Aircraft Survivability Trends
AMRDEC Tech Talk / By Mr. Frank McIngvale: Aircraft combat survivability relies on many factors such as threat avoidance, defensive measures, hardening of aircraft structures and components, redundant systems and repairable systems. Put simply, the goal is avoid the threats that you can avoid (tactics, situational awareness), defeat the threats you cannot avoid (countermeasures), and survive the threats you cannot defeat (hardening, redundancy, reparability). Aircraft survivability has been a formal design discipline since the 1970s, but has gained increased attention in the past decade with the emergence of more advanced threats to our aircraft. UH-60 Black Hawk dispensing countermeasures. /...
Learn MoreAdvanced Composite Training
128th Aviation Brigade / By CPT Tad Lefler and Mr. Glenn Johnson: The use of composites began early in aviation history when the Wright Brothers used muslin, a sturdy woven cotton cloth, and sealant to fabricate flight control surfaces. Composites are still used in aviation today, though they are a bit more advanced. 15G students applying heat and vacuum to an advanced composite repair. / 128th AVN BDE COURTESY PHOTOS The term Advanced Composites is considered by the industry as fabric with fibers of higher strength than that of fiberglass, such as carbon and Kevlar®. These fibers, combined with high...
Learn MoreBehind the Curtain…
Reserve Component Aviation / By COL J. Ray Davis: Greetings again from your Army National Guard (ARNG). It’s been a few months since I last wrote; I hope your summer was safe, enjoyable, and productive. 37 Black Hawk helicopters from 12th Cbt. Avn. Bde. arrive at Port Charleston, South Carolina, from Germany on Jul. 16, 2015./ U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PHOTOS We’re all familiar with the exciting, high-profile, deployments and training events that dominate our calendars. But sometimes what goes on “behind the curtain” is just as impressive, if a bit less heart-pounding. Such an event recently occurred in Charleston,...
Learn MoreGot HART? Increasing Readiness While Reducing Risk in Domestic Operations
By CW5 (Ret.) Ronald C. Moring and CW4 David P. Peveto: When Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, it pummeled Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. More than 34,000 people were rescued by the Coast Guard alone, and more than 15,000 refugees entered the Superdome in New Orleans to evade the storm surge. The after-math of the super storm which killed nearly 2,000 people and damaged over 90,000 square miles of our homeland, invigorated multi-agencies to prepare, plan and work together for future disasters. SFC Frank Palfrey of 1st Bn., 224th Avn. Regt., PAARNG, conducts rescue hoist operations in a...
Learn MoreFWAATS: Army Aviation’s Present and Future Home for High Quality, Low Cost Fixed Wing Training
By LTC James Rae: Located in scenic Bridgeport, West Virginia, the Fixed Wing Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (FWAATS) is the only Army National Guard (ARNG) training site that provides Army aviator (Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard) fixed wing training instruction. Since its inception as the Eastern Fixed Wing Training Site (later renamed FWAATS) in 1992, FWAATS has trained more than 2,500 Soldiers across all three Army components in the operation of Army standard and non-standard fixed wing aircraft. Accredited through The Army School System (TASS), FWAATS has on three occasions been certified as a “Learning Institution of...
Learn MoreWhat is a Chief Warrant Officer of a Battalion?
By CW4(P) Jeffrey D. Starritt: This fiscal year, the Aviation Branch and the Army established the Combat Aviation Brigade Command Chief Warrant Officer position. At units other than brigade level, Senior Warrant Officer Advisors provide a valuable service to commanders, staff, Soldiers and especially Warrant Officers. Those warrant officers who assume the additional duties in conjunction with their primary duties represent the Army Profession. — CW5 Randy Godfrey, Chief Warrant Officer of the Aviation Branch The author, CW4 Jeff Starritt (left), HHC, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, provides career advice to CW3 Heath Morecraft, Co. H, 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion,...
Learn MoreCardiac Risk Screening
Ask the Flight Surgeon / By Dr. (LTC) Joseph Puskar: Q: I was notified I failed level one cardiac stress testing during my annual flight physical. What do we have to do now? FS: Cardiovascular disease is the single most common medical cause of loss of flight status in both military and civil aviation. The screening methods available today help identify aviators at higher risk of heart attack and stroke, and possible incapacitation during flight operations, and for whom further testing is indicated. Risk factors that can easily be screened for in the primary care clinic include smoking history, hypertension,...
Learn MoreU.S. Army Rotorcraft Crashworthy Fuel Cell Qualification
AMRDEC Tech Talk / By Mr. Nathan Fulks: U.S. Army rotorcraft fuel cells qualified to MIL-DTL-27422 (Aircraft Ballistic-Tolerant Crash Resistant Fuel Tank) are designed for survivability in two ways. First, they are designed to retain fuel during a survivable crash in order to prevent post-crash fires. Workers prepare an MH-47 fuel cell to be released as part of a fuel cell drop test. / AMRDEC AED COURTESY PHOTO Secondly, they are designed to “self-seal” when penetrated by small arms fire. This column focuses on the crashworthy capability of these fuel cells. Prior to the development of the crashworthy fuel system...
Learn MoreAcquisition Logistics Benefits Aviation Maintainers
128th Aviation Brigade / By SSG Calvin Butts: Acquisition logistics doesn’t mean just fielding the best aircraft in the Army, in the case of the UH-60V it also means fielding a state-of-the-art maintenance support system as well as a cutting edge training concept. The “modernization” of the UH-60L to the UH-60V will provide digital connectivity for enhanced situational awareness and improved lift, range, deployability, and survivability of the aircraft and crew. The UH-60V program will employ technologies that will improve reliability, availability, and maintainability while reducing operational and support (O&S) costs, logistics functions that will result in decreased maintenance actions...
Learn More11th Theater Aviation Command’s Role in Homeland Defense
Reserve Component / By BG Scott R. Morcomb: The 11th Theater Aviation Command’s (TAC) mission carries immense responsibility, not only overseas in support of the ground component commander, but also in the United States supporting civil authorities in time of need. LTG Jeffrey Talley, commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, displays a 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment patch after exiting a UH-60 Black Hawk, during the Canada-U.S. Army Reserve Component General Officer Staff Talks (CANUSGO) in San Jose, CA, July 24. General officers of the Army Reserve, Army National Guard and Canadian Army Reserve forces are attending CANUSGO, a...
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