Civilian And Military Aviators Share Common Problem

While a growing concern for civilian pilots, top safety officials at the US Air Force report "human factors" is also a primary cause of military aircraft mishaps. That testimony by Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Kenneth W. Hess came as part of a congressional hearing on military aviation safety, Feb. 11, where safety directors from all four service branches testified before the House Armed Services Committee. The general told committee members that "task saturation" is one example of how the human factor can be responsible for mishaps. General Hess said developmental technology, such as the tactile vest, improvements in the types of information being brought into cockpits, and better ground-based training are all going t

Cope India 04 Gains Flight

In their biggest-ever fighter maneuvers, India and United States on Monday commenced a ten-day joint air exercises over the North Indian territory of Gwalior, pitting the Indian Air Force (IAF) against one of the most hi-tech forces in the world. In the combat exercises code-named Cope India 04, the Pacific Command of the US Air Force (USAF) will pit its F-15C air superiority fighters against the Indian Air Forces Mig-21, Mig 29 and Sukhoi-30 fighters as well as a Gwalior-based Mirage 2000 fighter in simulated Beyond Visual Range Combat, high value asset protection and a number of the low and high altitude combat missions. Dissimilar AIR COMBAT TRAINING, otherwise known as DACT, is simulated combat flying between two different types of aircraft.

US Air Force Looks Ahead US Air Staff officials have put the finishing touches on the "Transformation Flight Plan," which spells out the future direction of the Air Force. The TFP, a 176-page document, can be accessed through the office of force transformation Web site at www.oft.osd.mil . In conjunction with joint partners, the Air Force is transforming by making capabilities-based changes in its operational concepts, organizational structures and/or technologies to expand the nation’s military capabilities. Since the flight plan is a "living document," officials plan to update it annually. This version is the second, superseding the one published in May 2002. The flight plan is a "sn