West Point’s Academic Flight Program
By LTC Richard Melnyk, MAJ Brent Pafford, CPT Daniel Brown, and CPT Drew Curriston: For decades, the academic flight program at the United States Military Academy (USMA) has operated nonstandard fixed-wing aircraft to promote excellence in aeronautical engineering. The mission of USMA is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army. A Cessna 182 assigned to the U.S. Military Academy...
Learn MoreDepot Operations in Support of Army Aviation
Aviation Maintenance / By COL Allan H. Lanceta and Brigitte Rox: I am honored to begin my tenure as the Commander of Corpus Christi Army Depot. As a career Army Aviator, I am proud to lead the greatest team of aircraft support professionals in the Army’s organic industrial base. Each change of command ceremony evokes a new era for the Depot. This twenty-fifth change in leadership coincides with a year of significant shifts in Army Aviation as CCAD sets the course for an unpredictable future with reduced resources and increasing challenges. As CCAD’s commander, I will focus the Depot on...
Learn MoreCOARNG Aviation Assists in Fighting Cold Springs Fire
From Colorado National Guard News Releases: Nearly 75 Colorado National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were activated to aid civil authorities at the Cold Springs fire near Nederland. A Colorado Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk from Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, CO, drops water in support of civil authorities at the Cold Spring Fire in Nederland, Colo., July 11, 2016. / U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY SSG JOSEPH K. VONNIDA Operating under Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s executive order to assist the incident commander in fighting the fire, aircrews from the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment based at the...
Learn MoreKidney Stones
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By MAJ Sonya Horwell, MD: Q: I had kidney stones before and I never want to have them again. What are they? What can I do to prevent them from ever happening again? Why do I have to go through more evaluations to get a waiver if they passed already? US ARMY PHOTO FS: Kidney stones are a common medical condition affecting 1 out of 11 people and are composed of naturally-occurring substances in the body: calcium, oxalate, cysteine, or uric acid. These chemicals can crystallize in the urine and become large in size, resulting...
Learn MoreNew Depot Technical Data
Tech Talk / By Mr. Kevin Rees: The Aviation Branch is in the midst of a major upgrade cycle for our aircraft systems. Current fielding efforts are underway for the UH-60M, CH-47F, and AH-64E. And additional upgrades are planned with the UH-60V and CH-47F block II. A technician works on a UH-60M blade at Corpus Christi Army Depot, TX. / AMRDEC AED PHOTO These aircraft, and their associated components, are often significantly different than their predecessors when it comes to the details of their design. They may have higher power engines, higher torque transmissions, wider chord blades, and/or single piece...
Learn MoreFrom NCOES to NCOPDS
128th Aviation BrigadeComponents Aviation / By CSM Drury M. Puckett III: Our Army is currently in the process of evolving from the old Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) to the new Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS). USAACE NCOA Students performing litter carry event during Iron Squad Competition / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SFC STEPHANIE SMITH, USAACE NCOA, JBLE, VA The change is based on the strategy outlined in Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) command’s NCO 2020. The strategic vision of NCO 2020 is a “Noncommissioned Officer Development System integrated and synchronized in the development of the next generation of competent...
Learn MoreNo Boredom Here…
Reserve Components Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: Greetings again from your Army National Guard (ARNG). This month I’d like to review where we stand on the major initiatives that Guard Aviation is tackling, as part of the larger Army Aviation Enterprise. New Jersey Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawks with the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion participate in a joint training airborne operation at Coyle Drop Zone, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 12, 2016. / U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY MASTER SGT. MARK C. OLSEN Aviation Restructure Initiative (ARI) ARI has been underway for quite some time, and...
Learn MoreCredentialing
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Gregory M. Chambers: Capitalizing on individual aviation experience and getting civilian recognition and certification for that gained experience has always been a challenge for enlisted personnel within the Aviation branch. Soldiers from B Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, push an AH-64 Apache Helicopter to the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III April 17, 2016. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SGT JARRETT E. ALLEN, 1ID PAO In accordance with Army Directive 2015-12 (Implementation Guidance for Credentialing Program and Career Skills Program), all branches of the Army are required...
Learn MoreFinding Opportunities in Transformation
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Joseph B. Roland: Over the past three years, Army Aviation has undergone a transformation unlike any of its kind since our establishment as a branch in 1983. Missouri Army National Guard SSG Brandon Isabell, a crew chief, left, CW4 Marcus Moore, a standardization instructor pilot, middle, and CW5 Robert Moore, a standardization instructor pilot, all assigned to the 1st Bn., 135th Avn. Regt., Army Aviation Support Facility #1, perform pre-takeoff inspections on a UH-60 Black Hawk at Whiteman Air Force Base, MO, April 1, 2016./ MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY AIRMAN...
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...
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