Combat Edge articles from January 2008

Combat Edge archives from January 2008

Accent on safety: are you a leader?(Report)
January 1, 2008... The Air Force is looking for good leaders. Are you up to the task? A recent study defined leaders as those who "arouse, engage, and satisfy the motives of followers" to "realize goals mutually held by leaders and followers." You can be a leader...

I only had a couple.
January 1, 2008... As a ground safety manager, I've been alarmed at an increase in Air Force Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) incidents. Why are DWIs on the rise in the Air Force? Well as everyone should know, there is no one single answer to this question....

Complacency kills.(Report)
January 1, 2008... We have all heard the phrase "only human." Yes, it is true that people by nature are going to make mistakes, and therefore, we will never completely eliminate human error; but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't make the utmost effort to...

There I was ...(Red Flag)
January 1, 2008... ... day three of a 45-day TDY to Nellis AFB for yet another Red Flag. By all accounts, it was to be just another flag. Crazy hours, maintenance putting up sorties and pilots flying to bring home the honor for their squadrons. For those of you...

See and avoid!
January 1, 2008... As a general aviation pilot, I fly through Military Operating Areas (MOAs)! Since I use my GPS moving map display, I can fly right along the border of a restricted area. I've even flown across the entire USA without talking to a soul. I fly...

Proposed-BASH program.(Bird Avoidance Strike Hazard )
January 1, 2008... You know you really love the U.S. Air Force when you find yourself driving out to the base sewage lagoons at o'dark thirty to turn on the "bird scare" cannons as your buds, who are on the flying schedule, start turning over their motors for...

110 percent.(Air Force personnels and the cause of their injuries and death)
January 1, 2008... Sports and recreation, as well as motorcycle and automobile mishaps, have been the most common sources of injury and death per capita for several years in the Air Force, and those under the age of 30 make up a disproportionate number of those...

Flight Line Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... TSgt Curtis, SSgt Haiflich, SSgt Haber, SSgt Foy, and SrA Burns were performing F-16 fuel system maintenance supporting conduct of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM at Balad AB. They noticed a burning smell coming from the aircraft vicinity and began to...

Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Mission was planned as a HC-130P NVG low-level to a training airdrop, multiple tactical self-contained approaches, assault landings, and max effort takeoffs. The crew found no discrepancies during their pre-flight walk around inspections and...

Ground Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... SrA Kummerfeldt designed and constructed a new Emergency Parachute Training (EPT) apparatus that enhanced training realism and safety. He proactively acquired safety mats nearly doubling the minimum requirements while safely training 150...

Pilot Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)
January 1, 2008... Lt Col Jens experienced a serious engine malfunction while flying an F-16 near Balad AB in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. During counter mortar/rocket/IED operations over hostile territory, the master caution light illuminated. Col Jens...

Unit Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Workers in the 5th Maintenance Squadron identified several areas that were endangering their workers: Strontium Chromate levels that were 80 times above AFOSH standards; airborne particles that were 50 percent above occupational exposure...

Weapons Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... SSgt Davila and SrA Brennan were working in a Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS) at Balad AB, Iraq, They heard three loud pops and saw three MJU-7 flares ricocheting under a combat-loaded F-16CJ aircraft. Sgt Davila caught Amn Brennan's attention,...

Crew Chief Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- OCTOBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... During his meticulous execution of an F-16 Post Flight Inspection, SSgt Jagodzinski found a broken switch. The damaged switch, the Idle Throttle Reduction Toggle Switch, was lodged in the F-16 ACES II ejection seat. Wedged in the left crevice...

ACC safety salutes superior performance.(Brief article)(List)
January 1, 2008... EIGHTH AIR FORCE Maj Mark Hopson Capt Keegan McConaughey 1Lt Scott Graves Capt Chris Young SSgt Robert Howard SSgt Philip Thompson MSgt Derek Ronning A1C Nicholas Brown A1C Michael Masys A1C...

Unit Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- NOVEMBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... 2nd Operations Support Squadron personnel are extremely active in preventing mishaps and preserving valuable assets. They discovered missing aircrew safety equipment during a post-flight inspection--averted foreign object hazard after aircraft...

Weapons Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- NOVEMBER)(Report)
January 1, 2008... MSgt Harkins' experience and sound judgment prevented potential aircrew injury or aircraft damage. He was the Flight Engineer (FE) in the lead HH-60G, call sign Sting 1, on a 2-ship NVG sortie. While performing gunnery, Sting 2 experienced a...

Pilot Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- NOVEMBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Maj Litvan experienced a serious engine malfunction while flying an F-16 near Balad AB in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. During a routine systems check after air refueling over hostile territory, Maj Litvan noticed three engine Maintenance...

Unit Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- NOVEMBER)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The Flight Safety office is responsible for ensuring safety for ACC's largest programmed Flying Training unit. They implemented a FOD prevention of weekly FOD walks with their associated aircraft maintenance unit. Earned inaugural quarterly...

Weapons Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... TSgt Wilds led a team of 13 technicians, relocated 240K munitions items, and mitigated inherent risks to non-related civilians. He orchestrated the movement of 176 short-tons of munitions; completed project in 8 hours with zero mission impact....

Ground Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... TSgt Cilia was handpicked by COMACC as the investigating officer for a $2.5M F-22 mishap and uncovered maintenance data that provided solid recommendations. His performance during two Air Combat Command Safety evaluations ensured the Safety...

Flight Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Capt Thaler is an F-22 pilot and the Chief of Flight Safety at the first combat-ready F-22 base in CAF. He spearheaded the reigning "1 FW Team Excellence Award" winning Flight Safety. Capt Thaler has excelled as Chief of Flight Safety despite a...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
January 1, 2008... Aircraft Notes ACC experienced two Class A aviation mishaps and two ACC-gained Class A mishaps in November. An F-22A engine was damaged by FOD when a piece of the intake coating was ingested by the engine during flight. The damage was...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
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