Combat Edge articles from December 2005

Combat Edge archives from December 2005

OPERATION SAFE HOLIDAY.(ACCent on Safety)
December 1, 2005... What are your plans for this holiday season? Will you be traveling to visit family and friends? Are you deployed and accomplishing the mission? Regardless of where you are, I challenge you to make this holiday season the safest possible--call...

4 shots of fatigue.
December 1, 2005... Let's start off with an aviator-friendly quiz. Don't worry; it's only three questions and they've all been answered. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Question 1: How many USAF pilots would pound a few beers with breakfast before a...

Crew rest.
December 1, 2005... Crews are allowed 12 hours of non-duty time, to include 8 hours of "uninterrupted rest" prior to a flight. That means crewmembers have to complete mission planning and official business 12 hours prior to crew show time the following day. Those...

Too much going on.
December 1, 2005... Editor's Note: While the following account was not written by any of the participants, the event depicted actually occurred. It was my usual day at the office as an AWACS maintainer. I've been working this job for a few years and am pretty...

Holiday safety.
December 1, 2005... In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge is characterized as a neurotic, selfish, greedy workaholic with nothing but disdain for the poor that he employed. What many don't know is that while writing the piece, Dickens had...

Dropped BDU-50.
December 1, 2005... Most people are reminded of safety during Wing Safety Days or right after someone gets injured or damages a piece of equipment. That happens because human nature is what it is and people have a lot of things going on in their lives (i.e.,...

Civilian below the zone.
December 1, 2005... Breaking the law does not often require an invitation for formal attire, but Airmen at Eglin charged with driving under the influence can expect just that. When charged with a DUI, Airmen here are requested to show up in their service dress...

Bird Flu.
December 1, 2005... The questions and answers in this Advisory were adapted from information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of State. Travelers can minimize the health risks associated with the Bird Flu by avoiding...

Change in the frag.
December 1, 2005... Late on a Friday night after weeks and weeks of loading test munitions, the most experienced weapons load crew (after all they won six "Weapons Load Crew of the Quarter" competitions in a row) was dispatched for a last minute change to...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(Neal L. Neaderhiser)
December 1, 2005... On the morning of August 18, 2005, Maj Neaderhiser and A1C Sutton were operating an MQ-1 Predator in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. While prosecuting a target, Maj Neaderhiser and A1C Sutton experienced a return link failure. The crew...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(Brian M. Fox)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... SSgt Fox was performing an operational landing gear check on an RQ-4A aircraft when he noticed the right-hand nose landing gear door push-pull rod was disconnected. SSgt Fox checked the jacking procedures for disconnecting/reconnecting of the...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(Justin Yazza, senior sergeant)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... On August 30, 2005, at about 4:00 a.m., SSgt Yazza and two assistants were accomplishing a routine power-on check of navigation lights on a B-52H aircraft. The three maintainers noticed the aft navigation lights were non-operational and began...

Weapons safety: award of distinction.(Jay Futrell)
December 1, 2005... On August 13, 2005, SSgt Futrell and SrA Strom were serving on standby duty for the 2nd Bomb Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight when an emergency request for assistance came in from the local police department in Tool, Texas. An Alcohol,...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(Todd Berge )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... On September 4, 2005, Maj Berge was giving a T-38 check ride to a requal pilot at Whiteman AFB, Mo. As they were accomplishing the initial no flap touch and go, the examinee landed and pushed up the power for the touch and go. When the...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(Keith M. McDonald )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... SSgt McDonald has spearheaded the Commander's Safety program for the past 3 years. During that time, he has elevated the program to its highest standards ever, maintaining "zero" lost work days from mishaps. The 67th Information Operations Wing...

Unit safety: award of distinction.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The 5th Maintenance Group takes the Foreign Object Damage (FOD) issue seriously and it shows. With the 5th Bomb Wing Commander's declaration of FOD Week (August 8th to 12th), the group was off and running. To begin the week, the group held FOD...

ACC safety salutes superior performance.(Air Combat Command)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Capt Benjamin J. Schill F-16CJ Pilot 522nd Fighter Squadron 27th Fighter Wing Cannon AFB, N.M. Maj Patrick Guinee F-16 Instructor Pilot 134th Fighter Squadron 158th Fighter Wing Burlington IAP, Vt. ...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
December 1, 2005... Aircraft Notes Foreign Object Damage (FOD) has become the HOT topic and for good reason; it is almost always preventable! The problem crosses all lines -- contractors, maintainers, and aircrew. We have had everything from gear pins to...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2005... I JUS' LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I GOT ME ENUFF LIGHTS THIS YEAR TO REALLY MAKE A STATEMENT. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DECK THEM HALLS [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AIN'T SHE A...