Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 57
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
Sept. 2, 2016
Instructor, student pilot saved by Auto GCAS visit 416th
By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Test pilots and engineers from the 416th Flight Test Squadron had the chance to meet face-to-face with one of the squadron’s success stories Aug. 25. The group met with an allied nation pilot trainee who returned home alive after he experienced a g-force-induced loss of consciousness and his F-16’s Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System activated, executing a ground-avoidance maneuver, just as the system was designed to do. The 416th tested and proved the F-16’s Auto GCAS. The pilot, whose call sign is Ocho, and his instructor pilot came to Edwards at NASA’s request. Both pilots are assigned to Arizona Air National Guard’s 152nd Fighter Squadron in Tucson, Arizona. The squadron has an international F-16 training program. The meeting took place in the C-Dot Auditorium, which was named for Maj. Aaron “C-Dot” George who was a 416th FLTS pilot lost to CFIT – controlled flight into terrain – with photographer Judson Brohmer in 2001. “They could have been saved by an A-GCAS fly-up, but the jet they were flying didn’t have the system,” said Lt. Col. Chris Keithley, 416th FLTS commander. “Fast forward almost 15 years, and [an allied nation pilot] got a fly-up during air-to-air training in Arizona. He’s not alone. To date, this technology
From left: Lt. Col. Chris Keithley, 416th Flight Test Squadron commander, thanks F-16 pilot trainee Ocho and Maj. Luke O’Sullivan, 152nd Fighter Squadron, Arizona Air National Guard, for visiting the 416th FLTS Aug. 25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit)
has saved four pilots’ lives in training and combat. This means their families didn’t lose a husband, father, son or brother. It also means they’re able to serve their country another day. It’s a huge win and I can’t overstate how meaningful it is.” The pilots were flying in two separate F-16s in the skies See Auto GCAS, page 3
Edwards civilian helps protect neighbors against fire By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Even while fires are raging all over California, and the smoke from some impacts Edwards Air Force Base, it may seem that the base is insulated from extreme fire danger due to the surrounding desert. For one employee here, that was certainly not the case. Len Paris, a heavy equipment operator with the 412th Civil Engineer Group, lives in Phelan, California, where his home and family were recently threatened by the Blue Cut fire. He was at work when he first got word of the fire. “By the following day it looked like we were going to be just fine, but all of a sudden it took off again,” he said. “The winds changed, and that thing just started going at it once again.” But rather than leave his home to the fate of the wind and fire, Paris opted to stay and help protect his and his neighbors’ homes. See Fire, page 2
The recent Blue Cut fire consumes a train bridge near Phelan, California. The fire lasted more than a week, and burned more than 30,000 acres. More than 80,000 people were forced to evacuate from their homes. (Photo by Len Paris)
2
Desert Wings
August 26, 2016
www.edwards.af.mil
www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
Recent aircraft arresting system overhaul comes in handy By Susan Lawson Air Force Civil Engineer Center Public Affairs
A mobile aircraft arresting system, or MAAS, unit that was recently overhauled by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection and Repair Team, or CEMIRT, was put to good use in an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft arresting system capability test recently at Edwards AFB. MAAS that are past their recommended use time are overhauled as standard procedure. This particular MAAS came from Al Udeid, Qatar, where it had previously supported operations in the area of responsibility. Once the overhaul was complete, the MAAS was delivered to the 820th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer Unit, or RED HORSE, at Nellis AFB, Nevada, in March. The RED HORSE team travelled to Edwards recently to prepare the MAAS for use during F-35 runway landings and various stop testing events. “If it wasn’t for the quick turnaround and newly overhauled MAAS from CEMIRT we wouldn’t have been able to complete the testing on schedule,” said Tech. Sgt. James Maxwell, a member of 820th RED HORSE Power Pro. For testing purposes, the team used a 12,000-foot inside runway at Edwards to avoid impact on other flight operations. As part of the activity, the Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force from Edwards con-
A Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection and Repair Team, or CEMIRT, overhauled mobile aircraft arresting system, or MAAS, is pictured on the runway with the approaching F-35A Joint Strike Fighter preparing to capture the cable with its tail hook. The MAAS was installed by the 820th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers from Nellis AFB, Nevada, and used during testing at Edwards AFB, California. The MAAS was recently overhauled by CEMIRT, and had previously supported operations at Al Udeid, Qatar, prior to reaching its recommended use time. (Courtesy photo by Mike Jackson/Lockheed Martin)
ducted tests on the F-35A’s tail hook. “The technical order mandates MAAS are to be overhauled every 10 years,” said Bruce Goodwill, aircraft arresting system equipment specialist at CEMIRT at Tyndall AFB, Florida. “In addition to operational requirements, MAAS can be used to support testing of tail hook airframes being introduced into the Air Force inventory as well as supporting contingency operations and support to airshows.” Tail hooks are used to help jets stop
when landing distance is insufficient or there is a brake malfunction or directional control issue. While tail hooks on the F-35 are designed for one-time use, the MAAS can be re-used multiple times before overhaul. To plan tail hook deploy times, engineers calculate the precise timing for test pilots to deploy the hooks, allowing the arresting cable to safely stop the fighters. More testing is planned at Edwards in the coming weeks.
Civilian employee appreciates unit support during Blue Cut fire From Fire, page 1
“It wasn’t that far from my house,” he said. “We had the mandatory evacuations, but I chose to stay.” I was on a tractor clearing shrubs, trying to knock down any excess vegetation around the houses. He said he also worked to help load and move his neighbors’ horses, and people’s valuables, photos and other things that can’t be replaced. While he was busy defending “I was thinking for his home and neighbors, his unit up a creek without was back at Edwards offering their support to him. “Mr. Herbert (Timothy Herbert, Paris’ supervisor) was good to go about it,” he said. “I have only been working here for about four months, so I didn’t know how these things work.” Paris said this is his first experience with government service. In the civilian sector, not coming to work for any reason will likely get you fired, he said. He talked to Herbert about not having any leave yet, and
was reassured that everything would be fine. Paris told his boss that he didn’t have any leave, but he reassured him that everything would be OK. “He said don’t worry about that side of it, just handle your family, take care of your place, and do what you can out there,” Paris said. “It put my mind at ease in that department. I was thinking sure I was going to be for sure I was going to be up a a paddle.” creek without a paddle.” Len Paris He said that he didn’t do anything unusual, and that many of the areas’ residents were helping out. “It was a really touchy situation for a while. I never saw a fire that bad since I’ve lived up there, but it was a neat feeling to see everyone come together and help everybody else out. I saw cavalries of trucks showing up to take horses to a safer place,” he said. “You could see just caravans of vehicles coming up to help evacuate people and their belongings.”
3
Desert Wings
Sept. 2, 2016
www.edwards.af.mil
www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
Desert Medics get new commander Col. Norman West poses for a photo with his wife, Michelle, and one of his daughters, Allie, following a change of command ceremony held at the Airman and Family Readiness Center Aug. 26. West has another daughter named Ashley who could not make it to the event. West takes over the 412th Medical Group from Col. Karen Cox-Dean who had been in command of the Desert Medics for more than two years. West comes to Edwards from Washington, D.C. where he just graduated from the National War College. Before that he was deputy commander of the 96th Medical Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. West will command three squadrons: 412th Medical Operations Squadron, 412th Medical Support, and 412th Aerospace Medicine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joseph Gocong)
Auto Ground Collision Avoidance system saves lives From Auto GCAS, page 1
over the Southwest United States May 5, 2016, when the trainee began a basic fighter maneuver. “I started to roll and started to pull and I’m following [the instructor pilot] with my eyes,” Ocho said. “The next thing I remember is just waking up and hearing ‘recover.’ It happened so fast. Usually, everyone who has been pulling G’s for a long time; most people get tunnel vision that gradually comes in, that’s what I always get, but that day I didn’t get anything.” Ocho said the first thing coming out of unconsciousness was hearing his instructor pilot, Maj. Luke O’Sullivan, saying “recover” several times. Once he opened his eyes, Ocho said he was confused for “one second” and then saw the ground coming very fast. “I was already at the controls, but it had seemed I had not moved at all. When I woke up, I thought, ‘what just happened? What’s going to happen?’ Everything just came to me at the same time. I immediately started to pull up.”
