How should formation flights be controlled until separation is established?

In formation flying, controlling the group as a single aircraft simplifies coordination and communication among the participating aircraft. This means that until separation is established, air traffic control treats the formation as one entity. This approach facilitates clearer instructions and better situational awareness, reducing the risk of miscommunication that could occur if each aircraft were treated individually.

When a formation is viewed as a single aircraft, it allows for more efficient management of airspace and helps maintain the integrity of the group's flight path. This is particularly important during critical phases such as takeoff, landing, or navigating through controlled airspace, where maintaining formation integrity is paramount for safety.

The other options suggest treating the aircraft as separate individuals, which can lead to confusion and a greater chance of separation violations or interference with each other’s flight paths. This would unnecessarily complicate the situation and potentially increase the workload for both the pilots and air traffic controllers during the critical points of the flight.