Combat Edge articles from November 2007

Combat Edge archives from November 2007

Accent on safety: doing the enemy's job.
November 1, 2007... Our job in Safety is to preserve combat assets through mishap prevention. We do that by taking safety statistics, putting some analysis behind them, and coming up with fact-based trends that we can target mishap prevention efforts against....

Let's go hunting ... but let's do it safely.
November 1, 2007... Whether you've hunted for years or this is your first time, each hunting adventure always brings a "new experience!" It can be good or bad depending on the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW. WHO you hunt with is important as far as their...

Driving under the influence of fatigue.
November 1, 2007... What can you do that is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol, is just as wrong as DUI, but is completely legal? Driving while fatigued is something that nearly all of us have done--quite regularly in some cases--but...

Fatigue countermeasures.
November 1, 2007... Are you tired as you read this article today? Have you ever found yourself accidentally nodding off during an afternoon meeting? Just about every one of us, at some point in our career, has experienced fatigue. In fact, many people that you...

Finding out about thin ice the hard way!
November 1, 2007... It was the 14th of December and the weather was finally acting like it should this time of year. So with work being slow, what else could we do but go fishing. SMSgt John Nordquist and I made the plan to meet at the big loon on Long Lake by...

Fighting the war on maintenance error.
November 1, 2007... With the current high levels of operational tempo and the rapid changes in the way engineering support is provided, more and more is expected of our aircraft technicians. With constant pressure on maintenance personnel to achieve operational...

My snowmobiling misadventures.
November 1, 2007... While attending college in Logan, Utah, in the mid-80s, I had a friend with a couple of snowmobiles: a Polaris Indy 600 and an older Ski-Doo 440. During the week we'd pull them up the canyon then zoom around all night long until we couldn't...

Air Force Culture Assessment Survey Tool (AFCAST) program.
November 1, 2007... Squadron commanders have a new tool to help assess their unit's safety culture and its impact on operational readiness--the Air Force Culture Assessment Survey Tool (AFCAST). AFCAST is a web-based survey process (www.afcast.org) that provides...

Crew Chief Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... During an aircraft refuel, TSgt McLaughlin detected fuel running from the E-4B aircraft jettison valve. He immediately jumped into action. He stopped the refuel and notified the production superintendent and maintenance operations center....

Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)
November 1, 2007... During a combat mission, RQ-4A crewmembers displayed exceptional teamwork during a difficult emergency. The Mission Control Element (MCE) pilot, Capt Little, received several fault codes indicating low temperatures to the onboard computers due...

Ground Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... A1C O'Reilly observed and acted on a severe workplace hazard after only 7 months at his first duty station. He designed and built a fixture to hold an end mill arbor securely during cutter install/removal. The end mill arbor is used to machine...

Pilot Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)
November 1, 2007... While executing a combat reconnaissance mission supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Maj Ryan experienced a hydraulic fluid leak while more than 1 hour away from base. The leak progressed rapidly, rupturing the hydraulic pump, and forcing...

Unit Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... 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 Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- AUGUST)
November 1, 2007... This astute professional's safety mindset had a profound effect on the success of ACC's exclusive air-to-ground Weapon System Evaluation Program (A/G WSEP). This was evidenced by the 86 FWS' impressive mishap-free quarter; an amazing...

Flight Line Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- SEPTEMBER)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... TSgt Logan went above and beyond during Whiteman's threshold displacement construction project. By displacing the threshold, the 509th Bomb Wing remained operationally ready to support all tasking orders. Her thorough analysis and understanding...

Ground Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- SEPTEMBER)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... SrA Jackson-Barry created a rotating briefing topics schedule that covers 14 subjects including: Safety Privilege, Flight Line Safety, BASH, MACA, ORM, High Risk Activities, Weather and FOD. She incorporated data into a reference pamphlet that...

Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- SEPTEMBER)
November 1, 2007... The crew of SENTRY 60, an E-3 AWACS, took flight in support of a Flying Training Unit combat training mission. Approximately 5 minutes into flight, during initial climb, the Flight Engineer (FE) notified the crew of inability to pressurize...

Crew Chief Safety Award of Distinction.(MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS -- SEPTEMBER)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Senior Airmen Brown, Schultz, and Markey were preparing aircraft 76-1604 for launch in support of a crucial Operation NOBLE EAGLE (ONE) mission. Extreme temperatures required Air Conditioning Equipment (ACE) support to allow safe operation of...

Ground Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)
November 1, 2007... TSgt Ladd established a significant safety program with commander interaction at all levels; works as USAF designed. He ensured safety review/risks identification of 1,100 plus maintenance actions; safest maintenance ops in AOR. Sgt Ladd has...

Weapons Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Mr. Toomer's phenomenal management resulted in an "Outstanding" rating during 9 RW/SE Weapon's Safety Program Assessment. He's above reproach! He has received laudatory comments from wing safety personnel during the weapons safety assessment....

Flight Safety Award of the Quarter.(QUARTERLY AWARD WINNERS)
November 1, 2007... Capt Rutledge concluded his 1.5 year tour as the Air Force's first RQ-4A wing Flight Safety Officer (FSO). He validated the ability for the RQ-4A to safely fly in northern California (5,000+ civilian traffic per day.) Capt Rutledge was...

Mishap statistics scoreboard.
November 1, 2007... Aircraft Notes ACC experienced three Class A mishaps since 1 Aug. Fortunately, none involved injuries (besides the bird), and none were destroyed aircraft. An MQ-9 was damaged during a hard landing in CONUS. An F-16C experienced an engine...

Fleagle.(Cartoon)
November 1, 2007... WE TRIM THE TREE, WE BUY THE GIFTS, FROM LISTS SHORT AND LONG. WE WALK IN SNOW, WE SMILE A LOT, THE AIR IS FILLED WITH SONG. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE TALK TO FIRE NDS, WE PET SMALL DOGS, THERE'S JOY ALL...