Combat Edge articles from April 2006

Combat Edge archives from April 2006

Setting the record straight.(Correction notice)
April 1, 2006... The article, "Not Your Routine Commander's Call," printed in the March 2006 edition was written by 1Lt Tammie Adams with the 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office and not Mr. Vincent Dotson. We apologize for the error.

23 years of reflection.(ACCent on Safety; Air Combat Command safety)
April 1, 2006... It really is amazing how quickly time passes. After nearly four years in ACC Flight Safety, and 23 in the Air Force, it is time for me to move on. This has been a great opportunity to visit some parts of ACC I might have missed before getting...

Birds can be stupid too!
April 1, 2006... You have to fly smart when birds are in your area of operations. Birds fly in front of airplanes all the time: on runways or as aircraft are on final or flying low level at high speed. You can't predict how a bird will react to an aircraft....

BASH Lab: the Cattle Egret "enemy numero uno" impact points.
April 1, 2006... Diego Garcia is a small, isolated outpost in the Indian Ocean at the forefront in the war on terrorism. Smooth, hazard-free flight operations at Diego are essential in order for the aircraft deployed here to support ops "in-country." But before...

Trash & BASH.(Bird Avoidance Strike Hazard)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Within our new base boundary fence-line, you can find food, water, and shelter... everything required to sustain wildlife. The objective of this article is an attempt to create a safer working environment for all of us here at Homestead ARB....

Battle of the birds.
April 1, 2006... One $205 million, 500,000-pound, state-of-the-art cargo jet met its match with a-dime-a-dozen, 2-pound bird. An Air Force Reserve C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from the 446th Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., safely landed their...

T-38 convertible.
April 1, 2006... T-38 Talons don't make good convertibles. But mine turned into one after a bird struck the canopy while the aircraft was in flight. I was flying on a routine training mission from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, with 2Lt Joshua Andrews, a...

Eye on safety.
April 1, 2006... Hidden devices IRAQ -- Staff Sgt James Richey, Jr., walks Jacco around a vehicle with suspected hidden improvised explosive devices. Sergeant Richey is deployed from the 96th Security Forces Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air...

Think of safety first.
April 1, 2006... Keeping Airmen here safe is not a task taken lightly by the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's ground safety office. "Our job is to prevent the loss of life or damage to government equipment," said Tech Sgt Clyde Lathon, 332nd AEW ground safety...

Weight lifting safety.
April 1, 2006... For those of you who aren't familiar with the gym or weight lifting, here are some basic safety tips to use before, during, and after your exercise session is over. If you're really unfamiliar with the gym, but want to start weight lifting or...

Trapped in a weight room.
April 1, 2006... Editor's note: Providing your body the proper hydration, rest, nutrition, and preparation can go a long way toward making your workout a productive one. The following author would probably include setting aside adequate time for your workout,...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Poker 1, a flight of four F-16s, was returning to Nellis AFB. As they approached the base turn, spacing and sequencing appeared normal. The first two F-16s (Poker 1 and 2) had just landed uneventfully. It wasn't until Poker 4 began his base...

Weapons safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SrA Ewan was temporarily performing Stockpile Surveillance dispatch duties due to a brief manning shortage. He received a phone call from one of our newest courtesy storage accounts: US Navy Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 114. The Naval...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS; Vidal S. Garza, John P. Verbanick, Jeffrey E. Keim)
April 1, 2006... The crew was returning to home station when a quick and complete failure of the hydraulic number two system occurred just as the B-1 aircraft was maneuvering to a base turn on approach. The simultaneous failure of the hydraulic quantity and...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Capt Fisher distinguished himself by safely handling a challenging in-flight emergency in which he experienced both an antiskid malfunction light and a main generator failure in his F-16. While on takeoff roll at night, Capt Fisher experienced...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS; Robert Ritter, Trinity Moen, Cordell Blair )
April 1, 2006... SSgt Zimmerman, SSgt Moen, SSgt Ritter, and A1C Blair responded to reports of widespread power outages across Barksdale AFB as a result of severe thunderstorms that rumbled through the area in the late evening hours. The severe storms wreaked...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SrA Gessner was performing the A-man position for hot-pit operations to support a 389 AMU sortie surge. At approximately 1330, an F-16CJ aircraft was marshaled into position and the B-man was directed to hook up the fuel hose, a...

Unit safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS; 9th Physiological Support Squadron 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif. )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Due to an extreme deployment schedule, each of the photographed individuals has rotated the Unit Safety Representative and alternate Unit Safety Representative positions, and are responsible for the safety of 130 personnel locally and at four...

ACC safety salutes superior performance.(Air Combat Command)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Maj Jarred R. Evans Chief of Flight Safety 2nd Bomb Wing Barksdale AFB, La. SSgt Martin G. Gonzales Stockpile Surveillance Crew Chief 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron 355th Wing Davis-Monthan AFB,...

Flight safety: award of the quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)
April 1, 2006... This quarter, MSgt Oswald researched and zealously distributed guidelines for gathering bird remains to minimize the potential threat of avian flu. His proactive efforts expedited the rapid distribution of guidelines through the Air Force...

Ground safety: award of the quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... MSgt Kelly made numerous contributions to ACC's ground safety program. He was selected by HQ ACC/SE to rewrite ACC's Ground Safety Program Management (GSPM) course that addresses all aspects of ground safety program management. He updated the...

Weapons safety: award of the quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)
April 1, 2006... TSgt Petelo deployed as the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) Weapons Safety Manager to Bagram AB, Afghanistan. His responsibilities also included vital weapons safety training and program oversight for the geographically-separated 451 AEG at...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
April 1, 2006... Aircraft Notes ACC had two Class A mishaps this month and one close call. Two involved aborts and the third was in the landing phase. It's a reminder for all of us to think over what we are going to do in those takeoff and landing...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... TINY...? WHAT IN SAM'S HILL ARE YOU DOING ON THAT DANGEROUS THING? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DANGEROUS TO YOU, YES. BUT IN THE HAND OF AN EXPERT HANDLER LIKE ME... . [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHO,...