View Full Version : Pilot faces charges in death of paratrooper
BMT (RIP)
12-10-2012, 08:08
The Air Force accuses Foley of recklessly endangering Campion’s life on that July 10, 2011, mission by clearing an additional airdrop without gaining approval from his operations command.
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/12/10/2348252/pilot-faces-charges-in-death-of.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy
BMT
Odd case
A "racetrack" was not that unusual not long ago.
Nothing mentioned about the DZSO and DZ Party.
Not a lot of information in the news article.
It looks like the DZ was still active and the pilot made a racetrack. Where was the jumpmaster in all this?
.......... Where was the jumpmaster in all this?
Looking for the Green Light and making sure there is no red smoke on the DZ.
In all this the JM has the easy part. If the crew chief circles his finger and says "Racetrack" just repeat what he just did.
With steerable chutes - I'm assuming they were - and not standing on the ground watching the jumpers and feeling the wind it's hard to tell why one individual would come down on top of a building.
Sometimes a jumper is hoping to hit the DZ and holds into the wind, holds, holds, holds - "Oh Crap! I'm not going to make it!" And then the jumper is too low to maneuver and comes down on whatever is beside the DZ. You need altitude to maneuver so you need to do some mental math pretty quick.
There has to be more to this story..........
Never heard of asking permission for a racetrack. Drop window is a drop window. If they JATT’d this without multiple passes that may be the problem but they must want to hang this pilot for some reason.
Hell I remember a few jumps where the AF trail AC were low and hit jumper chutes and nothing was done like this. One even died but nothing happened to the air crew except a letter of reprimand. They tried to hang the JM but it was determined the first 3 AC were toooo high and the trail AC were at the correct flight level and could not maneuver without endangering AC and pax.
Looking for the Green Light and making sure there is no red smoke on the DZ.
In all this the JM has the easy part. If the crew chief circles his finger and says "Racetrack" just repeat what he just did.
With steerable chutes - I'm assuming they were - and not standing on the ground watching the jumpers and feeling the wind it's hard to tell why one individual would come down on top of a building.
Sometimes a jumper is hoping to hit the DZ and holds into the wind, holds, holds, holds - "Oh Crap! I'm not going to make it!" And then the jumper is too low to maneuver and comes down on whatever is beside the DZ. You need altitude to maneuver so you need to do some mental math pretty quick.
So the pilot racetracks, the JM spots the panels, no red smoke, and puts the jumper out. The jumper (apparently an experienced jumper) makes a bad landing off the DZ, and the the pilot is up for a court-martial.
No scrambled panels, no red smoke (I'm guessing since the JM put him out the door).
There's more than what's in that article. I'm missing the negligence on the pilot's part, other than where he apparently didn't ask for permission to make the final pass.
mark46th
12-10-2012, 17:40
"With steerable chutes - I'm assuming they were - and not standing on the ground watching the jumpers and feeling the wind it's hard to tell why one individual would come down on top of a building." Pete
Can't remember which DZ at Ft Bragg but I landed beside a road. I landed on my feet with my chute falling over the highway just as a truck came around a curve and ran over my chute. We had the old steerable chute with L panels cut out of the back but for some reason, I ended up along the road...
There has to be more to this story..........
Never heard of asking permission for a racetrack. Drop window is a drop window. If they JATT’d this without multiple passes that may be the problem but they must want to hang this pilot for some reason.
Hell I remember a few jumps where the AF trail AC were low and hit jumper chutes and nothing was done like this. One even died but nothing happened to the air crew except a letter of reprimand. They tried to hang the JM but it was determined the first 3 AC were toooo high and the trail AC were at the correct flight level and could not maneuver without endangering AC and pax.
Has me a bit confused too. I recall there's a window of time over target and as long as the pilot is within that window, all's good. He could make as many passes as time allows. But, it's been 18 years since I retired so a lot has probably changed...
http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19210-c-17-pilot-charged-in-training-jump-death/
This Air Force web site has more information, including a quote from the Air Force regulations.
"Since I know nothing about airdrops: Is it standard if the first pass results in off DZ, you KIO and go home? I would just think you'd make corrections and still go for a 2nd pass. Not true?"
...
The short answer is yes; at a minimum you don't do another airdrop. AFI 13-217 covers AF DZ operations, directly out of the reg:
2.21.1 When an off DZ airdrop has been confirmed or suspected, the aircrew invovled will not attempt another drop for the remainder of the mission. In the case of an off DZ drop involving injury or death to personnel, the mission will be terminated and the aircraft will land as soon as possible.
As a Jumpmaster, Pathfinder, etc. who has watched/participated in a few "off DZ" events, I've got to say "What The Fuck" at the Air Force deciding to pack up and go home if someone lands off the DZ.
We used to claim "The world is our dropzone!" Sand, snow, trees, mountains, urban areas, airfields, water, DZs, non-DZs, jungle, etc. I guess that isn't so any longer. Sad if it's not. :(
Richard :munchin
craigepo
12-10-2012, 19:55
Either we aren't hearing the whole story, or the regs have changed a helluva lot since I got out.