Combat Edge articles from March 2007

Combat Edge archives from March 2007

Accent on safety: do you have a plan?(military pilots, bad weather flight)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... We've all been there. Safe and secure in our knowledge that given today's technology the weather forecaster can't be wrong. We make our plans and step out the door with the best information we have available. The only flaw in our logic is the...

Be safety vigilant through deployment.
March 1, 2007... I want to send a message to everyone, "we, in the safety office, want you to return home to your friends and family the same way you deployed to this location." We want you to remember the last statement you made to your friends or family...

Too hot to deploy?(deployed soldiers, weather conditions)
March 1, 2007... One factor you will have to consider when you're deployed is the different climates and meteorological conditions you and your fellow workers will have to deal with. One of the most demanding environmental conditions will be working in areas of...

Watch your toes!
March 1, 2007... While deployed as the Ground Safety Manager (GSM) for the 506th Air Expeditionary Group at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, June through September 2004, I had the unique opportunity to see many of the Air Force's finest troops practicing safety while...

Munitions displays: a necessary evil?
March 1, 2007... Do you have inert munitions on display in your work area? If so, do you know their origin and why you have them? Are you confident they're all inert or empty? Ever picked up an unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the range and kept it as a souvenir?...

My first (and last) landing in a Tropical Storm.
March 1, 2007... My first assignment out of pilot training was as a C-130 copilot at Clark AB, Philippines. Talk about a great assignment, not only was it a beautiful country to live in, we got to fly in some incredible countries all throughout the Pacific. It...

Weather decisions the fly: between April and September 2006 ACC experienced 8 reportable weather incidents with damage to 16 aircraft.
March 1, 2007... The mountains glowed orange in the east as the sun rose on the cool, Utah morning. After 2 weeks of Combat Hammer at Hill AFB, we prepared to return to our home base on the east coast. I was the flight lead, #1 of six F-15Es with another six...

Interesting facts.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Interesting Facts: * Thunderstorms happen nationwide (even in Alaska), but Florida has the most with 80 to 100+ thunderstorm days a year. * One inch of rain over one square mile equals 17.4 million gallons of water weighing 143 million...

6,000-mile road trip.
March 1, 2007... EVERY MOTORCYCLIST looks forward to hitting the road, whether for the commute to work, or in my case, a 2-week vacation to visit family in Maine. I knew the 6,000-mile round trip from Arizona and back would be a road trip of a whole different...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.
March 1, 2007... SrA Lohman was performing a routine basic postflight/preflight operations inspection on an F-117A aircraft. As he walked around the aircraft, he manually raised all the flight controls to check for any binding, chaffing, or unusual noises. He...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Capt Thomson was flying as #2 of a two-ship of F-16s on an Operation IRAQI FREEDOM close air support combat sortie. After working with ground forces for approximately 30 minutes, Capt Thomson and his flight lead proceeded to the air refueling...

Weapons Safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... MSgt Brown, showed superb performance in a continuous manner in all aspects of munitions awareness and safety while serving as primary Additional Duty Weapons Safety Representative for the Survival Equipment Element. His expertise and...

Unit safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Since the 376 ECES/Electrical System Shop arrived at their deployed location, they have been the epitome of "Mission First - Safety Always." This is the first known team to deploy to the Area of Responsibility with and properly utilize...

Ground Safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Mr. Heald assists with the management of a safety program for 12,430 members who operate globally. He designed and developed an effective traffic safety program recently identified as a Numbered Air Force standard during a Staff Assistance...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Capt Franquemont, a qualified U-2 high altitude reconnaissance pilot, was performing duty as the mobile pilot in the chase car. This is a requirement due to the limited visibility and difficult landing characteristics of the U-2 aircraft. Mr....

Aircrew safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... Capt Baugh and Maj Heidt were the #2 aircraft in an F-15E four-ship transition course Surface Attack Night training sortie. After receiving an avian hazard advisory system update, they descended down into a planned low level and proceeded to...

Pilot safety: award of distinction.
March 1, 2007... 1st Lt Tompkins was flying an F-15C, as #3 of a three-ship air combat training sortie. The sortie was one of Lt Tompkins first flights after completion of mission qualification training at his operational squadron. While on departure in...

Flight line safety: award of distinction.
March 1, 2007... SrA Neagle and SSgt MacDonald responded to an E-3 aircraft for a Class II fuel spill caused by fuel venting overboard during a post-flight refueling. At the conclusion of the fuel spill cleanup, SrA Neagle and SSgt MacDonald performed an...

Crew chief safety: award of distinction.(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... While performing a panel inspection on a B-52H aircraft, SSgt Roberts discovered a popped circuit breaker on the #5 generator panel. Upon further inspection, he discovered a melted cannon plug leading to the forward battery heater. At the time...

Ground safety.
March 1, 2007... Capt Pugh, 1Lt Holtz, 1Lt Kelly, and Capt Steele were traveling on Interstate 35 North at 2:30 a.m. The temperature was just above 50 degrees and there was a steady rain when they saw a smashed SUV in the middle of the left-hand lane and...

ACC safety salutes: superior performance.(List)
March 1, 2007... Eighth Air Force 1Lt Allen S. Clark T-38 Instructor Pilot Capt Geoffrey M. Steeves T-38 Flight Pilot 394th Component Training Squadron 509th Bomb Wing Whiteman AFB, Mo. Capt Jeremy M. Roth Pilot...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
March 1, 2007... Aircraft Notes ACC finished December without any Class A mishaps, but we had two in January. An MQ-1 lost power and crashed in the AOR, and an ACC gained F-16C experienced an engine failure. The pilot successfully ejected. This issue's...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
March 1, 2007... I SURE HOPE TH'POWERS THAT BE APPRECIATE MY EFFORT IN GITTIN' TO WORK IN WEATHER LIKE THIS. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OH GREAT! TH' DANG HEAT'S OFF. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I GUESS IT'S TIME TO FIRE UP...