3 medium large transport aircraft on ferry flight flew formation over mdw airport.

Attributes
ACN	195033
Time
Date	199111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mdw
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	195033
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9300 flight time type : 880
ASRS Report	195032
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I don't know if this qualifies for NASA report since to my knowledge no rules were broke or aircraft operated in any unsafe manner. But hindsight being 20/20 I wouldn't do it again. We were ferrying 3 mlgs from mdw to okc. Prior to flight we discussed having a formation flight. It ended up with a V formation making a low pass across the mdw airport and departing to the east across town for a break up of the formation and to get our IFR separation. I don't think I would ever consider doing it again. With so many variables and possible restrictions the workload was extremely high. This could have led to many possible errors. Supplemental information from acn 195032. All 3 pics were ex-military pilots, familiar with formation procedures. The manager in charge of the transport of aircraft gave us permission to do a fly by in formation. The tower was coordinated and they coordinated with ATC to give us clearance for a right hand turn for our rendezvous.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 3 MLG ACFT ON FERRY FLT FLEW FORMATION OVER MDW ARPT.

Narrative: I DON'T KNOW IF THIS QUALIFIES FOR NASA RPT SINCE TO MY KNOWLEDGE NO RULES WERE BROKE OR ACFT OPERATED IN ANY UNSAFE MANNER. BUT HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20 I WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN. WE WERE FERRYING 3 MLGS FROM MDW TO OKC. PRIOR TO FLT WE DISCUSSED HAVING A FORMATION FLT. IT ENDED UP WITH A V FORMATION MAKING A LOW PASS ACROSS THE MDW ARPT AND DEPARTING TO THE E ACROSS TOWN FOR A BREAK UP OF THE FORMATION AND TO GET OUR IFR SEPARATION. I DON'T THINK I WOULD EVER CONSIDER DOING IT AGAIN. WITH SO MANY VARIABLES AND POSSIBLE RESTRICTIONS THE WORKLOAD WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO MANY POSSIBLE ERRORS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 195032. ALL 3 PICS WERE EX-MIL PLTS, FAMILIAR WITH FORMATION PROCS. THE MGR IN CHARGE OF THE TRANSPORT OF ACFT GAVE US PERMISSION TO DO A FLY BY IN FORMATION. THE TWR WAS COORDINATED AND THEY COORDINATED WITH ATC TO GIVE US CLRNC FOR A R HAND TURN FOR OUR RENDEZVOUS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.