Combat Edge articles from July 2007

Combat Edge archives from July 2007

ACCent on Safety: I want to live.
July 1, 2007... I'm honored to write the "ACCent on Safety" this month with a focus on the "101 Critical Days of Summer." The timing was perfect to share some words before my upcoming retirement later this fall. I've spent almost 26 years in an Air Force...

A fighter pilot' sunset.
July 1, 2007... The last thing a fighter pilot does before dying is jerk up his or her knees, squeeze his or her elbows into their ribs and bend at the waist--the fetal position. Nobody teaches this. It is involuntary, a reflex, a primal act that says, "This...

Independence day is every day.(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The 4th of July. The very image evokes visions of fireworks, barbeques and people all over the country celebrating the freedoms that make this country great. I know what you are thinking. You think you're about to scan this article and see...

Fireworks safety what not to do.
July 1, 2007... Good results are not always based on good decisions. Sometimes, people just get lucky. The story I'm about to tell you goes into the "Did your mother produce any kids with a brain?" category. Kids, the following stunt was performed by a...

Shocking sting.
July 1, 2007... Have you ever been working on your garden when suddenly you are being stung by a wasp? Or ever stepped on an ant right inside your home? How about giving your child a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? These are every day events that more than...

Take two habits, and call me in the morning.
July 1, 2007... Moments after we called number one on a calm spring morning, tower cleared my KC-135 for takeoff. It occurred just as I was talking over interphone to another crewmember, so the first part of tower's transmission was difficult to understand. My...

What if ...
July 1, 2007... We have all heard about it, seen it, or known it ourselves: the "what if" variable. In some way or another, it touches each of our lives every day. Tragically, I have become more familiar than I ever wanted to be with this "what if" factor in...

"What we have here is a failure to communicate".
July 1, 2007... We've all heard the expression "putting the cart ahead of the horse." It seems that we do that quite frequently by not following Tech Orders, Air Force Instruction, etc., just to hurry task completion. Now, I know you're thinking, "Here's...

The perfect shoe.
July 1, 2007... With the spring season right behind us, most of us will have dusted off the old running shoes in support of our outdoor activities. Running is an inexpensive and convenient form of exercise that is associated with many positive health benefits....

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... While performing a pre-engine run inspection, Mr. Goodly discovered fuel leaking from the lower forward fuselage area of the aircraft. He immediately began to troubleshoot, and determined the engine had to be removed to identify the location of...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)
July 1, 2007... Capt Hargis was leading an A/OA-10 flight in the Barry M. Goldwater Range on a tactical night targeting pod upgrade sortie. While on the tactical range, Capt Hargis was performing a safe escape maneuver following a 30mm gun pass when his Master...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... TSgt McKee and SSgt Amirault arrived into the combat AOR as a "plus up" with no unit program or infrastructure in place. Assuming responsibility for their unit's safety program while deployed into a combat AOR and enduring almost daily indirect...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)
July 1, 2007... The Predator Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) at Balad Air Base, Iraq, was set to receive an MQ-1 Predator for a routine landing. They received word from the Predator Operations Center (POC) at Nellis AFB that the inbound aircraft was having...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)
July 1, 2007... Hazard 51, a C-130, declared an emergency and relayed that his right main landing gear indicated it was in the retracted position. Due to the nature of this emergency, the Dyess control tower team coordinated with the 317 Airlift Group (AG)...

Weapons safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - APRIL)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... SSgt Miller, SSgt Welch, and SrA Dear were performing a maintenance procedure on an A-10 aircraft when they discovered 30mm propellant/residue from the gun system. While verifying the rounds limiter setting, Sgt Miller noticed loose propellant...

ACC safety salutes superior performance.(air combat command)
July 1, 2007... Eighth Air Force Lt Col Blake K. Smith 99th Reconnaissance Squadron 9th Reconnaissance Wing Beale AFB, Calif. Maj Jeremy P. Potvin Lt Col Bourke B. Milligan 99th Reconnaissance Squadron 9th Reconnaissance...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... SSgt Marion, demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and leadership in preventing a potential catastrophic failure of a B-52 Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Suite. While observing a shift turnover of tools and equipment, Sgt Marion...

Ground safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... 1Lt Nelson and TSgt McClain teamed up to produce and present several safety briefings, including the Quarterly Fly Safe briefing. Lt Nelson also played an integral role in the implementation of a new 963 AACS copilot program that incorporates a...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... After 2 hours of manual flying due to a malfunctioning autopilot and en route to an exercise reconnaissance orbit area at Flight Level 280, Capt Perrow and his cockpit crew noticed the number 2 engine "COMP HOT" light illuminate, indicating...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The recovery team for an E-3 responded to a ground emergency upon returning from a certifying training mission. During aircraft engine shut-down procedures, TSgt Burke and SSgt Nielsen identified a significant hydraulic fluid leak, originating...

Weapons safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... During a routine demolition training operation, SrA Ryan Wilkinson noticed a possible ordnance item buried near the explosive holding area; approximately one inch of rusted metal was visible above the surface. He immediately called a halt to...

Unit safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)
July 1, 2007... The 332 EAMDS preventive medicine (PM) team has implemented numerous protective measures in support of coalition forces in central Iraq. The team trained and equipped flight surgeons for night MEDEVAC missions transporting critical patients....

Weapons safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... MSgt Jones and SSgt Bozsoki abated the risk to 8,000 Coalition Forces by inspecting, making safe and storing over 5,000 rockets, grenades and ammunition rounds secured from a contractor living quarter's raid. In less than 2 hours, they also...

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS - MAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... During a mission in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Maj Bright and A1C Austin assumed control of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) via satellite link after the launch and recovery element (LRE) performed the takeoff. The aircrew's...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.(List)
July 1, 2007... Aircraft Notes ACC experienced two Class A mishaps in May. An ANG F-15D crashed during a BFM sortie. The pilot ejected safely (no passenger). A U-2S suffered Class A damage in the AOR with no injuries. Take a moment this month to thank...

Fleagle.
July 1, 2007... WHAT ARE YOU FIXIN' TO DO? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'M GOIN' FOR A RUN. IN THIS HEAT? YOU CRAZY? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TELL HIM, TINY. DON'T WORRY 'BOUT 'EM. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BUT IT'S HOT, AND.... ...