Combat Edge articles from January 2007

Combat Edge archives from January 2007

Accent on safety: safety is about you!(Air Combat Command's safety measures)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Air Combat Command finished FY06 with the best Class A safety record in the 26 year combined history of ACC and TAC. FY06 is the fifth straight year with ZERO Class A weapons mishaps, and Class A flight and ground mishaps were down 67 and 30...

Cool heads.
January 1, 2007... With the arrival of winter, thoughts of many turn to planning the next ski trip. The Air Force is fortunate enough to have bases located in many prime locations with close proximity to some of America's best snowfields. Among our servicemen and...

Artic blunders.(fighter pilots)
January 1, 2007... Any good fighter pilot story starts with "There I was... ," so... There I was, doing mission prep for a simple two-ship red air sortie for the 3rd Wing's operational readiness inspection. Our Eielson F-16s were fragged as the second two-ship...

Listen to ATIS.(Automatic Terminal Information System)
January 1, 2007... Most aviators are familiar with the Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS), but are you familiar with the technique of listening to ATIS just for the weather and the alphabetic identifier? It's a bad technique and it could easily lead to...

A picture is worth 1,000 words.
January 1, 2007... The morning of Nov 28, 2005 started out like any other Monday morning in a small Alabama town. Even the weather said it was a Monday as it was a rainy, dreary day. The individual I am telling you about fed their cat, turned off the lights at...

101 Critical Days of Summer review.(aircraft safety)
January 1, 2007... Airmen Supporting Airmen and Wingman programs continue to be successful formulas in Air Combat Command's (ACC's) mishap prevention strategy. For the second straight year, ACC has successfully reduced its fatal mishaps from the previous year;...

Element deconfliction redux.
January 1, 2007... The USAF is losing too many aircraft and pilots to midair collision because we are using an outdated element deconfliction plan. We've always told the yielding fighter "don't hit your element mate," and that's a good thing. Unfortunately, we...

Flight Line Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... AB-52 taxied to the north hammer head prior to take-off. While parked on the hammer head, the aircrew radioed in with a forward battery "end of life" light illuminated. A1C Burns quickly responded and waited while the crew chiefs chocked the...

Pilot Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Neil D. Lisowski)
January 1, 2007... Lt Lisowski flew his first ever night combat sortie over the historic Hindu-Kush mountain range in Northeastern Afghanistan with peaks reaching 24,000 feet. The weather forecast called for a broken ceiling at 22,000 feet, moon illumination of...

Weapons Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Annella M. Ortiz)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... SSgt Ortiz distinguished herself in the area of Weapons Safety. Her duties include, among others, Stockpile Surveillance Crew Chief, Munitions Inspector, and Flight Ground and Weapons Safety Monitor. SSgt Ortiz was performing a shipping...

Unit Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The 29th Training Systems Squadron (TSS) is tasked to provide testing and certification of Aircrew Training devices worldwide for the Combat Air Forces. The unit manages over 15 unique safety programs. The unit's hard work paid off when they...

Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS)
January 1, 2007... Maj Peck and Capt Colson were flying a routine T-38 training mission under visual meteorological conditions. After performing a touch and go on Rwy 15 at Beale AFB, the Front Cockpit (FCP) transferred control to the Rear Cockpit (RCP) at...

ACC safety salutes superior performance.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... EIGHTH AIR FORCE 5th Maint Sq Propulsion Flight 5th Bomb Wing Minot AFB, N.D. Capt Benjamin S. Gallagher Chief, Flight Safety 5th Bomb Wing Minot AFB, N.D. Mr. Daniel J. Heald Safety and Occupational...

Weapons Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... As Additional Duty Weapons Safety Manager, SSgt Cavazos totally revamped the weapons safety program management book and performed a multitude of spot inspections ensuring strict adherence to all weapons safety directives. His tireless efforts...

Ground Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(James L. Gregoire)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Mr. Gregoire's safety leadership earned his squadron the #1 ranking out of 46 wing units for the second straight year winning the 53rd Wing Commander's 2006 Safety Cup Challenge! During this 3-month effort, squadron members created 25 safety...

Flight Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)
January 1, 2007... Using his maintenance expertise and safety acumen, MSgt Bates identified and then mitigated the risks for over $2B in 27th Fighter Wing assets. MSgt Bates' actions have been particularly important to mishap prevention and education of assigned...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.(accidents at the Air Combat Command)
January 1, 2007... Aircraft Notes ACC had no Class A mishaps in November. We wrapped up a record year in FY 06--but a close look at bottom line causes is revealing. Aviators plan for missions with inexperienced wingmen, copilots, or crewmembers, and hence,...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
January 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Basketball injury prevention.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... * A conditioning program with emphasis on aerobic and muscular fitness training should be implemented prior to the beginning of basketball season. * Begin gradually participating in activities specific to basketball, such as motor skill...