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 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...
Learn MoreArmy Wife
By Vicki Cody / Reviewed By Colonel Jimmy F. Blackmon, U.S. Army Retired: A Story of Love and Family in the Heart of the Army. On the eve of my second tour to Iraq, my wife and I traveled to Niagara Falls for a weekend getaway. As we discussed the pending deployment she explained, “Jimmy, there is a difference in leaving and being left.” I vividly recalled this experience and that particular comment when I read Vicki Cody’s wonderful new book, “Army Wife”. Vicki opens a window through which readers are able to experience Army family life. From the day she began dating a...
Learn MorePhase Maintenance Inspection Briefs
By MAJ Cristian Robbins, CPT Benjamin Wynia, and 1LT Andrew Petefish: Rebuilding a $38 million dollar helicopter for combat is a matter of life and death, and the Army entrusts the task to a 23-year-old corporal. This is not a new symptom of budget cuts or bureaucracy run amok. This is how the Army develops new leaders of character. In early December, CPL Nolan Tiller presented the 200-hour Phase Maintenance Inspection (PMI) brief for a CH-47F aircraft. His phase brief identified the problems with the helicopter and outlined a plan to systematically rebuild it to be fully mission capable. The...
Learn MoreIntroducing the Future of Army Aviation Maintenance
By LTC Joseph M. Herman with Mr. Oswald Ingraham: An AH-64E Lot 4 enhanced aircraft was enroute from Redstone Arsenal, Alabama to Mesa, Arizona when the aircraft transmitted a message to the monitoring ground personnel that the LINK 16 battery was low. If the LINK 16 battery fails, the LINK 16 Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) must be returned to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for repair. A Problem, Plan, Part, People, Time and Tool (P4/T2) analysis was conducted while the aircraft was in flight allowing Boeing to check their stockage for batteries and prepare to replace the low battery upon...
Learn More
