How should aircraft in a formation be controlled?

Controlling aircraft in a formation as a single aircraft is crucial for maintaining safety and efficiency in air traffic management. When aircraft fly in formation, they typically maintain specific distances and formations relative to each other. Treating them as a single unit allows air traffic controllers to manage their spacing and coordination more effectively, reducing the risk of conflicts and ensuring a smoother flow of air traffic.

This approach simplifies communication and coordination, ensuring that all aircraft in the formation respond cohesively to air traffic control instructions. It also allows controllers to issue clearances and instructions that apply to the entire formation rather than dealing with each aircraft separately, improving operational efficiency.

While individual control can be necessary in some circumstances, especially if the formation is broken or if specific aircraft need to deviate from the formation for operational reasons, the ideal scenario for maintaining formation integrity and safety is to treat them collectively. This method is especially vital in circumstances like military operations or when conducting formation flying for airshows, where close coordination is essential.