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Here’s my informed viewpoint: - There are no excuses about corona, family stuff, etc...AIB/SIBs love to list everything, including which brand of knock-off cheerios he ate at breakfast, so don’t read too much into things of that nature. The AIB overemphasized these things/people are reading too much into them. - The RC is a breakdown in crosscheck from ~FAF and in. It is standard to use speedhold, it is not standard to keep speedhold on for landing. Normally you discontinue use of speedhold at some point prior to landing, but he was distracted by his fucked up HMD (e.g. “HUD”) and he lost crosscheck of his airspeed/fact speedhold was still engaged. He did in fact transfer to a visual approach (i.e. “no HUD”), just as many of you have lamented him for “not doing,” but the downfall was dropping AOA out of his crosscheck. Had he cross checked, he would have realized he was fast and made the appropriate correction. There is some negative transfer from the Strike Eagle that contributed to the above problem; but might be SE Priv...don’t know. - The “HUD” issue: It sometimes gets fucked and displays invalid attitude information...so yeah, think about the main attitude reference you look at being out of whack at night, flying an approach over the black hole of the bay. It’s pretty disorienting. There are other options and you can ignore it, so not an excuse, but it is not just a “millennial” thing. Trust me, I grew up on no datalink/helmet/9M only/visual formation (including takeoff/landings...yay!); also still use a 1:50 map in CAS and am more efficient/accurate than all those young guys trying to keep everything digital on their displays. So I get it. But, the first time I saw this shit in the TX, coupled with LM’s flippant attitude towards it, sent me ballistic. I honestly can’t believe we haven’t crashed more jets due to this problem. It’s a massive safety of flight issue, yet who knows when/if ever it’ll be fixed. If someone dies with one of these things as a CF, I hope LM gets sued for billions. - Nobody knew about the portion of control laws he got into, except a few folks at LM holding their cards close...literally not written in T.O.s, etc. Another “go fuck yourself LM” thing. When he landed and immediately realized what was going on, the jet did not act like he thought it would; his control inputs were normal/as any of us would have done in the same situation. He was unable to go around due to the jet essentially ignoring what he wanted. So, while he could have avoided this situation by the earlier cross check discussion above, its ludicrous the jet would not react properly to your control inputs at such a critical phase of flight. Checks in the mail how this might be changed in future S/W drops. For now, at least the community knows this can happen, and frankly it was only a matter of time before some guy in the CAF unintentionally played test pilot and lost. Huge foul on this not being a warning in the T.O.s or something to that effect. Bottom line that every pilot can take away: This was not so much an over reliance on technology as it was a distraction that led to fixation, and a break down of basic instrument crosscheck (at night, with no peripheral vision). Establish solid habit patterns that will keep your instrument crosscheck from breaking down, while actively ensuring you do not fixate on a problem and drop the rest of the crosscheck. Remember the guys who were trying to change a light bulb and crashed in the Everglades, or just about every pilot who has CFIT’d? This loss of SA due to basic speed/altitude/position crosscheck breakdown is the the type of thing that has caused tens of thousands of aviation accidents at this point. It is agnostic to airframe and every single one of us is capable of distraction leading to bad/no crosscheck. God knows I’ve been in countless situations where I “broke the chain” in my own cockpit far too late for comfort, but here I am, wiser and alive. So many times it could have been the other way around in a matter of seconds. So, I took something from this mishap, and it wasn’t “fucking SNAPs and their reliance on Gucci shit!”

ATCer here. I'm a Tower guy, so explaining what Center/Tracon dudes do can be difficult because 1) it wasn't me and 2) the equipment and rules they use are very different (even from each other). As absurd as this guy with the phone seems, keep in context the terrain surrounding the area, and the locations of radar antennae and radio transmitter/receivers - for Centers they're optimized for talking to people in the flight levels above 10k, and around terrain (which there's lots of in that area) you lose line-of-sight and radar contact/comms very quickly below those altitudes. Assuming the aircraft is semi-controllable, which it obviously was, and someone on a multi-crew aircraft is able to maintain communications, passing along a phone number while you can is a prudent move and it wasn't just so the mishap aircraft could cancel IFR on the ground. There's lots of info needed and it's likely that was rapidly going to be the only way to communicate with the Center, who can pass around useful stuff like Lat/Longs and other crucial info for emergency response and not just rely on eyewitnesses calling 911. Also do J-models have integrated Sat Phones, like the C-17's Aero-I? Also where this occurred is just beyond the eastern fringes of the servicing approach, SoCal Tracon (SCT), and at the lower levels of Los Angeles Center (ZLA). SCT in the area is really set up to work the Palm Springs TRSA and to feed/sequence the satellite airports in the area (Bermuda Dunes and Thermal), and there's a basic ATC procedure of not forcing radio frequency changes on emergency aircraft unless better handling will result. Someone in an emergency descent from the low twenties or teens (not sure where MC-130s do their A/R) isn't a whole lot of time to work with beyond an emergency point out as you blow through someone else's airspace. Finally the LiveATC tape was edited so not all the comms are there. Anyway consider the limfacs, don't just look at it as quibbling. Very very happy there was such a happy end result. America!

