The UmeCobra Microphone
Industry Support / By Mr. Adithya M. R. Padala: UmeVoice has been solving mission critical problems from Wall Street to Fortune 500 companies to the military for over two decades. UmeVoice first created specialized voice recognition software for the top Wall Street Traders. UmeVoice gave Goldman Sachs traders the unique ability to rapidly speak phrases such as “Buy 10,000 GE at 32 and a sixteenth.” UmeVoice was delivering effective voice recognition to Wall Street before equities were traded in decimals! Aircrews on HH-60G PaveHawk helicopters from 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, FL are outfitted with the UmeCobra...
Learn MoreLearning How to Create Aviation Maintenance Excellence
128th Aviation Brigade / By SGM James Etheridge: There I was, 22 years in the Army, a CSM in Honduras conducting joint multinational missions; I had 16 years in the 160th with three years as the S-3 SGM, Joint assignments in OEF/OIF, by all measures I guess I could be called, “high seed, low drag,” at least that is what I told myself, and then it hit me… I was being assigned to the 128th Aviation Brigade? YOUR CAPTION HERE As the Brigade S-3 Sergeant Major? Say what? So I asked myself, “Self, where and what is the 128th Aviation...
Learn MoreUnder the Radar…
Reserve Components Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: Greetings again from the Army National Guard (ARNG). Here’s an update on what Your Guard Aviation teammates have been doing. New York Army National Guard deploys its UH-72 Lakotas to the Texas/Mexico border. / NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SFC STEVEN PETIBONE First, a quick review of history regarding this operation. The Army National Guard established Operation Phalanx in July 2010, based on an Executive Order from President Obama along the 1,933-mile southwest border in support of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. Operation Phalanx is the successor operation...
Learn MoreBringing Commercial-off-the-Shelf Avionics to Military Cockpits
Industry Support / By Mr. Carl Wolf: For decades commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) avionics have remained attractive as a conceivable solution for military cockpits around the world, primarily due to their relatively low cost and considerably shorter lead-times. The drawback that has persisted has largely been the perception that COTS avionics equipment are not capable of supporting the missions frequently flown by military aircraft or withstanding the harsh environments in which military aircraft typically operate. A leading supplier of avionics systems and integrated flight decks, Garmin Aviation continues to push the envelope, developing products, largely at their own expense, designed around advanced...
Learn MoreOver the Counter Medications
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Scott A. Cygan, O.D.: Q: Doc, I’ve used a few over-the-counter medications in the past to avoid seeing my flight surgeon. Is this allowed or am I breaking the rules? FS: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are defined as drugs that are reasonably safe and effective for use by the general public without seeking treatment from a health care professional. However, this does not mean these medicines should be considered completely safe or free of potential side effects. In addition, all air crewmembers should be astutely aware that many of these medications are strictly prohibited while...
Learn MoreInnovative Procurement Practices Today Help Control Future Costs
PEO for Aviation / BG Robert L. Marion: The rising cost of aviation systems in the face of ongoing fiscal challenges underscores the importance of maximizing the effectiveness of every dollar we spend.Years of funding decrements, operating under a continuing resolution and the impending implementation of the Budget Control Act and Sequestration continue to create challenges with an already difficult task of balancing current readiness with investment in future modernization. UH-60V Black Hawk Cockpit / U.S. ARMY PEO AVIATION PHOTO For those in the Army Aviation community, it comes as no surprise that many of our major weapon systems were...
Learn MoreRemembering How We Got Here
President’s cockpit / By E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: This year has truly flown by. In fact, it seems like the last nearly two years of my presidency has flown by. AAAA National President, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair meets with the chapter-sponsored Soldiers attending the Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit on April 29, 2016 in Atlanta, GA. Under the Professional Forum Soldier Sponsorship program, the chapter selects a junior Soldier and underwrites the travel cost of getting them to the Forum site; AAAA provides one room, registration and tickets to all events for the Soldier and his/her spouse. See the AAAA website...
Learn MoreRDECOM: Providing Soldiers with More than Just the Basics
CSM Guest Editorial / By CSM James P. Snyder: The Army relies on its aviation fleet to provide situational awareness and tactical flexibility for ground commanders. Experimental test pilots from the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center Aviation Development Directorate (AMRDEC ADD) conduct flight control, cueing and sensor testing in brownout conditions during testing at Yuma Proving Grounds in September 2016. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO Army aviators rely on world-class equipment to fly into combat, which increasingly means not only the aircraft itself, but systems such as radar, communications, sensors, munitions and even cyber defense. The Army team...
Learn MoreFinding Balance
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Joseph B. Roland: Don’t worry – I haven’t gone soft. We will talk under-accessions, revised programs of instruction, high attrition rates, defragging, emerging tactics, techniques, and procedures and doctrine in future articles. I want to take some time to address the subject of finding balance as we approach the holiday season. Children play with SGT Rocky, the 3rd Infantry Division mascot, during the Marne Week Ultimate Frisbee tournament November 16, 2016 at Fort Stewart, GA. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY 3RD CAB PAO For over thirty years I’ve been in search...
Learn More101st Aviation Soldiers Honor Their Fallen
Current and past members of the 101st Airborne Division Aviation community gathered to honor their fallen Aviation Soldiers during the week of November 7th at Fort Campbell, KY. On Monday, 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment conducted a remembrance ceremony for those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the site of the new Aviation Memorial where all Lancer monuments have been co-located. (l to r) CW5 (Ret.) Robert L. Huffman, BG (Ret.) William H. Forrester, Jr., Nancy Forrester, Aviation Branch Chief, MG William K. Gayler and Michelle Gayler at the newly dedicated Screaming Eagles Aviation Memorial at Ft. Campbell, KY Nov....
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