UAS Operations at Home Station – A Template For Safety
Combat Readiness Center / By CW5 (Ret.) Michael J. Carroll: Since 9/11, the world of unmanned aircraft systems has rapidly evolved to meet the needs of combatant commanders and our Army as a whole. Once a unique specialty of Military Intelligence, UAS are now fielded to combat aviation brigades (CABs) and brigade combat teams (BCTs) and utilized from squad/platoon levels up to division and corps. An RQ-7 Shadow (left) and MQ-1C Gray Eagle at Fort Huachuca, AZ. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY 2-13 AVN PUBLIC AFFAIRS Operating in potentially high-threat environments without risk to human crews, UAS are proving indispensable...
Learn MoreNoise-Induced Hearing Loss
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By CPT Scott A. Cygan, MD: Q: I failed my annual audiometric screening and was told that I show early signs of noise-induced hearing loss. What can I do to protect my hearing from getting worse? NIHL and TinnitusNoise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a permanent loss of hearing that results from exposure to hazardous noise without the use of proper hearing protection devices. NIHL can occur gradually over time or result from a single, unprotected exposure to high-intensity noise. NIHL usually occurs at higher frequencies and unfortunately, speech sounds that give meanings to words (consonants...
Learn MoreArmament 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;...
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