Letters

Approach, June, 2002

I'm a retired USAF F-16 driver who has been reading Approach since the 1950s and subscribing to it for over 20 years. I thoroughly enjoy your fine magazine, but the February 2002 issue finally has moved me to ask a question that has been bothering me for quite some time. Why does it seem that Navy pilots are so reluctant to declare an emergency? This wasn't a big deal in the Air Force.

An excellent case in point was found in the February article, "Wait! SOP Says No Compound-Unrelated Emergencies." The author says, "... we system compound emergency, at night, with a 500-foot ceiling." The ship (an unidentified cruiser) was giving them all sorts of grief, pushing them to resume the ASW mission, apparently unaware of their true situation. But the author doesn't say they declared an emergency, which, I assume, would have gotten the ship off their back while they worked the problem.

Over the years, I have concluded that using the "E" word over the radio must be seriously frowned upon in naval aviation. In countless Approach articles, the pilots and aircrews did not declare it. So I'm finally asking the experts.

LtCol. Hank Kramer, USAF(Ret.)

You raise an interesting question. Are naval aviators reluctant to declare an emergency? Aircrew study the NATOPS emergency-procedures section and carry the pocket checklist on flights to assist during emergencies. The aircrew also can discuss their emergency situation with squadron reps, wing and other ship personnel. The decision to declare an "E" naturally sets a lot of wheels into motion, all with the sole intent to help the aircrew. So, why hesitate to make the call? Are LtCol. Kramer`s observations valid? Send comments to: jstewart@safetycenter.navy.mil.--Ed.