Ties That Bind: Camaraderie
128th Aviation Brigade / By SSG Andrew D. Hill: In 2004, I arrived at Fort Eustis, Virginia and was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 222nd Aviation Regiment, 8th Transportation Brigade. I attended training at the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School (USAALS) and was trained as a 15Y10 (AH-64D Armament/ Electronics/ Avionics Repairer) MOS. While the Army has imparted numerous skills and life lessons to me, I was introduced to its greatest lesson in Advanced Individual Training – camaraderie. SSG Andrew D. Hill as he graduated from AIT in 2004, and working as an instructor today. / PHOTOS PROVIDED BY...
Learn MoreHeliports – More Than Just Concrete and Asphalt
Reserve Component Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: One aviation training capability that may surprise some is the roster of ARNG-owned-and-operated Army airfields (AAFs) and heliports (AHPs). Sprinkled throughout the 54 States and Territories, these sites are most often not the bed-down locations of our Guard aviation units, but rather facilities where folks can come to train. 2-111th Airfield Operations Battalion, Florida ARNG, deals with a surprise snow storm at Blackstone Army Airfield, Fort Pickett, Virginia, during Exercise Southbound Trooper 12./ U.S. ARNG PHOTO BY GREG ALEXANDER Among this list of 47 airfields and heliports, 7 have manned air...
Learn MoreWelcome Home and End of an Era!
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Eric C. Thom: Always do your best at any job you do regardless of how menial it seems. Any job worth doing is worth doing right. – Michael Eddie Ryan Some members of the 597th Maintenance Detachment Forward’s Special Repair Activity are recognized during a welcome home ceremony on October 7, 2015 at Fort Rucker, AL./ U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY FORT RUCKER PUBLIC AFFAIRS Far too often when we talk about air traffic control we tend to focus on or talk about the controllers, or the equipment they use to keep our aviation...
Learn MoreAir Traffic and Air Space Management Warrant Officers
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Allen R. Godfrey: As the Army and therefore Army Aviation transitions to greater expeditionary operations, our aircraft and crews will operate in austere environments and locations. These environments and locations may not have established air traffic and airspace facilities and procedures. Soldiers from Foxtrot Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Task Force Viper, control air traffic from the AN/MSQ-135 Mobile Tower System, or MOTS, Feb. 20 at Forward Operating Base Wolverine, Afghanistan./U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SGT LUKE ROLLINS Additionally, there may be numerous aircraft, platforms, weapons, and other objects occupying and...
Learn MoreUnmanned Aircraft Systems in the Maneuver Role
Aviation Branch Chief / By MG Michael D. Lundy: The integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into combat aviation brigades (CAB) is fully underway as we continue to implement the Aviation Restructure Initiative. CW3 Adam Kozel, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, watches from the cockpit of his aircraft as an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fires a Hellfire missile at a target that was laser designated by an MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft system at the Multi-Purpose Range Complex on Fort Stewart, GA June 20, 2015. / U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CW3 ADAM KOZEL, 3RD...
Learn MoreThrottles Wide Open!
President’s Cockpit / By BG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: On behalf of the entire AAAA National Staff, we hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Please remember all we are thankful for and keep our Soldiers and their Families in your prayers. Soldiers and industry interact in the Networking Technology Center at the 2015 Luther G. Jones Army Aviation Sustainment Forum at the Solomon Ortiz Center, Corpus Christi, TX, Oct. 6-8, 2015 Things have certainly ramped up since the summer. We re-launched the Luther Jones Army Aviation Sustainment Forum in Corpus Christi in October after a two year hiatus. It was a...
Learn MoreSynthetic Training Environment
From the Field / By MAJ Robert A. Crapanzano: “Chalk one is coming off comms,” CW4 Espinosa transmitted before turning off the simulator. In the copilot’s seat, Lieutenant Trimble disconnected his virtual reality goggles from his helmet and set it on the center console. e cockpit, that moments ago looked and felt like the inside of a UH-60V helicopter, now was a series of at black panels. Where his digital multi-function displays and center console switches used to be was now a piece of sheet metal dotted with micro position sensors. Instead of seeing the air.eld outside his window, he now saw the blank inside walls of the simulator room. Moments ago he was...
Learn MoreCarolina Thunder
News Spotlight / By SGT Leticia Samuels: The second annual Carolina Thunder exercise, a multi-component joint live fire event, exploded onto training sites across North Carolina July 31st through August 2nd. The exercise, consisting of nearly 850 Soldiers and Airmen, with a heavy emphasis on attack and assault aviation operations also including artillery, airborne and insertion events, provided units with opportunities for complex planning and execution of maneuver and lethal fires. An AH-64 Apache assigned to the 1-130th ARB NC ARNG departs for a fire mission during the second annual Carolina Thunder multi-state live fire training exercise hosted by the...
Learn MorePockets of Light
AAAA Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: I am always excited when our readers contact me and are willing to share their stories. The following is a recent submission from Lorie Hanna who said, Supporting her husband in uniform is a privilege, raising a patriotic thankful family is her joy, and serving our military families on the home front is her greatest honor. I hope you will enjoy Lorie’s article as much as I did. —Judy As the spouse of an Army aviator, I may be more prone to noticing the sky than the average wife. I pay attention to the...
Learn MorePM Air Traffic Control
Air Traffic Services / By Mr. John B. Traylor: While flying across the nation to your vacation or business location, have you considered the vast network of air traffic controllers that ensures your flight departs and arrives safely? The same air traffic control (ATC) is needed for Army aviation aircraft, and Army air traffic controllers must have the best systems available to ensure that all Army Aviation operations take off and return safely. The AN/TPN-31 Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, Coordination System (ATNAVICS) at FOB Wolverine, Afghanistan./PM ATC COURTESY PHOTO Army ATC is a critical enabler to all Aviation operations, providing...
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