how do you get formation time without being formation rated in
a CAF airplane? That’s why I
made the grade book log sheets. Just
like as a Student Pilot, you flew with an instructor or Lead (in the same aircraft) that
can sign you off. ·
The OIP/Lead is the
rated individual (he must also be rated in the CAF aircraft, although
that’s between you guys and Eric or Bob). ·
You can log the time
in your grade book, get the IP’s initials on it, bring it to the next
clinic for proof of meeting the time requirement. ·
If you get recommended
for the check ride and pass, you’ll be issued a card. ·
It doesn’t say if
the 10 hours has to be 4 ship or 2 ship, although you will be checked in
the #4 position. I would also
advise against getting too dissimilar in your practice, it only makes it
harder. The rest
of this is a repeat of the last (February) update since there was so much
confusion and angst about what we are doing.
You can also look at the slides that have been prepared and are
elsewhere on this website for more of the same information in a different
presentation. Basically; we stayed with a lot of the old numbers. For example, the new Lead standard is 500 hours with a Private Pilot certificate; we kept it at 1000 hours with a Commercial certificate. There are several other changes which you can see in the slide show. Additionally, because of the changes we made to the FAST standard [and let me interject here; as a FAST signatory, we can do anything we want to the standard except reduce them – so, if you want a card with less than 500 hours or a Commercial license you could get an NATA card, not a TRARON card. With that NATA card you can fly formation in waivered airspace, however, under CAF rules you cannot fly a CAF owned aircraft in formation of any kind, we are also stating the following policy: There will be no more exchange or recognition of other signatory’s card without a check ride and compliance with the TRARON requirements being demonstrated. The 2-ship program is for aircraft which are few in number and do not gather regularly enough to get a 4-ship together. It does not apply to T-6s. Wingmen will be checked in the #4 position. While this varies through FAST, is has always been a way of doing things, but somebody had an issue because it wasn’t written that way – now it is. Check rides will occur only at clinics to ensure the FORMAL ground school portion is met. Eventually, in my copious free time, I’ll come up with a certificate of completion or something so we can change this back, but for right now… Since it was brought up at the FAST Board meeting (I thought it went without saying); the recommending Lead and the Check Pilot have to be two different people. The Check Pilot will fly in the aircraft with the ‘checkee’. And only certain Lead’s can recommend, they know who they are. There is another event happening, at HQ this time, in early June. Please check the “Future Clinics” page for details. AGAIN, WE NEED MORE CLINICS! All it takes is a 4-ship! TRARON will help with any local clinic you guys want to hold, we will get you instructors/check pilots. All it takes is a 4-ship and an airport willing to work with you. Ideally, you should plan on a ground school Friday evening and as much flying as you can get in on Saturday and Sunday. Anybody interested in more should contact me at skipperh@earthlink.net and please put "FAST" in the subject line before I spam you out. Skipper PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
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