Accident – Death – Obituary News :
In the first half of fiscal 2023, a series of tragic helicopter crashes claimed the lives of more than a dozen U.S. Army aviators, prompting an aviation-wide standdown in April 2023. Despite the thorough review and subsequent lifting of the standdown, the accidents persisted, culminating in a fatal crash of an MH-60 Black Hawk stealth helicopter in the Mediterranean Sea, killing five crew members.
Subsequent mishaps included the deaths of two AH-64E Apache crew members in Mississippi and three LUH-72A Lakota crew members in Texas. Fiscal 2023 saw the highest death rate for Army soldiers since 2011, with a total of 14 fatalities across 10 accidents classified as Class A mishaps.
Experts point to a concerning trend, with the average Class A mishap rate more than double the highest rate of any fiscal year in over a decade. The Army Combat Readiness Center data reveals a current rate of 3.22 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, far exceeding the historical average.
While Army leaders have initiated training enhancement efforts to address the issue, experts caution that the root issues in the service’s training processes may take years to correct, especially given the existing experience shortfall in the force.
Joe Roeland, a former aviation warrant officer and instructor pilot, highlighted the ongoing challenge: “We’ve downsized; we’ll never truly upsize.”
‘Out-driving their headlights’
An examination of the force and training processes during the 2023 standdown revealed that Army pilots and aviation warrant officers today have significantly less experience than their counterparts during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Eric Schwegler, G3 director at the Army Combat Readiness Center, noted that mishaps often occur at the lowest levels of leadership, where underestimated risks can lead to tragic outcomes.
Major General Mac McCurry, commander of the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Alabama, cited an increase in task complexity as a contributing factor to the rise in mishaps. The shift from simpler tasks in Iraq and Afghanistan to more complex operations necessitates a higher level of skill and experience among aircrews.
Notably, the deadliest helicopter crashes in 2023 occurred during nighttime exercises involving advanced maneuvers and equipment. Investigations into the mishaps have highlighted spatial disorientation as a key contributing factor, particularly in challenging environments.
The Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory is actively working on solutions to address spatial disorientation, including innovative technologies like vibrating torso straps to indicate pilot drift. However, challenges persist, with flight hours being another critical issue affecting training and readiness.
While the Army continues to grapple with the increasing mishap rate, the path to improvement remains uncertain. As the service navigates these challenges, the safety and effectiveness of Army aviation operations will remain a top priority.
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The recent increase in Class A accidents within the Army has raised concerns about the safety and training of aviation personnel. Major General Walter Rugen, director of Army aviation, highlighted the troubling trend of accidents in a recent press briefing. The Army is now taking steps to address this issue and prevent further fatalities.
**Challenges Faced**
With the operational tempo in recent years and a personnel gap, the Army is facing challenges in maintaining the necessary training and resources for its aviation crews. As a result, there have been a dozen Class A accidents resulting in 10 deaths halfway through the fiscal year. This puts the Army on track to have one of its deadliest years in recent history.
**Bolstering Training**
In response to the increase in accidents, the Army has unveiled an aviation “standup” program aimed at enhancing training for aviation personnel. The program focuses on three key areas that have been identified as needing improvement: risk management and mitigation, power management and spatial disorientation, and maintenance standards for aircraft repairs and safety checks.
**Training Initiatives**
The Combat Readiness Center has been actively involved in providing training to units at the lower levels on risk management and adapting to changing hazards. The center has conducted numerous safety assistance visits and trained thousands of soldiers within the aviation branch. The goal is to empower personnel at all levels to identify and address potential safety risks.
**Addressing Experience Deficit**
One of the challenges faced by the Army is the inexperience of its pilots. The service has seen a significant loss of experienced aviators due to natural retirement and attrition. It can take several years for a warrant officer to become proficient in their role, and the Army is now considering how to make better use of the experienced aviators still in the service.
**Focus on Experienced Officers**
Former Chief Warrant Officer Roeland emphasized the importance of focusing on how experienced officers are utilized within the service. Rather than fast-tracking warrant officer promotions, the Army should prioritize building a strong foundation of experience and expertise among its aviation personnel. This will help prevent accidents and incidents caused by insufficient training and experience.
In conclusion, the Army is taking proactive steps to address the increase in accidents and fatalities within its aviation branch. By enhancing training programs, focusing on risk management, and utilising experienced personnel effectively, the Army aims to improve safety and reduce the number of aviation accidents in the future..