Ocho’s F-16 Auto GCAS had already activated and the plane performed a roll-to-upright maneuver after sensing something was wrong. Auto GCAS is designed to prevent CFIT mishaps by executing an automatic recovery maneuver when terrain impact is imminent. The system predicts those conditions by means of a continuous comparison between a trajectory prediction and a terrain profile that is generated from onboard terrain elevation data. At the instant the predicted trajectory touches the terrain profile, the automatic recovery is executed by the Auto GCAS autopilot. The automatic recovery consists of an abrupt roll-to-upright and a nominal 5-G pull until terrain clearance is assured. After nearly three decades of development by NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Laboratory, operational Auto GCAS systems began being installed throughout the Air Force F-16 fleet in 2013 following flight tests at the 416th FLTS.
Edwards sergeant honored at annual AFSA convention Tech. Sgt. Michael Burd, 412th Mission Support Group, was honored with three awards at the annual Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen’s Conference and International Convention held Aug. 22-24 in San Antonio, Texas. Burd was recognized with the 2015 AFSA International Member of the Year, the 2015 AFSA International Exemplary Achievement Award, and the 2015 Sky High Award. He is the former president of local AFSA Chapter 1328. Burd was nominated for the awards based on AFSA Chapter 1328’s extensive community involvement, his exhibition of AFSA values and the ability to recruit and maintain membership. As the flagship event for the AFSA, the annual conference normally convenes in the third quarter of the year and is a forum for the AFSA to conduct its general membership business. In addition, the AFSA hosts past and present military and congressional senior leaders as part of its profes-
Tech. Sgt. Michael Burd (left), 412th Mission Support Group, poses for a photo with Gen. David L. Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff. (Photo courtesy of Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1328)
4
Desert Wings
Sept. 2, 2016
www.edwards.af.mil
www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
This Week in Edwards Flight Test History On Sept. 3, 1985 - Space Shuttle Discovery landed on lakebed Runway 23 following a successful mission to deploy three satellites and an on-orbit satellite repair task. Shuttle pilot Col. Joe Engle (United States Air Force Test Pilot School Class of ‘61) carried an Air Force Flight Test Center flag and a small container of lakebed soil on the mission, which he later presented to the AFFTC Museum. (Edwards History Office file photo)
Good to Go Members of the 412th Medical Group pose for a group shot with their accreditation certificate. The Edwards Clinic was recently reaccredited for 36 months by the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission, a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization, established the Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation Program in 1975 to encourage safe, high quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities. Today, the Ambulatory Health Care program accredits over 2,100 organizations in a variety of settings. For more information, visit www.jointcomission.org Ambulatory health care services are those provided on an outpatient basis. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Ball)
Mini Fitness Challenge Register for the Fitness Dash Sept. 14. Not as dynamic as a Spartan Race but challenging enough. The 1.2 mile dash packs 8 Spartan-like stations. The run begins at 7 a.m. at the base track. Call 661-277-9427 to sign up.
Follow EAFB online
Edwards Air Force Base
@EdwardsAFB
Edwards Air Force Base
@edwardsairforcebase
To start receiving Edwards Alerts text messages on your phone, text “Follow EAFBAlerts” to 40404
Commander, 412th TW .................Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director ..................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief .............. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................... Ed Buclatin Editors ........................... Kenji Thuloweit, Christopher Ball Contributors ........................... Gary Hatch, Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil
http://issuu.com/desertwings/docs/current