Retention Down Sections HOMO Tendon Is Diminishing," Lt Gen

al a Fox Co. 2/3 goes 'up a Marine artist puts history on canvas Page A-6 lazy river' in Okinawa Page A-3 MALS-24 takes preseason softball tourney Patti' t) Vol. 18, No. 12 Published at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Also serving 1st MEB, Camp H.M. Smith and Marine Barracks, Hawaii, March 30, 1989 LtGen. Hudson addresses Congress MALS-24 flies 10 years mishap-free Kudos go to Marine pilot maintenance retention down sections HOMO tendon is diminishing," Lt Gen. John I. Hudson, IAGen. Hudson said. By Sgt. W.M. Alexander Marine Corps deputy chief of ',Men. Hudson added that staff for manpower and the increasing opportunity for As of March 14, reserve Marines affairs, recently told helicopter pilots to Ice hired at Marine Aviation Logis- the military personnel and as airline pilots is also a cause tics Squadron-24 are past compensation subcommittee for concern. the 10-year mark for oper- of the House Armed Services And projections indicate ating the attack trainer jet Committee on pilot Mention/ continued longterm hiring at 'r/A-41, Skyhawk with Ito compensation that pilot re- unprecedented levels. Class A mishaps. tention trends are lower than "At the present vet oat ion desired. "A class A mishap mean, rates, the shortfall oi com- that every time they startsi This could result in an pany-grade pilots may in those engines or taxied increasing shortfall this fis- crease to 10 percent of their down the runway with arc cal year and beyond, unless requirement by the end of intent tic fly, not one time retention is improved, he said. this fiscal year," he said. in II years did they cause IAGen. Hudson presented his IAGen. Hudson also ad- damage to the aircraft that testimony March 8. dressed the disparity of avia exceeded $500,t)00 or a death," "Since Oct. 1, 1988, a small for bonus programs among said Capt. Donald Holmes, shortfall of Marine corps services. MAG-24 safety officer. pilots has slowly developed "Marine pilots often serve "That's an incredibly to the point that we are now side-by-side with their Navy impressive record for a short 139 company-grade single-engine and Air Force counterparts plane that Two MALS-24 T/A -4Fs fly over the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Kauai, pilots," said 1.1Gen. Hudson. performing identical or simi- clocks in as many hours as "Although that equates to lar missions, while pilots of this one cities. In fact, it's only five percent of the total the other services receive sig- pretty close to a miracle," sure 185 aircraft operate at life is at stake either. A vogint, in the ,c 1 III 111:11 nut company grade pilot require- nificantly greater financial he said. peak tcerfomance. mechanic could he working who doesn't ment, this insidious decline rewards," he said. While those who fly the "Me pilots have to have next to someone With the T/A-4, if the in the pilot inventory is cause of in us to climb put a bolt on correctly and engine fails, it fails," he "In the past, financial jet are applauded, T/A-4F a lot trust engine falls off. Let me no back-up for concern." been ade- pilots are themselves quick into this piece of metal the said. "There is incentives have tell you, if you're under that engine. So I think this The general said that the quate to attract sufficient to give encores to the grease- that's going to defy gravi- Walk- engine, you're history." record testifies to the fact Corps' current retention rates of high-quality offfv ridden mechanics who main- ty," said SSgt. Terry numbers er, OMD's Flightline Divi SSgt. Walker agreed that that we've maintained the will not sustain our future cers to a career in Marine tain the planes while the the aircraft curtains are down. sion chief. "But I've been 10 years with no Class A engines and pilot farce. aviation, but this may not working in aviation for 10 mishaps is an exceptional exceptionally well." "The Marine Corps has hold true today," he said. That hands-on role is years and I have yet to run record for the T/A-4. Most The OMD is subdivided taken personnel management In closing, the general played by the 35 Marines into anybody who's not MALS-24 Pilots have into eight separate shops. actions to guide pilot reten- asked the subcommittee for in MATS -24's Organiza- conscientious about this flown the twin-engine F-4 The two largest of these are tion up to the required rates. its continuing support in tional Maintenance Divi- job. Phantom. He said they the Flightline and Avionics