Bringing 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 MoreRobbie Kimbrough Reflects about Life in the NASA Family
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Seems like yesterday when Tom and I were in Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Then LTC Robert S. (Shane) Kimbrough had arranged to have COL Bill McArthur inducted into the Gold Honorable Order of St. Michael aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Robbie Kimbrough with her husband, Shane, in Kazakhstan on the grounds of the Russian space training facility./ KIMBROUGH FAMILY PHOTO We watched as COL Jeff Williams, who was replacing Bill on the ISS in April 2006 did the honors. Tom congratulated Bill and a video of...
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....
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 MoreURIs
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Erik S. Johnson, D.O.: Q: Doc, I always catch a couple of colds every year. When is a cold considered grounding and what treatments can I use? www.army.mil photo FS: Upper respiratory infections (URIs) such as the common cold are, well, common. While not everyone may experience them every year, most of us experience them at some point in our lives. It would not be surprising for an otherwise healthy pilot to experience two to three bouts with the common cold in a single fall-winter season. Due to their frequency, let’s take a...
Learn MoreFuture AUS: A Soldier’s Best Friend
Unmanned Aircraft Systems / By COL Paul A. Cravey: To meet the demands of the future strategic environment the Army must be able to achieve an enduring requirement: rapidly deploy task-organized combined arms forces able to transition quickly and conduct operations of sufficient scale and ample duration to achieve strategic objectives. During the Vietnam era, to do this, the Army innovatively integrated an emerging technology of the time, rotary wing platforms, with ground maneuver forces and fire support to increase its reach, protection, and lethality. As it was in the 1970s, to dominate in today’s and tomorrow’s multi-domain environment, the...
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