3D Printed Aircraft Parts – Where Are We Now?
Tech Talk / By Mr. David B. Cripps: The December 2015 edition of Army Aviation magazine featured a Tech Talk article on additive manufacturing (AM) that provided a brief description of various AM processes and gave a prediction that it would be several years before you saw 3D printed parts on an Army helicopter. Like any new technology coming of age, there has been a lot of advancement in the last year, so an update is probably in order. Direct Metal Laser Sintering Process (DMLS) left, and 3D Printed Airbus Part For years there have been 3D printed parts flying...
Learn MoreThe Army’s New Teaching Aid
128th Aviation Brigade / By SFC James R. Journigan Jr.: The Virtual Interactive Environment (VIE) is a tool used throughout the Army today. Although simulators have been used in the Army for many years, the VIE is the next generation of equipment in the simulation evolution. SFC Frank C. Rich, an instructor with Co. C, 2nd Bn., 210th Avn. Regt., Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA, uses the VIE to go over the T700 airflow theory of operation to a class of 15B Powerplant Repairer students. / 128th AVN BDE PHOTO BY SFC JAMES R. JOURNIGAN, JR For today’s infantry, it bridges...
Learn MoreMulti-Component and Joint Training
Reserve Component Aviation / By BG Scott R. Morcomb: In today’s global environment, our nation relies most heavily on her Army to support our national and international interests. This call to action can only be achieved through an unshakeable commitment, on the part of our Army’s leaders, to maintaining a combat ready posture at all times. Flight crews from the 8-229th Assault Helicopter Battalion conduct sling load operations with elements from the 1-163rd Field Artillery Regiment of the Indiana National Guard. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY RENEE RHODES, FORT KNOX VISUAL INFORMATION As an enduring operational force, The U.S. Army...
Learn MoreIndividual Soldier Survivability
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: This issue of the AAAA magazine is focused on survivability, mainly how we make our aircraft more survivable in a complex combat environment, whether it’s a radar threat, an infrared threat or a countermeasure to enable our aircraft to defeat complex systems in order to deliver our combat load to its desired location. Survival Training at South Camp, Fort Rucker, AL January 2016. / U.S. ARMY PHOTOS BY SSG BURCHAM We have added phenomenal equipment, technology and systems to our aircraft and worked closely with industry to protect our aircraft...
Learn MoreCulture Change for Future Aviation Combat
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Joseph B. Roland: To effectively support unified land warfare forces in the future, Aviation elements will require innovative organizations with multi-function capabilities. Our adversaries continue to adapt and introduce multiple Decisive Action challenges for the Army Aviation enterprise. U.S. Army AH-64E Apache helicopter pilots assigned to 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, land at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, Sept. 29, 2016. The aircraft will be part of Raptor Fury, a month-long exercise to validate 16th CAB’s mission readiness with the support of nearly 1,500...
Learn MoreExpanding our Aviation Mindset
Aviation Branch Chief / By MG William K. Gayler: Although capabilities to enhance our survival in combat are often associated with materiel solutions, or “things,” it is the combination of these “things” with trained Soldiers armed with knowledge of best practices that enable us to fight and win in complex environments. A U.S. CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion (General Support), 169th Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, discharges flares before landing. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CPT ADAN CAZAREZ When Army aviators hear the word “survivability” they often equate the term with “ASE” – Aircraft Survivability Equipment. As...
Learn MoreThe International Connection
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: Our mission, as you know, is “AAAA Supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family.” That said, supporting the U.S. Soldier sometimes takes us to interesting places indeed. AAAA President BG E.J. Sinclair presents an AAAA plaque of appreciation to General Milan Maxim, Chief of Defense – Slovak Republic, at the September 2016 Standardization Conference, “Road Map to Interoperability”, in Bratislava, Slovakia. / Photo courtesy of Slovokia Ministry of Defense These last few weeks have seen myself and our Executive Director Bill Harris in Bratislava, Slovakia to participate in the “NATO Standardization...
Learn MoreThe Aviation Team
Aviation Branch Chief / By MG William K. Gayler: On April 12, 1983, the Army created the Aviation branch, effectively manifesting a profound change in how we thought about the structure, organization, and employment of aviation assets within the Army. Soldiers assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade stand in formation and salute during the Apache Welcome Ceremony June 9, 2016, at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The Brigade received 24 AH-64 Apache helicopters to add to their arsenal, replacing their retired OH-58 Kiowa Warriors. / U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY SSGT. CHRISTOPHER HUBENTHAL The factors that drove this fundamental change...
Learn MoreRecognizing Achievement
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: Welcome to the annual Blue Book edition of ARMY AVIATION magazine. It really reminds me of the breadth and depth of the entire Army Aviation Enterprise as we see the names and faces of our great Army Aviation Soldiers and civilians around the world. AAAA Aviation Soldier of the Year, SPC Emanuel L. Moore, Company F, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) poses with his family during the 2016 AAAA Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, April 29, at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia. / AAPI PHOTO BY RENÉ...
Learn MoreLiving Life in Balance
AAAA Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer and Maria McConville: There was a wonderful opportunity to open a dialogue with the professional spouse panelists this year at the AAAA summit, but for those who were not able to attend Maria McConville’s “Living Life In Balance” presentation, I offer the following highlights. Maria and family enjoy a walk along the beach. / PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARIA MCCONVILLE Maria is a professional in her own right. She is a registered dietitian/nutritionist, personal trainer, health and wellness coach, the wife of LTG James McConville, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, and the...
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