2016 Army Aviation National Award Winners
Mr. Lars Ericsson leads the Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technical Management Division where he continues to provide superb leadership, responsible for managing all of the technical and systems engineering functions for a six billion dollar global aviation enterprise. He has provided flawless oversight of the research, development, system integration, test, production and life cycle engineering support for the Army’s entire UAS fleet (i.e., Gray Eagle, Sky Warrior A, Hunter, Shadow, Raven, and Puma). Additionally, he successfully led the teams conducting engineering efforts for several related UAS technology programs, such as the Army’s Ground Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) system,...
Learn More2015 Functional Awards
AAAA, together with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), recognized the 2016 National Functional Awards winners Feb. 3 during the annual Aviation Senior Leaders Forum at Fort Rucker, AL. AAAA’s President, BG (Ret.) E.J. Sinclair, and MG Michael D. Lundy, Aviation Branch chief and USAACE commanding general, were joined by CW5 A. Randy Godfrey, chief warrant officer of the branch; CSM Eric Thom, branch command sergeant major; and industry partners, association members and many of the branch’s senior commanders, chief warrant officers and non-commissioned officers to honor this year’s individual and unit winners. Thanks to the Aviation Center...
Learn MoreContemplating a New Career in Civilian Aviation?
Learning to Speak FAA is a Whole New Language / By CW5 James Chandler: Serving our nation is rewarding and tough; the aviation experience you gain can be translated to FAA certifications but learning to speak civilian aviation and knowing what your military aviation experience equates to can be a little over whelming. Being an active member of Army Aviation for over 38 years, OSAA ARMS Team Chief and an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, I can honestly say “I’m here to help,” so let’s get started. Aviator to Commercial PilotOn the pilot side, helicopter and airplane ratings can easily be...
Learn MoreA Rotational Attack Reconnaissance Squadron In Korea
By MAJ Mark O. Fulmer: Fighting the global war on terrorism for over a decade produced Army Aviation attack reconnaissance squadrons extremely proficient at centralized planning and execution of operations at the scout-weapons-team level to provide flexible, 24-hour aviation support to the Soldier on the ground. Although well suited for counter-insurgency operations, the squadron’s near monopoly on planning down to the team level came at the cost of the platoon’s and troop’s ability to organically conduct the operations process of planning, preparing, and executing while continuously assessing. Upon receipt of a mission to deploy to the Republic of Korea (ROK)...
Learn MoreEvaluating the State of Army Safety
By BG Jeffrey Farnsworth and COL Matthew Lewis: There’s a lot of good news for the Army with respect to preventing loss through proactive risk management. Accidental fatalities continued their decade-long decline and reached record lows during fiscal 2015. Most notable for last fiscal year – the safest on record to date – we saw substantial decreases in fatalities due to weapons and explosives mishaps (down 67 percent), motorcycle accidents (down 24 percent), and crashes in private motor vehicles (down 38 percent). We attribute this steady decline to steadfast efforts by Army leaders at all levels. Senior commanders are holding...
Learn MoreRC Seats Lost or Not Used – A Risk We Cannot Afford
CWOB – IERW Training and AWOAC / By CW5 Dennis E. Smith: I am frequently asked about the quality of an aviator that returns to your formations from flight school. In response, I normally recite accolades from typical application packet letters of recommendation written by senior leaders. Most letters include the statement, “I highly recommend this candidate!” AWOAC-RC Class 16-002 small group planning during their Division Exercise Training and Readiness System (DXTRS) exercise./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO It is logical to conclude that adding the world’s best rotary wing flight training to a highly recommended candidate should equate to a competent...
Learn MoreTowards a Better Solution…
Director, Army National Guard / By LTG Timothy J. Kadavy: Greetings from a non-Aviator in the Army National Guard. I’d like to thank MG Lundy for giving me this opportunity to address the Army Aviation community and share my perspective on Army Aviation in the National Guard as part of the Total Force. (Left to right) North Carolina Guardsmen SFC Robin McDaniel, CW2 Bruce Scharbius, Michael Brewer, Josh Johnson, and SGT Clint Rodgers conduct mission briefings for an aerial search mission, during the response to last October’s South Carolina floods./ U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTO BY MAJ JACK POTVIN, 449TH...
Learn MoreOn Final to the Atlanta Summit!
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: As many of you know, MG Bill Gayler was recently announced as the next commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence – congratulations to Bill! As MG Mike Lundy moves on to another assignment, we thank him for the great leadership he has provided over the past two years for the branch. Active duty, Guard, and Reserve Soldiers can relax and get reduced cost meals at The Soldier Café again this year. / AAPI PHOTO BY RENÉ BIDEZ Mike has navigated Army Aviation during some very fiscally challenging times...
Learn MoreSharing Special Times from the Aviation Senior Leaders Forum
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: Editor’s Note: Meeting at the Warrior Hall Simulation Complex, spouses enjoyed the chance to “fly” a variety of helicopters. While the ladies were not encouraged to participate in live missions anytime soon, it was acknowledged that their “flying” skills were still pretty impressive. Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at Ingrid’s Castle Café where Mrs. Michael Lundy (Paula) presented Ingrid Strange a bouquet of flowers to celebrate her upcoming birthday and to thank her for her love and support to our Soldiers and their families over the years. AAAA Awardee Family Members Share Their Thoughts Always...
Learn MoreCitizen-Soldiers for the Nation and the Future
U.S. Army Reserve Aviation / By BG Scott R. Morcomb: The operational force of U.S. Army Reserve Aviation is the 11th Theater Aviation Command (TAC). Headquartered at Fort Knox, Kentucky, the 11th TAC is the only aviation command in the Army Reserve. We could not own this responsibility so confidently without first highlighting the secret to our success, our people. As part of the overall U.S. Army Reserve mission of providing trained, equipped and ready soldiers to meet the nation’s call both at home and abroad, Army Reserve aviation professionals take that dedication to an entirely new level. While all...
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