Monthly Award Winners - aircraft and weapons safety

Combat Edge, Dec, 2002

Pilot Safety Award of Distinction

Major Max Marosko was the instructor pilot on a two-ship F-i 50 sortie during August 2002. While the student syllabus sortie was uneventful, he was unaware that his aircraft's nose gear steering cable had failed. As the nose gear contacted the runway on landing, the F-l5C took an uncommanded vector of approximately 15 degrees to the right of centerline. Maj Marosko quickly assessed the situation and ran the required emergency checklist procedures, but they failed to have any effect. He determined that a go-around was impossible because the aircraft was heading toward the runway infield and parking ramp. After exhausting all possible means to keep the F-15 on the prepared surface, Maj Marosko shut down the engines, preventing any foreign object damage to them. Using his knowledge of the local airfield, he successfully kept the aircraft on stable ground as it departed the runway. Maj Marosko elected not to eject, remained with the aircraft, and used exceptional aviation skills to safely stop the F-15 in the inf ield. No personnel were injured and the less than $4,000 damage to the $35 million F-15C was quickly repaired so the plane could be returned to flying. Maj Marosko's time-critical decision-making and airmanship avoided a potential Class A mishap while conserving vital Air Force resources.

Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction

On July 2,2002, the crew of Zapper 21, an EC-130H, departed on a scheduled 4-hour night pilot proficiency sortie. The departure and cruise to Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz., were uneventful. Upon receiving clearance to descend, the copilot turned off the autopilot and reduced the power. Shortly after beginning the descent, the aircraft experienced several uncommanded nose down inputs followed by several uncommanded nose up inputs. These uncommanded inputs consisted of the yoke moving forward or aft about 2 inches and staying there for 2 seconds. While the copilot was able to override the uncommanded movements with about 40 pounds of pressure, they recurred about every 45 seconds. The pilot took control of the aircraft and proceeded to holding to perform a controllability check. As the pilot approached holding airspace, the symptoms intensified. The pressure needed to override the controls increased (80 to 100 pounds of pressure) and the interval between occurrences decreased to 15 seconds. The pilot dec ided to forgo the controllability check, declare an emergency, and land the aircraft immediately. While on final approach, the pitch inputs became so severe that the efforts of both pilots were required to control the aircraft. During landing flare, the nose of the aircraft pitched up. Over 150 pounds of force was required to force the plane to land. The crew of Zapper 21 displayed excellent crew coordination, systems knowledge, and pilot judgment to recover a crippled EC-130H with a severe elevator control malfunction. They tackled a problem that is not outlined in any technical manual and safely wrestled an uncontrollable aircraft to the ground.

Ground Safety Award of Distinction

As the squadron's Installation Security Superintendent, MSgt Brent Belcoff expertly manages over 200 Security Forces (SF) personnel in their protection of over 11,000 base personnel and residents. He has taken numerous steps to diminish the risk of injuries to SF personnel at the installation's four control points: identified the need of "neighborhood" speed-bumps on each inbound lane of three control points; procured 50 neon police labeled traffic control vests for all patrols and traffic control personnel; ensured operation of light-alls at main gate during hours of darkness and reduced visibility; with the assistance of the 355th Civil Engineering (CE) Self-Help section, constructed and installed two aqua misting systems at two gates, preventing heat stroke and dehydration; and purchased the first of four 355th Support Group-funded Way Cool fans for control points. After conducting 3 months of research through the 355th Medical Group Public Health section and the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona, MSgt Belcoff identified Tucson as being the world's leading city per-capita for skin cancer. As a result, he was handpicked to develop and illustrate a $1 ,200,000 "desert smart" environment package for 12th Air Force. It consisted of three overhangs, to be installed over the inbound lanes at three gates, and required SF personnel to wear Desert Camouflage Uniforms (DCUs). To defer the initial $120,000 uniform issue costs, he was able to obtain $40,000 in uniforms. MSgt Belcoff also created "First Responder" patrol kits with cardiopulmonary resuscitation barriers and face shields to protect patrols deployed to incidents involving blood-borne pathogens. As the flightline supervisor during the 2002 Aerospace & Arizona Days, he provided support for over 275,000 visitors and SF personnel. During his supervision of a 16-person security detail, supporting a Summer Jamboree Styx Concert at the Fort Huachuca Army Post, he initiated and successfully performed Self Aid Buddy Care (SABC) procedures on a concert attendee that was having an allergic reaction to peanut oil. MSgt Belcoff is the epitome of a wing safety role model.