Approach articles from January 2004

Approach archives from January 2004

Hazreps: improving how we do business.(Work zone: reducing mishaps by 50%)
January 1, 2004... Early last year, a newly designated HAC, on his first flight, signed for the plans and looked forward to a super mission. However, the flight was eventful and anything but routine: an engine failed. He executed the NATOPS procedures and landed...

Toward the goal ...: reducing mishaps by 50%.
January 1, 2004... The Naval Safety Center recently hosted the preliminary meeting of the Navy and Marine Corps Safety Council. Getting the top members of our safety teams together, developing and implementing a plan of action, and making real progress toward 50...

Landing out of limits.(helicopter landing)
January 1, 2004... We were 10 minutes from flight quarters when the lights went out. The "lights" usually refer to aircraft power, but not this time. I was the OinC of an HSL detachment doing escort operations in the Bab el Mandeb, in support of Operation...

A little too relaxed.(maintenance of antisubmarine helicopters)
January 1, 2004... Midcruise doldrums were in effect, and I was a little too relaxed on the KC-135 tanker. "Lopez 21 port observation, nose is cold, switches safe, Buno xxxxxx looking for 6K." It still was daytime, calm, and the weather was clear. As I flew...

Farmer fields forever: "keep an eye out for enough flat ground to swing blades without hitting anything," I told the frontseater.(helicopter landing)
January 1, 2004... "Lower... slower... land" (the helicopter pilot's mantra when encountering lowering visibility and ceiling). Pulling collective and climbing into controlled airspace is one way to cope with impending IFR conditions. But, another way is to get...

No EP for this emergency.(emergency procedure for managing rough weather while aviation)
January 1, 2004... Our EA-6B squadron was headed to Pt. Mugu for a live-fire HARM-missile shot. For many of us, this shot would be a first. I noticed, on the way to work, it was your typical Northwest winter weather: The sky was grey, with low overcast clouds....

Over the bayou.(aircraft maintenance)
January 1, 2004... I should have known we'd have a problem when two reserve O-5s (lieutenant colonels) were scheduled to fly together. It was an innocuous, day-VFR flight from North Carolina to New Orleans. With one very experienced crew chief (gunnery sergeant)...

Hot brakes in the high desert.(aircraft piloting)
January 1, 2004... As a nugget at the Fallon air-wing detachment, I was launching on what was supposed to be my first air-wing strike. Our mission was to look for hostile radars as they became active. After the gaggle brief at NSAWC, we returned to our ready room...

Smoke in the tube.(antisubmarine helicopter maintenance)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2004... We were preparing for a detachment to NAS Fallon, to continue our work-up cycle. One of our planes, Screwtop 600, had been loaned to a sister squadron for two months because they were short a bird. However, the plane was on a 72-hour recall for...

ORM Corner: top ten tanking troubles.
January 1, 2004... While flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, our junior officers devised a top 10 list of tanking scenarios ranked from easiest to most difficult. The objective of this ranking was to more...

Crew resource management: when lightning strikes.
January 1, 2004... Situational Awareness Decision Making Here I am--airborne, on cruise for the first time in three years, and trying to get night qualified. What can go wrong? As the mission starts, I realize I'm a little tired. I can't imagine...

Sauna in the gulf.(aircraft accidents )
January 1, 2004... As the safety officer, I had tasked many of the JOs to write Approach articles to share their learning experiences. After I returned from a "good deal" FCF, the JOs had returned the favor by tasking me (via the ready room white board) to write...

Bravo Zulu.
January 1, 2004... LCdr. Ken Germann, instructor pilot, and 2ndLt. Shane Alfar, a student pilot, departed North Whiting Field for a T-34 fam flight. They had briefed oil-system malfunctions, chip lights, and how a precautionary-emergency landing (PEL) quickly can...

Classic brownshoes in action comix: "the kind real aviators like".(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... One day at an AOM... Yeah... I was gonna give Wheezers a chance to come clean here, but apparently he isn't going to. Yesterday he would've landed gear-up if I hadn't said something to him about it as he was on short final! Well,...

Toward the goal ... reducing mishaps by 50%.(reducing marine accidents)
January 1, 2004... The Naval Safety Center recently hosted the preliminary meeting of the Navy and Marine Corps Safety Council. Getting the top members of our safety teams together, developing and implementing a plan of action, and making real progress toward a...

Mishap-free milestones.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2004... VP-46 40 yrs. 280,000 hrs. VFA-37 10,000 hrs. CPRW-2 18 yrs. 15,100 hrs. Executive Transport Det VAQ-136 16 yrs. 26,270 hrs....

Farmer fields forever.(pilots personal narrative)
January 1, 2004... "Lower... slower... land" (the helicopter pilot's mantra when encountering lowering visibility and ceiling). Pulling collective and climbing into controlled airspace is one way to cope with impending IFR conditions. But, another way is to get...

Top ten tanking troubles.(ORM corner)(optically remote module)
January 1, 2004... While flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom, our junior officers devised a top 10 list of tanking scenarios ranked from easiest to most difficult. The objective of this ranking was to more...

When lightning strikes.(Crew Resource Management)
January 1, 2004... Here I am--airborne, on cruise for the first time in three years. and trying to get night qualified. What can go wrong? As the mission starts. I realize I'm a little tired. I can't imagine why. Five days ago, I was an FRS instructor on the...

Sauna in the Gulf: after trapping on the 3-wire, I thoroughly was confused and exhausted.(personal narrative)
January 1, 2004... As the safety officer, I had tasked many of the JOs to write Approach articles to share their learning experiences. After I returned from a "good deal" FCE the JOs had returned the favor by tasking me (via the ready room white board) to write...

Brownshoes in action comix: "the kind real aviators like".(Classic comic)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Yeah... I was gonna give Wheezer a chance to come clean here, but apparently he isn't going to. Yesterday he would've landed gear-up if I hadn't said something to him about it as he was on short final! I dunno. I was confused the entire...