Approach articles from May 2000

Approach archives from May 2000

Helo-Dunker Refresher--for Real!(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... We had gone from single-engine to dual-engine loss and full autorotation within two minutes. What can you gain by having your crew chief or second crewman up and about in the aircraft troubleshooting an emergency at low altitude? Not...

5K Volts of Blue-Arc Excitement.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... I thought about light-blue arc and how close I came to being a conductor for 5,000 volts. Of the five senses--touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing--which one is most important to a naval aviator? After a recent near-mishap, I'd vote for...

Saberhawk ORM.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Fully aware of the myriad ways people compromise personal safety and security on overseas liberty, the OinC of HSL-47's Der 4, devised a risk-assessment plan to use during his det's WESTPAC deployment. These Foreign Leave and Liberty ORM forms...

Is the Skipper in His "Box" Yet?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Five minutes to walk before a 1 v 1 ACM training flight. The weather was perfect, the brief was textbook, the jets were ready, and maintenance control was standing by. Everything was on track until I turned the corner and headed to my office...

The Chute That Nearly Ruined My Day.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... We launched from Norfolk in our Sea King in perfect weather for a multiple-drone recovery mission. We had clear skies with unrestricted visibility. Both the pilot in command and I were qualified HACs. The other HAC and crew chief were...

What Black Hole?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... I can't tell you how fast it occurred because if only took seconds to put us into that situation. How long does it take to get deep into the Black Hole--5, 10, 15 seconds? That depends on how slowly you move from altitude to ground...

Got To Pull the Pins.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... I started the before-takeoff checklist, but as I called to arm the seats, I couldn't arm mine. Throughout most of my time at the EA-6B FRS, I was mystified by the policy of ECMO 2 or ECMO 3 pulling the command-sequence, gas-generator pins...

A "Minor" Emergency.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... I was in the E-2 FRS. Several flights with the squadron NATOPS guru and E-2 Group 0 Model Manager had made me appreciate systems knowledge and the importance of knowing everything (about the aircraft. But, there are some things a pilot cannot...

Is It LUCK or JUST ME?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Lately, my flying life has become too interesting. Writing this article is an attempt to end my recent plague of engine problems. At this point, I'll try anything! They're calling me "Black Cloud." No one wants to fly with me or be my friend....

UNICOM Snafu.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... On recent flight, I was the copilot for a mission in which we were transporting civilian VIPs from a large, busy civilian airfield to a small, uncontrolled civilian airfield near a military base. Coming from a TACAIR background to the C-9, this...

Almost a Blue-Suit Julienne.
May 1, 2000... How many of us have a cross-country tale where a good deal turned into a nightmare? Most cross-countries live up to our expectations, but every once in a while, something turns so bad that we have to stop and assess just what caused it to go...

My Exploding-Head Ride.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... As an intermediate student, I never thought I would write an Approach article so early in my aviation career. I have read many valuable and interesting articles while waiting in the ready room, but I did not believe I would have a learning...

What's a Wipeout Look Like Again?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Being a West-Coast squadron based on the East Coast presents unique challenges in preparing for deployment. After ferrying our 10 aircraft from Oceana to North Island (during the Christmas holidays), staging and moving all our gear from C-130s...

Seagulls in Memphis.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Another good deal, an all-Navy crew flying an Air Force 737 (T-43). The Air Force skipper gave us the keys to take the jet to Millington, Tennessee, so some of us could get orders, do a records review, and get some BBQ. We flew down, and after...

Curbside Service at Kuwait International.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Our scheduled SSC mission in the Northern Arabian Gulf changed even before we jumped into the helicopter. We were called to do a medevac from a British frigate steaming in company with our own. One of their crew had a kidney problem that...