The MOST BASIC part of being an aviator is composed of two parts: A) Takeoff and B) Landing. Lots of other stuff can happen in-between those two events but you have to be able to master those two if you want to take the very expensive war machine and refuel, rearm, and go kill more bad guys and break their stuff. How a $400,000 helmet slapped onto the noggin of an "experienced" IP flying a $176 Million dollar machine landing VF "friggin" R on a huge a$$ piece of concrete can screw that up resulting in destruction of said cosmic aircraft shows a tremendous lack of proficiency and/or training in basic flying skills. Just absolutely stupid for that to happen.

Terrible, isn’t it? I’ve ceased being amazed by all the ridiculous things acquisitions/contracting/LM has done in relation to the program. Don’t get me wrong, the jet is awesome and extremely capable in many ways, but there are so many overlooked things when it comes to basic shit like flying an ILS, not having a HUD, a disaster of a helmet that is not even in the same league as Scorpion/HMIT, etc. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen “do some pilot shit” to salvage a poor approach. I think culturally in the fighter world there is a lot of lip serviced paid, but reality is going around on a full stop attempt is an “emotional event” for most. It shouldn’t be, but it sure seems that way. Guys are so against diverting (fear of unknown/going somewhere new), don’t want to be “the one guy” who couldn’t land on first attempt out of the entire go (ego), etc. It’s a bad cultural precedent and it’s been around my entire fighter career. I don’t know how to fix it, because saying “just go around if it doesn’t look right” or “no worries if you guys have to divert” isn’t cutting it. Maybe actually having defined criteria to meet by X AGL/distance to runway or else go around would be good (ala Airlines). Never seen anything like that published or definitively talked about in the fighter world (but certainly have in the civilian world).

I am officially a has-been. My fini flight was this morning, retirement ceremony this afternoon. Bittersweet to say the least. Getting out of that jet for the last time was a bigger deal than I was expecting. It's been a good ride - 21 years in and 18.5 of the last 19 flying the Mighty-Mighty (quick MC-12 stint in AFG back in '11). I haven't been posting much, but it's about to get a lot less. Thanks to all the warriors out there; keep fighting the good fight. Now I'm one of those guys that thank you for your service. I probably won't buy you lunch though - I'm still a cheap-ass airline pilot. Do your best to keep this place following it's roots - helping people in the fight (or trying to get there). Hasta-la-bye-bye. Evil

Oh lookie, it's children of the magenta "5th gen" style. "tHaT's jUsT tHe aDmIn bRuH". The irony of the intersectionality between 5th gen'er commentary and the PTN/UPTX.X shills does not escape me. Oh well, Uncle hindsight's gotta get back to "standing in the way of progress" and tend to my Luddite affairs now. Horse got loose from the ol' buggy in the final turn again....*shouts in the distance* "runway-airspeed-bank Stan, there ya go, watch your sink Stan...."

Yeah... The whole "he was asking for it" by driving a "drug dealer" car is a bit much. If drug dealers suddenly discover the amazing heated and ventilated seats, near silent road noise, and two panel panoramic sunroof of the Hyundai Sonata, am I supposed change cars to protect myself from unjustified police intervention? America absolutely, positively has a problem with police brutality and general policing philosophy. An analysis of the evidence suggests that this problem is not due to race, but the complex relationships in America between crime, race, poverty, and the history of racism make it easy to blame skin color. But changing the automotive tastes of law-abiding citizens is not the answer.

