How NOT to Handle a Mission

Just got word, however it may be a rumor, that the Piper Tomahawk that went down in Georgia last week could have in fact been a save.

We know for a fact that the gentleman that went down exited the aircraft and got into a sleeping bag, meaning he WAS in fact alive post crash. There were several GT's available to be dispatched, however the Wing in question (State in which he was found) was too busy doing a training exercise to change gears and look for a real world emergency.

While no one is wild about night ops, when someone's life may hang in the balance, who cares what time of day it is? Shouldn't every available resource been dispatched?

We train to SAVE people's lives, not wait until we are with a wing exercise and then go look for them. IF and only IF this rumor that we've come across is in fact true, this rests on the conscience of whoever dragged their feet.

-1stLT Chris Bishop (AVGASPASSER)

I cannot but wholeheartedly echo Chris' sentiments. If this rumor is true I am deeply saddened and disgusted that a life that could have been saved was relegated away because of someone's schedule. We may be volunteers but we are tasked with a specific mission, one we are expected to fulfill to the best of our abilities. If the wing is question could truly not respond they had merely to make a phone call to the SC wing, all of which were on alert ready to be deployed, myself included.

-TFO Andrew Beckham (SAREX)

AAR: Small SAREX

Not a bad day of training. We all agree that it's best to make mistakes as you're training so you can iron them out before the big game. Below is the washdown:

Repeater and radio coverage from the MB is and always has been great. It benefits the ground pounders and AC to have a MRO and at least an assistant at the MB at all times. We found ourselves doing command post work while we were out in the field: which wasted time.....a LOT of time.

The laptop/ DeLorme/ HT GPS/ Dashmount GPS worked absolutely perfectly. Would have worked beyond better than that had we not had a wrong GPS coord. from the AC, which may have been due to bad VHF reception.

The best vehicle for a UDF/GT is the CAP van in our instance. My Jeep is not that great for it as we found out. My wife's Jeep may be better, but it's full of pink baby gear for my little girl....... and would just look odd. CAP van it is. If we ever have to tear off through a swamp, we'll just go back and get the Wrangler.

That's the skinny version. Like I said, it was an official UNofficial SAREX that was mainly to train AC and the UDF member that was with me all day. I think it went well, but once we iron the wrinkles out, it'll run like clockwork.

Small SARCAP 21 Apr 2007

We have an official unofficial SAREX today. AAR to follow shortly, but the details are as posted:

Originally this stared as a aircrew training exercise with a (me) certified MRO as dispatch, but evolved into a joint AC/GT exercise. I'm unaware of the exact number of GT we will have but I know for sure it will be at least a UDF with myself and another SQ member. (I had 3 loads of Jet and Avgas to offload at the local FBO today and was unable to be near the phone for most of the day hence the unknown portion of this section).

Morning will consist of AC training on a Route Survey, with communications support/ training for the UDF as MRO's and MB Staff. AC will then switch to an ELT DF coordinated with the UDF after the survey is completed.

We (the UDF/GT) will be fielding a few new technologies such as a in-vehicle laptop and Delorme Topo based GPS system coordinated with a few handheld and dash-mounted vehicle GPS units. We will also be testing out the new handheld DF unit our SQ recieved back in Feb, along with working out some body blocking with air band and WB handheld scanner radios.

OK....Now I'm P!$$&D

Figured tonight I'd order say, a certain......NAMETAPE from Vanguard.

$1.50 (rounded price) for the tape.

$7.00 !%*&*$@! DOLLARS FOR SHIPPING????

HOOAH NB! You guys ROCK!