Elephant Walk

Elephant Walk - Saturday 18 October

An Elephant Walk is basically a mass taxi of aircraft in a big congo line. The video below shows a massive Elephant Walk conducted by the Royal Thai Air Force, led by CT-4Es.

Although this is technically not a formation, and therefore formation endorsements for participating pilots are not required, it does require the coordination, discipline and teamwork of a regular formation.  And unlike the Royal Thai Air Force Walk, ours will be single file.

There will be a "mass briefing" for all prospective formation participants on Saturday at 13.45 sharp in the SFC Academy building. You must attend the briefing to participate. The "Ringmaster" is Bryan Greenfield.

Aircraft will be arranged in age order, oldest first, youngest last. You will be given a "Jumbo" callsign (eg, Jumbo 11). Only Airtourers, Aircruiser, and Airtrainers will be participating. There will be a discrete Elephant Walk taxi frequency, provided at the briefing. A ground marshall will be on this frequency. 

The route will be advised in detail at the briefing, but will be up taxiway Bravo to Charlie, down runway 12L, and back via Alpha and Bravo.

It is said that most formation incidents occur on the ground, so it is important to be extremely alert during the Walk. If possible, you should take a passenger to provide an extra set of eyes. At briefing, you will be given guidance for maintaining a consistent (but safe) space behind the preceding aircraft. There will also be a procedure for quickly vacating the runway in case of an incoming emergency services aircraft. Airservices are fully aware and entirely supportive of the Elephant Walk.