I'm going to utter some words. I don't post on here often. This liberal, "I'm a victim" crap that is running rampant on here is unbelievable. I am so glad I am out of the military. I worked with and was in command of the victim people. They all, without exception, sucked at their job. Because they were victims, they didn't have to meet standards. Every single one of them, didn't have to meet standards. And I couldn't do anything about it, because the victims always have a medical issue that took all of my time. Some of them were white, some were black, some were asian, some were probably eskimos or heaven forbid Canadians. But the victim people always sucked at doing their jobs. And they drained my time for ridiculous crap. Some clown in here posted their "racist" experience was when they were pulled over because they were driving the same car as a drug dealer. Not a car that I drove when I was paying my way through college, but a car with jacked up tires and a ridiculous paint job - same as the drug dealer. Dude, or dudette, if that's the best you got for racism, you are mildly retarded, how about do it my way and not drive the same make model and ridiculous paint job car as the drug dealer. Easy stuff, easy decision. Must be white privilege. There are about 2200 squadrons in the AF. Chances that you got a racist commander: don't take those odds to vegas.

Is there a “just fly like a regular jet” mode?

Go to the unit which is your top pick and more convenient for yourself, your family and your dreams. You've already sworn into one unit, so it's ultimately up to them to let you go, but if they've done their due diligence, they'll have an alternate ready to go. Biggest piece of advice I can give you is to be upfront and honest and let the cards fall where they may. Personally, if we hired a guy that later was hired at his dream assignment, I would be happy for them and do what I could to them get there....and our alternate would be ecstatic. It might be good to get the bosses at each unit in the loop or talking to each other. We hired an enlisted kid from our base who already had a spot at another base (4 states away)...our SQ/CCs talked to each other and it was easy as that. The other squadron released him with well wishes. Unsolicited wisdom: I'm nearing the end of my career in the Air Guard and here are a few things you should digest and never forget, especially if/when you get a family. In the military, noone will ever take care of you, better than you will. Also, when you leave, there will always be someone there to fill the spot and the machine will keep turning. That's not saying you ALWAYS only do what is best for you or otherwise be a shitbag, just that sometimes you have to stick up for yourself and what you want. Best of luck! Based on your scree name, I assume you're former Army? If so, that type of attitude may be a thing over there, but it shouldn't be on this side of things. If that's the mentality within a unit, run (don't walk) away from them as soon as you can. If that's how they treat people with something like this, it will only get worse down the road. Why would you want someone in your unit that would rather be elsewhere?

Excellent posts, especially Brabus'. This is a subject that could generate a ton of additional good posts. Two additional things I find interesting from the report: 1. "According to the MP and other witnesses, landing an F-35 at nighttime is not a mundane task, and is more difficult than a nighttime ILS landing in some of the legacy fighter aircraft." I'm somewhat amazed by this reality. 2. The MP has anomolies approaching Decision Altitude; he believes he has an HMD misalignment while low to the ground; he is manually adjusting the brightness late on final because it was "distracting"; the report states his corrections "placed the HMD misaligned symbology further and uncomfortably short of the runway." He is behind and unstable. Nowhere in the entire report do I see any discussion on the fact he had the option to abort the approach and go-around on short final. We all learned this in our first few months in UPT, and I don't have an explanation as to why the Board didn't address this simple fix, since when it happens again, I would expect the next pilot to go-around/missed. I did a go-around from a less-than-well flown approach less than 24 hours ago. It is so basic... yet has it become insignificant? Go around... get to a safe altitude... smoke a Lucky... sort it out. How does the Board not address this?

Technology is great but it can be a double edged sword when it allows basic flying skills to atrophy. Flying WIC sorties between the various Gunpig models it was obvious some of the crew on the "newer gunships" leaned a bit too much (IMHO), on all whiz-bang gadgets they had. As an example the U Boat had a display in the center of the dash called a Tactical Situation Map (TSM). On 99% of my flights in the UBoat, the Co-Pilots would basically stare at that display rather than look outside. Pilots also tended to spend an inordinate amount of time "inside" the airplane looking at that display. As a dinosaur flying older gunships my first action flying into the threat area was to quickly find visual ques that matched my understanding of the battle space...a road pattern, a set of lights, a river as a boundary...etc. That kept my eyes outside scanning for threats...by the way AAA does not show on the TSM. Finally I started bringing a piece of card board that I would place over the display and tell the WUG, "your TSM just failed...no what are you going to do?" I also saw this reliance in the older gunships when it came to degraded modes of fire. I won't go into all the modes but most of the crew only wanted to shoot in the mode with the most automation. I made sure to shoot a few rounds on each sortie in each mode to keep my skills sharp...often getting raised eyebrows from other members of the crew..."what are the odds that will happen in combat?" On my first combat mission in Afghanistan and several others over the years I was forced by mechanical failures to shoot in a degraded mode and on one mission I was forced to shoot with no input from the system at all...and a bad trigger that required a cadence call to the gunners who were manually pulling a lanyard to fire the 105MM and pushing a pin with a bar to shoot the 40MM....all while I was semi-imposing a manual site on a 23MM that was lighting me up. Lesson learned...use technology as much as possible but have a plan AND be prepared to degrade gracefully and still execute the mission. Old guy rant over.

