Combat Edge articles from August 2002

Combat Edge archives from August 2002

Margin for safety. (Accent on safety).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... When I started flying, I was taught to always leave myself an out... to plan my attacks or execute maneuvers with an "escape window" or an adequate safety margin. All too often today we tragically find that our ACC folks plan their...

That was close!(avoiding accidents)
August 1, 2002... What's the difference between experience and luck? I still remember one of my first instructor pilots telling us that we had all been issued with two bags when we walked in the gate at Laughlin AFB, Texas -- one for luck (which was full) and...

Chutes packed by professionals.
August 1, 2002... Each day thousands of pilots trust their lives to people they do not even know. This trust exists because we in the Air Force adhere to a strict set of procedures designed to protect the lives of all involved. When a pilot steps for a mission,...

"On course, on glidepath...".(inaccurate instructions from air traffic control)
August 1, 2002... My crew and I were recovering our KC-135 into Nellis AFB, Nev., after participating in a rather uneventful Red Flag sortie on the Red Air side. It was mid-afternoon, the skies were clear, the descent checklist was complete, and Nellis was...

Are you fit for combat?(nausea during high-velocity flight)
August 1, 2002... For those of us who have endured a G-induced Loss of Consciousness (GLOC), the experience might be described by the title of the Steppenwolf "classic" rock song, Magic Carpet Ride. One moment you are going about your business in a hard turn,...

Pilot safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).
August 1, 2002... Capt Diane E. Vitas 74th Figher Squadron 23rd Fighter Group, Pope AFB, N.C. While her A-10 was passing 4,000 feet mean sea level during departure for a local night sortie, Capt Vitas noticed the left fuel flow gauge fluctuating plus/minus...

Ground safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... SrA Justin A. Caldeira 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron 366th Wing, Mt. Home AFB, Idaho SrA Justin Caldeira was performing an operational inspection check on a liquid cooling servicing cart in accordance with technical data. The unit...

Aircrew safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Maj Rick Moses, Capts Rich Rosa and Oswald Medley, and Lt Christopher Papa, 388th Combat Training Squadron, 55th Wing, Offutl AFB, Neb. Shortly after initial takeoff, during a night sortie the crew of an RC-135 noticed small fluctuations...

Flightline safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... MSgt Anthony L. Iserninger 388th Component Repair Squadron 55th Wing Offutt AEB, Neb. An F-16 landed with engine faults indicating a high delta T-4B (turbine temperature). The fighter squadron engine technicians initiated the...

Range explosives beware!!
August 1, 2002... How many of you have actually been to some type of explosives range? Did you have a job to do once on the range? Were you able to complete your task without incident? Did you know that it does not always turn out that way? Because people are...

DUI Impact.(driving under the influence of alcohol)
August 1, 2002... You already read the headline. You already know drinking and driving is bad. But have you ever had a drunk driver slam into you? No? It's a train that crashes through your living room, destroying your life. Drinking and driving changed...

Staying alive in the desert.
August 1, 2002... A great thing about the west, in addition to its out doors of the South- beauty, is the vastness and that can be found. With minimal driving and even less hiking, individuals can find themselves far from the hustle of civilization. This is...

We forget to use our ORM.
August 1, 2002... I tallied our accident reports from a recent squadron trip and found that we had one broken leg, one broken toe, one twisted ankle, one twisted knee, one choking incident, one possible frostbite, and three vehicle mishaps. Each mishap occurred...

Reflective gear.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2002... Accidents caused from not wearing or improperly wearing reflective gear are infrequent but still occur to Air Force personnel. In my 22 years, I have heard of several people being injured by motor vehicles because they were not wearing...

Services: on the job hazards.
August 1, 2002... The food service environment is one filled with a wide assortment of potential safety hazards. Through ORM these dangers can be minimized, but the nature of the business makes it difficult to eliminate them. Often meal production is delayed by...

Mishap statistics.(military aircraft)
August 1, 2002... Mishap Statistics FY02 Aircraft As of July 1, 2002 Fatality Class A 8 AF ** ** * # 9 AF @@ 12 AF ^ ** && && AWFC ...