Combat Edge articles from April 2004

Combat Edge archives from April 2004

Safety is our Combat Edge!(ACCent on Safety; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... When you think of safety, what comes to mind? Is it a group of "those guys" just filling time with another briefing about something that went wrong? Or is it an honest, open discussion of what you can do to prevent the next mishap? Is safety...

Teamwork saves eagle: ... had my shoulder harnesses not been locked, I probably would have smacked my face/mask into the glare shield.(air force accidents)
April 1, 2004... There I was... it was a clear night with some scattered clouds at about 20,000 feet. I was returning from a fairly boring Operation NOBLE EAGLE ONE sortie over the Western U.S., and you could see Mountain Home AFB from over 100 miles away....

Just say it: a new EA-6B Pilot completes his check ride with the low fuel light on ... to avoid a contest of wills.
April 1, 2004... A year had passed since arriving at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and I finally was getting my Naval Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) check in the EA-6B. I had completed the F-15E Replacement Training Unit...

Wounded Warthog: an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot safely landed her "Warthog" after it sustained significant damage from enemy fire.
April 1, 2004... An A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, deployed with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, safely landed her "Warthog" at a forward operating base after it sustained significant damage from enemy fire during a close air support mission over Baghdad. ...

Eye on safety.(Illustration)
April 1, 2004... What a grind SOUTHWEST ASIA--SSgt Richard Panepinto grinds down a weld for a roll-up door at a forward-deployed location Photo by SSgt Suzanne M. Jenkins Giving Hercules Props OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM--321st Maintenance...

Flightline safety: award of distinction.(Monthly Award Winners; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... While supporting advanced short-range air-to-air missile test and development, a QF-4G was the primary target aircraft for an unmanned live-fire mission. During pre-launch drone system checks, the drone experienced an uncommanded disengage...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(Monthly Award Winners; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... Capt Rueschhoff was instructing Low Altitude Step Down Training (LASDT) as part of an A-10 Basic Surface Attack Mission on the Poinsett Range. After completing a series of turns at 500 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), the flight reset their...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(Monthly Award Winners; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... Lt Col Quinn and his weapons system officer, Capt Mendieta, took off as the third aircraft of an F-15E 4-ship Night Surface Attack Tactics Mission to Dare County Range, N.C. They were loaded with two external fuel tanks and a SUU-20N with 6...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(Monthly Award Winners; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... During a routine phase inspection as the left wing area supervisor, SSgt Newton noticed that an excessive amount of repairs were required on the engine auxiliary inlet doors, hinges, and safety wiring of the exhaust screens due to...

Unit safety: award of distinction.(Monthly Award Winners)
April 1, 2004... The 33rd Combat Communications Squadron (33 CCS) prevents safety incidents through a proactive safety awareness and prevention program, which is evident from over 130 days since the last on-duty safety incident. Proactive measures include the...

Flight safety: award of the quarter.(Quarterly Award Winners; U.S. Air Force)
April 1, 2004... TSgt Campbell was observing Aft Optical Bench (AOB) maintenance in the Airborne Laser clean room when he noticed that current wire wrapping and securing did not appear to meet Air Force and contractor standards. He researched and suggested...

Ground safety: award of the quarter.(Quarterly Award Winners; U.S Air Force)
April 1, 2004... In response to a commander directive requiring all personnel to be trained prior to further All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and off-road motorcycle riding, MSgt Shipman established an off-road vehicle training program from scratch within 3 weeks. He...

Weapons safety: award of the quarter.(Quarterly Award Winners; Air Combat Command)
April 1, 2004... SSgt Dale's stringent safety program management and positive attitude has had an outstanding effect on the success of Air Combat Command's singular air-to-ground Weapon System Evaluation Program (A/G WSEP). This is evidenced by the 86th Fighter...

ACC FY 03 Annual Awards.(Air Combat Command)
April 1, 2004... NAF/DRU SAFETY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR 9th Air Force Shaw AFB, S.C. WING SAFETY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR 5th Bomb Wing Minot AFB, N.D. WING CHIEF OF SAFETY OF THE YEAR Lt Col Anthony N. Correro 2nd Bomb Wing ...

Something doesn't look right.(military aircraft accidents)
April 1, 2004... It was day 2 of a 3-day Phase II exercise. The F-15Cs had come back from their sorties, and the aircraft commanders had relayed back to the production super what they had expended. The load crews were briefed on the simulated expenditures and...

I'm still here.(motorcycle helmets)
April 1, 2004... Motorcycles were my thing as I grew up. I raced in motorcross competitions just about every week-end and worked for the shop that sponsored me. I fell often enough to learn the hard way that my helmet, gloves, elbow and shoulder pads, boots,...

Weapons safety.
April 1, 2004... How many newspaper articles or news stories have we all seen about non-intended fire-arm-related deaths or injuries? As I reflected on these, I realized all of them could have been prevented if only safety rules and common sense had been used....

Mishap statistics scoreboard.(military)
April 1, 2004... Aircraft Notes There were two Class As in February. An E-4 had an engine malfunction while airborne and a B-1 departed the runway on landing roll during inclement weather. Fortunately, we had no injuries and the airplanes are reparable....