However, the extent of guiding and protecting the sion (OMD). They make "And not only the pilot's treasure having a back-up divisions. control exercised by the future readiness of Marine See MALS-24 A 2 Marine Corps over pilot re- Corps aviation. iNatA4 Future of aviation is here Police looking out for illegal drinking at H-3 Lookout According to the Military Police Department here, "inside V-22 Osprey lifts off for first time scoop" has it that the H-3 lookout, located outside the 1-1 -3 Gate of the Air Station, has been a popular spot in the past for teenagers to drink alcohol. FORT WORTH, Texas-A a vertical takeoff, accelerated issued to the Allison Gas dent Don Chesnut said, In The Honolulu Police Department has recognized this prototype of the world's first to 20 knots and ended with Turbine Division of General the case of the Marines, the potentially hazardous problem, and, a few nights ago, production tilt-rotor aircraft a run-on landing. Motors in Indianapolis, Ind. V22 is a valuable new according Bell president L. M. Horner weapons system that will began targeting the area for underage drinkers, - the V-22 Osprey - flew V-22 combines the He added IIPD is The called the first flight one of enable them to more effec- to MP Cpl. Gregg Marcantel. that for the first time at Bell Heli- operation capabilities of a as many arrests as needed to ensure the the greatest aeronautical ac- tively project their power to prepared to make copter Textron's Flight Re- helicopter with those of a others. complishments in the last 40 protect our nation's interest." safety of these teens and search Center at Arlington, fixed-wing turboprop with its The MP Department says it is also prepared to assist Texas, March II. years. engines and prop-rotors ver- At the controls of the HPD in this enforcement when Marines and sailors from the Bell in tical. "Today marks, for Osprey were V-22 test pilots the Air Station are involved. The V-22 remained Boeing tilt-rotor team, a day mode, as planned, Dorman Cannon and Dick "It's important to know not only that drinking at any helicopter The V-22 takes-off, hovers, that we have long awaited. nearly 15 Balzer of Boeing. of the lookouts is dangerous, but that it's against state throughout the and lands like a helicopter by The first flight is the accom- The first lift- law to drink on public property as ('pl. Marcantel minute flight. tilting its prop-rotors forward plishment of our next step in "The flight was absolutely off was made from a slow said a milestone soon to be producing an aircraft that perfect - just as planned:' taxi followed quickly by a nin- - Highway robbery? accomplished - the Osprey will provide innovative capa- said Cannon. "I couldn't on landing. The aircraft then for a one. weeks ago, the price of premium unleaded gas at becomes a fast, fuel efficient, bilities for all U.S. military have asked better Two lifted into a hover and per- the objectives Corps Exchange here was a little more than high- attitude turbo-prop air- forces," Horner said. We clearly met the Marine formed a variety of contrai of the first flight," Balzer $1.19 a gallon-roughly fi cents a gallon less than gas plane. motions for evaluation and a "The Osprey's first flight added. "I've flown in a lot sold at Iiickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor. series of hover turns. prototypes ago, the Public Affair Officer compli. Six flight-test marks the beginning of an of different aircraft in my About ten days are being built by team of MCX Officer on this "good deal," noting that The aircraft then performed extensive, well-laid-out flight time, and this truly was the merited the Bell Helicopters of Philadel- thrilling. I'm anxious was a pleasant change of pace. out of ground effect accelera- test effort. There is still a lot most it decelerations. Top phia, under a $1.8 billion full- and to get into the flight test On Friday, the cost of premium unleaded gas was slightly tions and of hard work to he done, speed was limited to 20 knots scale development contract the results will he the produc program where we will he able More than $1.26 a gallon. (23 m.p.h.) rind an altitude of issued by Naval Air Systems tion and world wide delivery to put the Osprey through It may he n coincidence. Still, next time we see a good 30 the test. This Command. of military and civil tiltrotors the paces." deal, we'll keep our mouths shut. feet for of the flight included well into the next century," portion pow.

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