Project Management Office for Aviation Systems
Aviation Support / By COL Gerald R. Davis: The Project Management Office for Aviation Systems (AS) consists of over 50 product lines, spanning across four unique product offices: Aviation Ground Support Equipment (AGSE), Aviation Mission Equipment (AME), Aviation Network & Mission Planning (ANMP), and Air Traffic Control (ATC). Our dedicated team of Soldiers, Army Civilians, and Support Contractors daily manages both software and hardware that touches every aircraft in the Army’s aviation portfolio. The PM AS team is committed to the mission of developing and integrating a wide spectrum of world class aviation products and services to meet Soldier’s needs,...
Learn MoreA Small Team with a Big Mission
Aviation Survivability Development and Tactics (ASDAT)Team / By CW4 Mitchell K. Villafania: As the sun rose over the ridgeline, a flight of Army UH-60s threaded their way up the valley toward a growing purple cloud from a smoke grenade that had been tossed out by the ground security forces. The cloud was growing on the flat open terrain of the valley floor, and it helped mark the landing zone (LZ) and wind direction for the inbound aircraft. After the aircraft landed, three Army warrant officers jumped out and quickly moved to meet with the security forces on the LZ. After...
Learn MoreTraining the Force to Fly, Fight, and Survive
Aviation Mission Survivability / By CW5 Michael S. Kelley: When an aircraft in combat is engaged by enemy fire, the most important task is to immediately identify what threat system is being used. Threat system identification dictates the specific counter tactic or evasive maneuver used in order to achieve optimal survivability. Our current aviation force is well versed in some threat categories while other capabilities have atrophied over time. In the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, misidentification of threat systems being used exacerbated the situation, presenting Army Aviation with undesirable loss rates. CW5 Michael S. Kelley is the Branch...
Learn MoreROBD & Hypoxia Training
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By Dr. (LTC) Joseph Puskar: Q: Can we use the Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device (ROBD) for altitude physiology periodic “chamber card” training instead of going to an altitude chamber? The Joint Service Aircrew Mask-JSF integrates with the F-35 life support system and pilot flight equipment to provide combined chemical-biological and anti-gravity protection. / ARMY.MIL FS: Initial training is still being conducted in the altitude chamber, but soon even initial altitude physiology training will be done with ROBD for Army rotary wing crews. Fixed wing aviators will continue to use the chamber for initial training, but...
Learn MoreGeneral and Mrs. Martin E. Dempsey’s Interview with High School Students
AAAA Family Forum / By Judy Konitzer: I was pleasantly surprised to be able to watch a live telecast from The Military Child Education Coalition’s (MCEC) 17th Training Seminar in Washington, DC on July 30-31. It featured a question and answer period with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army General Martin E. Dempsey, his wife Deanie, and 5 high school students. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman GEN Martin Dempsey and his wife Deanie sing traditional Irish folk songs to and with military children (left to right) 15-year old, Raul Rosales IV from San Antonio, TX, 16-year old...
Learn MoreAccident Trends
Combat Readiness Center / By LTC James T. Donovan: Army Aviation units continue to do an outstanding job of mitigating risk to acceptable levels, thereby conducting missions safely in complex environments both at home and across the globe. Today’s aviation force is the most seasoned, dedicated and capable in our Army’s history, and without question the safest. Yet, we must ask ourselves, are we doing enough to proactively prevent the next accident? CH-47F on a low illumination NVG training flight contacted a sand dune during a dust landing approach. / USACRC courtesy photo Safety metrics are notoriously difficult to quantify,...
Learn MoreEducation is Only a Tool
Branch Command Sergeant Major / By CSM Eric C. Thom: Its Effectiveness Depends on the Workman Who Uses It. NCOPDSAs most of you are aware there are changes happening across the board when it comes to Professional Military Education (PME) and promotions for our enlisted Soldiers. So I am taking this opportunity to make sure that our entire enterprise knows what is happening and how it will affect our NCOs. To start with our Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) is now our Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS), and the first course in the system has been renamed from Warrior...
Learn MoreWarrant Officers in the Army Profession
Chief Warrant Officer of the Branch / By CW5 Allen R. Godfrey: As outlined in Army Doctrine Reference Publication 1, the Army is a profession. As a military profession, our relationship with the American people is built on a foundation of trust, continuously reinforced as we contribute honorable service, demonstrate military expertise, provide faithful stewardship, and exhibit courageous esprit de corps. 2LT Saint Blanchard (3rd from left) leads key personnel through mission rehearsal on the terrain model prior to executing an air movement in the Aviation Leader Exercise. Pictured from left to right are: W01 Busen (flight lead), W01 Castro, 2LT Saint...
Learn MoreSurviving to Fight and Win
From the Aviation Branch Chief / By MG Michael D. Lundy: We must be ready to “fight tonight with what we’ve got.” That means we must ensure our leaders, Soldiers and equipment are up to the task. Potential adversaries strive to leverage aspects of the operational environment to create ‘niche’ overmatch capabilities against the U.S. military and counter areas of U.S. overmatch. Army Aviation is one of the areas of U.S. overmatch that adversaries are, and will continue to make efforts to counter. LTC Chris McKenna (2nd from right), commander, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, speaks...
Learn MorePlanning for ATL in April
President’s Cockpit / ByBG E.J. Sinclair, Ret.: The 2016 AAAA Mission Solutions Summit 28-30 April 2016 in Atlanta is on the horizon and approaching fast!! We opened registration and housing on 1 October and are well on the way to a successful event already. The response has been phenomenal! Key Army Aviation leaders like BG Bob Marion, PEO Aviation, and his project managers, shown here during a Q&A during the 2015 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN, March 29-31 will once again be available at the 2016 Summit in Atlanta. /AAPI PHOTO BY RENÉ BIDEZ...
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