Armament Integration
AMRDEC Tech Talk / By Mr. Tuan Pham: The Sensors Weapons Aircrew Integration (SWAI) Branch of the Army Aviation Engineering Directorate (AED) is responsible for the airworthiness aspects of armament integration into Army aircraft, including certification of external stores. External stores are mission related external devices such as guns, rockets, external fuel tanks, and test equipment. During the airworthiness qualification process, the SWAI Branch considers armament integration safety (including safe firing envelopes, armament clearance, and engine gas ingestion), armament performance (including accuracy, effective firing envelopes, and bore sighting), and human factors (including operability, night vision compatibility, and cockpit gas ingestion)....
Learn MoreBird Dog Monument Dedicated at Fort Rucker
News Spotlight: Members of the Bird Dog Association of America were hosted and recognized for their service in the Republic of Vietnam during a Welcome Home Ceremony and Monument Dedication on Friday, October 9 at Fort Rucker’s Veterans Park. Bird Dog unit veterans salute toward the newly dedicated memorial during the playing of “Taps” in honor of their fallen comrades at Fort Rucker’s Veterans Park, Oct. 9. / PHOTO BY JENNIFER CALHOUN, THE ENTERPRISE LEDGER LTG Kevin W. Mangum, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command deputy commanding general and chief of staff, offered his thanks to each and every Bird...
Learn MoreU.S. Army Reserve Aviation Maintenance Enabling the Force
Reserve Components / By BG Scott R. Morcomb: The year 2015 has provided many outstanding moments to be proud of within U.S. Army Reserve Aviation. These moments and all of our success is the direct result of our Soldiers, civilians and contractors who labor each day to ensure our units are trained and mission ready. 90th Aviation Support Battalion personnel prepare aircraft for military air (MILAIR) redeployment operations in Kuwait. / U.S. ARMY RESERVE PHOTO BY 11TH TAC PAO Collectively they form the heart and soul of our force. It is through their unparalleled commitment to excellence that U.S. Army...
Learn MoreOn Course
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: We are now only a few months away from the 2016 AAAA Annual Mission Solutions Summit and I will give you a brief situation report in a minute but first I want to review what we accomplished last month. CW5 (Ret.) Dave Cooper, our VP Membership; LTC (Ret.) Jan Drabczuk, VP Chapters; and COL (Ret.) Mark Weiss, VP Reserve Component Affairs were able to visit the AAAA National HQ in Connecticut, December 16-17, 2015, meet the staff, and solidify plans for 2016. A full day of intense meetings covered everything from chapter...
Learn MoreFuture Vertical Lift – Getting Affordability into the Design
AMCOM Commander / By MG James M. Richardson: The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort is gaining momentum across the Army and across the Department of Defense (DoD). It may be unprecedented in DoD procurement to have such a wide range of aviation users come together to participate in the development and acquisition of a family of systems. The H-60 rebuild line at Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD). Army Aviation must leverage its knowledge of current system performance to build affordability into future aircraft designs. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CCAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS All DoD Services are contributing to the capabilities...
Learn MoreRecognizing and Empowering Military Families
Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: The Armed Services YMCA established November as Military Family Month to recognize and honor families of service members for their unique contributions and sacrifices while supporting the Army mission. Many government, military, community, and business leaders teamed up with events and activities in support of this initiative. Then-Army Secretary John M. McHugh, Army Chief of Staff GEN Mark A. Milley, and Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel A. Dailey talk to a packed crowd of military spouses, Soldiers, DoD civilians and others during a Senior Leaders Town Hall held during AUSA’s Annual Meeting and...
Learn MoreA Paradigm Shift for Post ARI Master Gunner Training
From the Field / By CW5 Blaine A. Tirendi: The Aviation Master Gunner Course was created as a program of instruction for the attack and aeroscout community to “train senior instructor pilots (IP) to perform duties as the principle advisor to the commander and staff for tactical targeteering and weaponeering.” It also trains them to plan, schedule, coordinate and execute the unit gunnery training program. This course has been successful in equipping the instructor pilot in AH-64 and OH-58 aircraft with the knowledge set necessary to manage the gunnery program. However, the paradigm has not evolved in terms of current...
Learn MoreArizona NG Hosts Gunfighter Fly-in Helicopter Competition
Spotlight / By CPT Candace Park: The South Carolina National Guard took home the top performing team award for the inaugural AH-64D Apache Gunfighter Fly-in helicopter competition hosted by the Arizona National Guard Nov. 2-6, during a closing ceremony at Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, AZ. 1st Bn. (Attack/Recon), 151st Aviation Regiment, South Carolina Army National Guard commander, LTC John W. McElveen, is surrounded by members of the battalion team as they receive the Top Gunfighter award: (l to r) CPT Matthew Summey, S4; CPT Jonathon Norris, S3; SSG Lauren Rhodes, AH-64D Crew Chief; SSG Corri Simmons, AH-64D Technical Inspector;...
Learn MoreEngineering the Future of Army Aviation
Research& Development – Science & Technology / By Dr. William D. Lewis: During our operational duty assignments as Army Aviators, our ability to safely and effectively accomplish flight missions results from the coalescence of numerous factors: equipment, training, teamwork, leadership, etc. One of the foundational aspects contributing to our mission success is the extraordinary scientific and engineering talent that resides in our government engineering organizations, the aircraft and aviation systems industry, and academia. Mr. Kevin Kalinowski and Dr. Christina Ivler inspect the laser measurement system mounted on an AFDD flight research aircraft. / AMRDEC ADD IMAGES However, until one enters...
Learn MoreMission-Critical Systems
Industry Support and Challenges / By COL (Ret.) Robert W. Kenneally and COL (Ret.) Edward B. McKee: As one of the world’s largest, most diverse suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and defense products, UTC Aerospace Systems has a long history of improving safety, operational cost, reliability and functionality for the U.S. Army. Its diverse products and systems protect and support modern Warfighters with capabilities ranging from airborne systems aboard fighters, helicopters and UAVs to land vehicle, handheld and soldier-mounted systems. UTC Aerospace Systems supports every branch of the U.S. military and is committed to investing in and developing new technology...
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