I’ve not been directly in your shoes UPT board-wise, but I did do interview prep for the airlines, and I’m very glad I did. Sounds like bogidope is along the same lines. Many solid applicants (on paper) end up with sub par interview performance. The interview is what gets you the job in the end, so I think it’s worth spending some money to be as polished as possible. I will take the hockey player with a 3.0 GPA and solid interview over the engineer with a 4.0/99s across the board who had a meh interview.

I’m a victim of your poor grammar, JFC.

Sometimes, one just needs a carriage return. On a separate note, "unfornicate" is not a real word, but passes muster here, as we like alternate ways of saying things.

Hahaha you seem upset, did I say something to "trigger" you? You even resorted to name calling lol. Not sure if your entire post was directed at me, but I'll address your points. Again, I am a black male, right leaning millennial, probably more right after the latest foolishness. I'm not a victim, never said I was. I'm doing damn well right now despite the things I've faced in my past. Doesn't mean I can't bring those things up in discussion. I'm not here to change anyone's mind as I've said before. I'm here to get a different perspective and get an idea of why different people see things the way they do, also to provide my own perspective for others to see. I appreciate all the viewpoints here, even the ones I don't agree with. I was damn good on AD. I have the strats, records, and reputation to prove it. Never DNIF, never pulled off a sortie for any reason. I think that had a lot to do with me getting picked up to go to UPT in the Guard. But I'm not here to dick measure. I know some people just like the ones you described, they come from all sorts of backgrounds. I too commanded (flight) some of them. Know what I did? Had a one on one, one sided discussion on how they needed to unfornicate themselves and pull their weight. If they couldn't, me and the gang picked up the slack. I don't have time for complaints and weakness. As far as my car (1985 Cutlass Supreme) it was trash when I found it. Put rally wheels, white letter racing tires, 2 chamber flow master exhaust, single color (green) paint job, not to mention what I did under the hood. It wasn't the way you described it as, it was a sick car in my opinion. And I worked hard to get it to where I wanted to be. Not the best I have for racism, thats just the example you chose to pull out (sts) and thats fine. Doesn't make what I said not valid. I can write a book about the racist shit I've experienced in the south, you'd downplay that as well I'm guessing. Not going to, those experiences helped make me who I am. Made me more aware of my surroundings, where I can and can't go, and what I can and can't say. Also it made me open my mind to people that think differently than me. They don't know me, what happened in their life to make them see me the way they do? It helped me learn more about the world I was living in and how to live in it. My cutlass was stolen a few years ago. I was able to convince my wife to let me buy another one, and I'm in the middle of bringing it back to glory. I still get racially profiled in it, but that's apart of my life. Here's the thing, I should be able to drive whatever car I want without being pulled over and searched having done nothing wrong. I can get pulled over, unreasonably searched, and I have to comply under the threat of physical harm or death. That's not what freedom is my friend. I should be able to go where I want, when I want, in the car I want. If you're not ok with that, I don't have much for you and that's your opinion. I think your opinion may be that, that example is minuscule, and I agree. Doesn't mean that it's right. Just providing some perspective to the thread, that's all. I want there to be zero racist commanders, but I know that's not possible. I've learned to navigate that. I have many bros that think just like you. I tell all my black friends, I CANNOT and WILL NOT exile people that think the way you do. We need to hear what you have to say as well. Last week I got a bourbon and a cigar with a good friend of mine that has the same line of thinking as you. We talked about it like the grown ass men that we are, learned from each other, shook hands (yes, even during the "pandemic"), and made plans to continue the discussion down the road. That's why I don't post here much. I'd rather sip some Basil Hayden's and have a face to face discussion about these topics. But hey...I could be a mildly retarded clown. Think I've only been called that once, by my dad. Maybe that old bastard is right. Hope you're enjoying being out of the AF. If I run into you down the road, first bourbon is on me.

