Combat Edge articles from March 2003

Combat Edge archives from March 2003

ACCent on safety.(military pilots)
March 1, 2003... THE COMBAT EDGE's lead-off article this month is a special message from COMACC reminding us that it's each aviator's responsibility to "make the call" if ever in doubt that they are not in total control of their flight. These are certainly...

"Making the Call": if there is any doubt about whether or not you are in total control, "make the call" for yourself, your crew, or the flight.
March 1, 2003... We haven't had a Combat Air Force (CAF) aircraft combat loss since Operation ALLIED FORCE. Similarly, we have had only one CAF flight related combat fatality since Operation DESERT STORM. In the same time period we have lost 274 CAF aircraft in...

DACT good...thunderstorm bad! The mission was a 2 v 2 Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) mission with Langley F-15s against two F-14s from oceana naval air station.
March 1, 2003... The weather was clear and a million with the possibility of area thunderstorms. The fights went great! We had three engagements and managed to target all of the Tomcats without losing an Eagle. Now it was time to go home. After rejoining...

ORM keeps us safe.(Operational Risk Management )
March 1, 2003... Teeth chatter, hands shake, even bones ache through cold-weather gloves. While almost all North Dakota wildlife is in hiding, and most people here are sheltered indoors from the subzero temperatures and brutal 40 mph winds, 319th Aircraft...

Substly exchanging electrons: T-1 gets zapped in lightning storm.
March 1, 2003... It was supposed to be an uneventful pilot training sortie in the comfortable T-1A. "Comfortable" would have to wait for the La-Z-Boy recliner and wide-screen TV at home. The mission started from Columbus Air Force Base, Miss, as a 3-hour...

Moving ammo in the winter.
March 1, 2003... This is a munitions tale from the great white North. It involves an inherently safe munition, but has the potential to affect any unit moving ammo in freezing weather. The place is Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland. While the scope of...

Weapons safety.
March 1, 2003... How many newspaper articles or news stories have we all seen about non-intended firearm-related deaths or injuries? As I reflected on these, I realized all of them could have been prevented if only safety rules and common sense had been used....

Pilot safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Captain Schluter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Capt Schluter was flying an F-16C as #1 of a 2-ship Basic Surface Attack (BSA) sortie in the North UTTR. While orbiting over a target area at 11,000 feet MSL and 300 KIAS, Capt Schluter felt a thud followed by a persistent vibration....

Flightline safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).
March 1, 2003... On Oct. 16, 2002, at approximately 1500, SrA Carter, an assistant dedicated crew chief, was dispatched to change a Constant Speed Drive (CSD) filter on an F-16 aircraft. Upon opening the CSD panel, he noticed a nut and washer fall to the...

Ground safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... While performing routine inspections, SSgt Severson discovered that the removal of asbestos brakes on 102 munitions handling trailers had not been properly documented. This caused a complete work stoppage. His expedient coordination with...

Weapons safety award of distinction. (Monthly Award Winners).(quick thinking, knowledge of safety procedures averts possible explosion)
March 1, 2003... On Nov.19, 2002, while performing his walk-through in preparation of the day's activities in the Munitions Inspection bay, TSgt Morrell smelled what he thought to be an odor normally associated with natural gas. Without hesitation, he rushed...

Crew chief safety award of distinction. (Monthly and Quarterly Award Winners).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... On Oct. 11, 2002, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the 34 AMU was launching their aircraft in support of a local exercise. All but four aircraft had taxied out of their parking spots when the tower gave permission for the last aircraft to proceed to...

Aircrew safety award of distinction. (Monthly and Quarterly Award Winners).(crew of UAV ensured safe return of troubled aircraft)
March 1, 2003... On Dec. 9, 2002, the crew of an RQ-1 B Predator UAV, departed for a 17-hour combat mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Twelve hours into the mission, the pilot noticed a substantial decrease in oil quantity during...

Don't Be Stupid! Bikers are often a "breed" all unto their own. I'm a biker who loves to get out on the roads on the weekend.(motocyclists getting into accidents)
March 1, 2003... It's one of those things that just makes me feel good. I love to ride horses, so riding a mechanical one was just the next natural step. I've been doing so for nearly 20 years. I know you bikers know what I'm talking about. There's a freedom in...

Hit by a tractor trailer.(author tells story of traffic accident)
March 1, 2003... It was a beautiful October Friday at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. I was planning to go see my parents in Alabama and pick up my son who was visiting them. I was not looking forward to the 12-hour drive because it's a pretty boring one, but I...

But I only had a couple.(blood alcohol tests)
March 1, 2003... 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....

The ACC lost squadron.(accidents in the Air Force)
March 1, 2003... October 12, 2002: A 20-year-old A1C and a 21-year-old passenger were killed when the A1C, under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix while traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle skidded and collided with...

Aircraft notes. (Mishap Statistics Scoreboard).(no operator caused Class A accidents among aviators)(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Congratulations to all the aviators out there! We made it through January with no operator caused Class As. The first month this year. We did, however, have 2 flight Class As, 1 rate producer and 1 non-rate producer. On Jan. 1st we lost a...

Ground notes. (Mishap Statistics Scoreboard).(all ground Class A mishaps reported as of 1/31/03 involved motor vehicles)(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... As of January 31, 2003, there have been 10 Class A mishaps resulting in 10 deaths and one permanent total disability. All have involved motor vehicles, 7 PMV4 and 3 PMV2. Several mishaps are still under investigation; however, three mishaps did...

Weapons notes. (Mishap Statistics Scoreboard).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Due to the vigilance of dedicated Weapons Safety Managers and proactive supervisors, we completed the first quarter of FY03 without any Class A, B, or C mishaps. Continued monitoring of maintenance and handling operations will help to prevent...