Approach articles from September 2007

Approach archives from September 2007

Focus on fatigue.(The Initial Approach Fix)
September 1, 2007... Q. What is the most frequently-cited aeromedical causal factor in naval aviation mishaps? A. Fatigue Fatigue is more insidious than hypoxia, loss of consciousness, dehydration, and even spatial disorientation. This issue of Approach...

Culture workshop.(The Initial Approach Fix)
September 1, 2007... The Culture Workshop (CW) is a proactive leadership tool adopted by naval aviation to assist in mishap prevention following a series of high-visibility organizational mishaps in the early to mid-1990s. CW is a principle-based process that...

Aviation statistics.(The Initial Approach Fix)
September 1, 2007... The "Aviation Daily Summary" is a daily look at aviation mishap rates. This information and other statistical data is available at: www.safetycenter.navy.mil/statistics/.

Give this XO some rack time: a fatigue scenario.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You've been in the Gulf awhile and are long overdue for your first port call. With great anticipation, you'll pull into port tomorrow for a well-earned, six-day visit, beer in the Sand Box, and all the other benefits...

Fatigue--a root cause.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... The mission of naval forces is to train continually in preparation for war, if not already so engaged. Technological advances and the ever-increasing capability of our machines and missions dictate more complex training scenarios and more...

Assessing how fatigue causes mishaps.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... Fatigue resulting from sleep deprivation, disrupted circadian rhythm, and/or associated conditions is the most frequently cited aeromedical causal factor in navalaviation mishaps. Fatigue is four times more likely to contribute to workplace...

Mishap-free milestones.
September 1, 2007... Mishap-Free Milestones VAQ-130 26 years 42,987.6 hours

Hornet safetygram from the fighting swordsmen of VFA-32.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... When was the last time, during the ORM portion of your admin brief, someone admitted it was a hazard that they were tired? Those words are hardly ever spoken. When was the last time you nodded off while listening to a brief? When was the last...

Crew rest for reserve aircrew.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... Reserve aviators, historically chastised as "weekend warriors," increasingly have become active and essential assets in our modern Navy. In the past, they had their own units and deployed on their own schedules. More and more, however, these...

In that order: the decision to push through, in the hope of breaking out, turned out to be a bad idea.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... At the beginning of the NATOPS brief before every flight, the briefer usually says, "In the event of an emergency, the flying pilot will aviate, navigate and communicate, in that order..." or words to that effect. The brief I received that...

The No. 1 aeromedical causal factor in mishaps.(FATIGUE)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A tired aviator is an impaired aviator. 21 hours without sleep is equivalent to someone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08--legally drunk.

Calling a halt.(ORM Corner)
September 1, 2007... Our detachment was nearing completion of the carrier strike group's (CSG's) joint-taskforce exercise (JTFEX), and eagerly awaiting the chance to get home for some well-deserved holiday leave before our deployment aboard USNS Rainier (T-AOE-7)....

Bingo + bad weather + gear problems = no fun.(FATIGUE)
September 1, 2007... The EA-6B carrier-qualification (CQ) detachment was going well, and it was the last night to finish training for our Cat. I pilots. As an ECMO CQ instructor, I was accustomed to completing our CQ requirements late on the last night of the det....

The tailhook that couldn't: joining up on the tanker through scattered layers was the least of my concerns; all I could think about was how I would land my jet.
September 1, 2007... Any pilot who's flown in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in the winter months knows weather in Afghanistan can be frustrating, routine tasks can turn treacherous, and fuel ladders can change by the minute. Then, five hours after...

HMM-262.(Bravo Zulu)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Flying Tigers of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 were tasked to fly troops and equipment between various forward-operating bases and combat outposts throughout the Al Anbar province of Iraq. While the...

Bravo Zulu.
September 1, 2007... Identifying potential mishaps before they occur is key to a successful safety program. The Hazard Reporting (hazrep) Program is an information-sharing process that the Naval Safety Center, Commander Naval Air Forces, Naval Air Systems Command,...

A sobering piece of irony.(Crew Resource Management)
September 1, 2007... Just when I thought the pocket rocket never could do me wrong, it did. Actually, it really wasn't just the PCL's fault but a combination of all those things we try to avoid or don't think can happen to us. I'll set the scene in a moment, but...

Unscheduled stop in Hotlanta.(Crew Resource Management)
September 1, 2007... My scenario started when the wing asked if any squadron wanted to provide a static display for an airshow at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. I asked my fellow junior officers if they were interested but couldn't find a pilot who was available....

You gotta know when to fold 'em: we have proven over and over in naval aviation that complacency kills, and it almost got me.
September 1, 2007... "You're on fire!" Although never spoken, the signal from the nearby and out-of-breath petty officer was clear: "Get out now!" As I stood at the end of the runway, staring at my partly burning jet, thankful to be alive, I considered the...