Army Aviation – A Tradition of Teamwork
PEO Aviation Update / By BG Thomas H. Todd III: This article is dedicated to the tremendous efforts of countless professionals and their continued commitment to delivering advanced capability to our Army aviators every day. The Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) completed successful Follow-On Test and Evaluation in August 2018 at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca. The Gray Eagle-ER demonstrated the ability to provide the loiter time on station at a specified operational range with a significant increase in endurance capability over the baseline Gray Eagle aircraft. / COURTESY PHOTO This exemplifies the rich tradition of Army Aviation, which for...
Learn MoreEmbracing Change
President’s Cockpit / By BG Steve Mundt, Ret.: 2019 has barely started and already the operational tempo and the pace of change is not letting up. Mr. John Shipley is congratulated by AAAA President, BG (Ret.) Steve Mundt, at Shipley’s retirement in January 2019./ BG (RET.) MUNDT PERSONAL PHOTO People are and will remain the centerpiece of our Army and the focus of AAAA. We as a branch, an army, industry partners and the Army Aviation Association of America are so blessed with strong and dynamic leadership. Our famous “Six-Pack” is a perfect example of this, but with all good...
Learn MoreSustaining the Fleet – Leveraging Condition Based Reset
Maintenance/Sustainment / By COL Shawn T. Prickett and Mr. James P. Snyder: Modernization and the future force is a top priority for the Army, and there is currently a buzz about the future of Army Aviation. The discussion of Future Vertical Lift (FVL) capabilities and capacity is shaping the way future warfare may be conducted. FVL will provide a currently unattainable range and station time, proving combatant commanders flexibility and decision space during future operations. Future sustainment concepts will provide increased reliability, reduced maintenance per flight hour, ensuring Army Aviation’s unparalleled support to the warfighter. With all of the benefits...
Learn MoreOrganic Repair – Leveraging Depth and Diversification to Improve Readiness
Maintenance/Sustainment / By COL John T. Parchem and Mr Fred W. Pieper, Jr.: The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) manages over 8,700 active lines of aviation repair parts. Parts are obtained via three general sources of supply (SoS): organic repair, commercial repair and new buy. To provide continuous sustainable readiness to aviation formations, the replenishment rate must be greater than the consumption rate. Replenishment rates and required quantities are influenced by average monthly demand, stock on hand (SOH) and back orders (B/O). A number of external factors impact the procurement and distribution of these parts including: acquisition and...
Learn MoreThe Ten Commandments of Leadership – Part II
AMCOM Commander Update / By MG Douglas M. Gabram: Twenty-five years ago, I wrote an article in this same publication, ARMY AVIATION magazine, discussing what a lieutenant needs to know to be an effective leader. Hind sight, my experiences since then, and the trends we see daily at AMCOM led me to write an updated version. U.S. Soldiers with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (12 CAB) prepare the AH-64 Apache helicopters for take-off from the Zagan training area, Zagan, Poland, June 21, 2018. The 12 CAB completed the Saber Strike 2018 exercises and is on their way back to U.S....
Learn MoreTennessee Valley Chapter’s Aviation Challenge Space Camp Scholarship Program
Family Forum / By COL Mike Cavalier, U.S. Army Retired: The Tennessee Valley Chapter proudly sponsors three attendees to the Aviation Challenge Space Camp, which is hosted by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama every summer. Lilly Knudson was the 2018 Tennessee Valley Chapter Aviation Challenge scholarship winner and graduated from the Mach I class at the Aviation Challenge Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama this past July. She is pictured with her grandfather, LTC (R) Steve Bolton. Lilly had a great time and said the experience increased her desire to...
Learn MoreCold Weather Injuries
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Nathan H. Kwan, M.D.: This month, let’s take a look at cold weather injuries and how they are generally treated and, more importantly, prevented. BasicsWith the dropping temperatures of the winter months comes an increased risk of cold weather injuries related to military duties. About 30 cold weather injuries were reported in the military per 100,000 person-years for 2015-2016. Outside of military responsibilities, hobbies like mountaineering, cross-country skiing and other winter sports further increase the risk of injury. Personal risk factors for increased susceptibility to cold injuries include an age greater than 45...
Learn MoreScience & Technology for Future Vertical Lift
From the Field / By By Dr. William D. Lewis and Mr. Carvil E.T. Chalk: Future Vertical Lift is a necessary evolution for Army aviation to dominate peer and near-peer adversaries. While efforts to support FVL have been underway as part of Army aviation science and technology (S&T) activities within the Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Aviation & Missile Center for a number of years, we are adapting to meet the burgeoning demands of the future fight. The Aviation Development Directorate (ADD) is organized by focus areas to direct our portfolio investments in autonomous and unmanned systems, basic research...
Learn MoreFinal Report from the AAAA Cribbins Symposium
AMCOM / By CSM G. Mike Dove: If you attended AMCOM 101 or the AAAA Cribbins Symposium in Huntsville, then you probably heard MG Gabram talk about the supply chain and how we at the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) acquire parts in order to build strategic depth. CSM Mike Dove makes a point during the AMCOM Optimizing Maintenance Panel of the Joseph P. Cribbins Aviation Product Sustainment Symposium, Nov. 13, 2018 at the Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY TOM VOIGHT, PEO AVN AMCOM identified at least 10 parts as readiness drivers on...
Learn MoreTaking Off Into the New Year!
President’s Cockpit / By BG Steve Mundt, Ret.: We hope that everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and that your 2019 has started off with a bang. We on the National Executive Group, the Board and the National Office join in wishing you all a great 2019! Army Vice Chief of Staff, GEN James McConville (center) talks with (right to left) MG (Ret.) Jeff Schloesser (AAAA Sr. VP), CW5 (Ret.) Steve Davidson (Army Aviation Hall of Fame), MG William K. Gayler, Army Aviation Branch Chief, and (partially hidden) AAAA President, BG (Ret.) Steve Mundt at the 2018 Army Aviation Mission...
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