Approach articles from September 2006

Approach archives from September 2006

The blue threat--our deadliest enemy.(Admiral's Corner)(Editorial)
September 1, 2006... From Commander, Naval Safety Center Our nation is at war. Those of us in uniform know that better than anyone. It is a complex war being fought on many fronts. It is a different kind of war, unlike any other we have waged. Yet, one reality...

The wild ride of 106: a snow storm of helmet bags, approach plates, pens, papers, fruit, coffee, dirt, dislodged knobs, were joined by a rather curious visitation from a Subway sandwich that floated across my field of view like a banner towed by a miniature biplane.
September 1, 2006... It was a routine logistical flight, or at least it was supposed to be routine. Our six crew members included an active-duty Marine test pilot, four contractor aircrew from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Zero (VX-20), and a government...

Internal loss of communications.
September 1, 2006... What an awesome deal--this has to be the best job in the world! As an old East Coast LAMPS bubba, who had been transplanted to beautiful San Diego, this was the deal of the century. I was on a six-month, counter-narcotics deployment, and,...

For a can of caviar.(naval aviation)
September 1, 2006... Our detachment was involved in a joint NATO exercise, conducting ASW operations in the Baltic Sea near Denmark and Sweden. My crew was scheduled for two bags that February night. We completed the first flight with no hiccups and came back to...

Bravo Zulu.
September 1, 2006... LCdr. Todd Nelson, the flight lead, and Lt. Johannes Jolly were on a section day low-level navigation-training sortie from NAF Atsugi to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. The flight proceeded normally from Atsugi to the low-level entry point. Because...

CRM is for single-seat, too.(Crew Resource Management)
September 1, 2006... It was Thanksgiving time for everyone at home, but in Iraq, it was just another month. The day started like any other day in OIF: I got up, went to breakfast, and headed to the squadron spaces to finish planning and brief. The XO was leading...

Two-way street.(naval aviation)
September 1, 2006... I was the tactical coordinator (TACCO) on a routine training mission out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Our crew just had completed the simulator portion of the advanced-readiness program, and we were on our third of six scheduled flights. After...

The unravel.(naval aviation)
September 1, 2006... I found myself in the front right seat of the lead Prowler on the first night of Exercise Global Strike, flying out of Nellis AFB. As a junior electronic-countermeasures officer (ECMO) in a Prowler squadron, I was preparing for deployment to...

Not so fast.(naval aviation accidents)
September 1, 2006... Carrier qualifying before my first nugget cruise was supposed to be a good time: Go out to the boat (always an adventure), get more traps, and finally feel a little more like a fleet aviator and a little less like an FRS student. However, the...

Where is my beta at?(naval aviation)
September 1, 2006... After flying eight uneventful field-carrier-landing-practice (FCLP) passes, it was time to full stop and let someone else jump in and give it a shot. We had a clear, sunny day in Virginia, and we were flying FCLPs at NALF Fentress--getting...

Know when to say when.(naval aviation)
September 1, 2006... During the course of a career, a person often can observe things he or she considers to be learning points. Having encountered many situations, I've gained a sense of humility when it comes to doing my job as an aviation professional. The...

Outta control.(search and rescue)
September 1, 2006... I spent most of the beautiful September weekend by my pool overlooking Tumon Bay, Guam, studying for my H2P board. This also was my first weekend SAR duty since arriving on the island. My HAC stopped by on Sunday to enjoy the pool and to help...

The T-44A glider.(Crew Resource Management)
September 1, 2006... It's inconceivable a crew of three pilots, flying on a clear VMC day, in a non-time-constrained environment, would, in unison, incorrectly shut down all their engines in flight. But, that's just what happened to my crew. This is the story of...