Huggy, I believe the phrase you’re looking for is “instrument flying [in a fighter] is admin.”

Genus: Russianitis Species: Schiff

#flygate

Generally you speed hold in the instrument pattern then simply press a button on the throttle to hold your AOA at the FAF as you set your flight path marker where you want to touch down. No flare or power modulation required, the throttle rolls back at touchdown. A lot about the jet is rediculously easy and automation can greatly help but over reliance is an issue and sometimes you think something is on/off when it isn’t, get sidetracked such as 6-9 steps to get your ILS symbology and it bites you. The ILS is horrible. I mean worst I’ve ever seen in aviation horrible to include GA. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

If I wasn't/haven't been clear, my apologies. The misuse of national agencies for domestic purposes isn't about "my side" or "your side." My intent, on every post related to this topic, is that if bad things occurred and were directed by the very highest in an agency or in the White House, then there needs to be accountability and punishments for those proven to have committed crimes. Otherwise, it will only continue and become worse because underlings will see that no harm came to leadership that misused the system, so why shouldn't they when they move up in the food chain. If Obama and Company did it and walks with no consequences, then most likely Trump, his successor, and future Administrations are very likely to do the same. Which is against many, many laws designed to safeguard my, and your constitutional rights for merely being an American citizen. An unpunished misuse of national power against our own is not ok and should be punished, regardless of what political affliation. But the same media that was leading the anti-Trump charge, often times at the behest of those same Administration officials who were doing shenanigans, are either ignoring these revelations or actively downplaying/spinning them differently. You do not see much coverage of this on the networks, or the Post, or the NY Times, or the LA Times, ad nauseaum. Mud slinging in politics is one thing. "Orange Man bad" vs. "Sleepy Joe" is fine if stupid. Mr. FBI/CIA/NSA man doing things against fellow Americans for political gain is not. edited to add: I don't think Hillary is to blame for this fiasco. As much as I think she should've been prosecuted for her server complete with multiple TS/SCI/SAP/STO email traffic to/from her, the misuse of the FBI/CIA, probably others (remember ADM Rogers went to the FISA Court during this. What he reported hasn't been made public, but the Obama Administration mounted a campaign to fire him, then backed off suddenly), was at least at the Director of various agencies, if not the White House. Remember Susan Rice's infamous last day in office email to self, "The President directed that everything on this matter be done by the book." BTW, I don't belong to any party. I quit the GOP in disgust in 2016.

Hey, a line number is a line number. Only reason it matters to me is I'm in DC and could use the cash. The rent is too damn high.

The helmet is 2006 (not joking) spec’d technology that is still having issues in 2020. I did a masters paper on it in 2009 and the problems where I visited the factory and talked with engineers. They should have gone with a HUD/Scorpion combo a decade ago. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

Being proficient with automation is a critical pilot skill. Being proficient with hand-eyeball flying is a critical pilot skill. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

This could end up being an excellent case-study on the negatives of over-reliance on cockpit automation when task saturated. I honestly cannot tell if the HUD comment is tongue-in-cheek. I hope it is. I remember years ago when we did a gas-and-go with a four-ship at Laughlin. We grabbed a bite in the Base Ops snack bar and got in a conversation with the students about the C-model. They told us a No-HUD landing was a Special Syllabus event flown dual... and that if the HUD goes out while solo, it was one to a full stop. We initially thought they were kidding. The dreaded "no HUD T-38 landing" has stymied many a great aviator. Maybe some emphasis on proficiency with backup instruments would be a good thing for all communities?

The most basic aviation skill after takeoff is landing the jet. I guess the $400,000+ helmet just isn't adequate to make that happen.

This could go in the other thread but the AF did give me, average joe, non shiny penny, IDE via correspondence only a shot at running a squadron a few months back. So far so good. And for the record you have no idea until you take that guidon what it truly is like.

The AIB has also been released for this event, so I guess they could have read that?

I was at Klamath while you were doing the TX post MC-12 gig. Thanks for taking the time to give some mentoring to a young punk! Best of luck in the future.

If I may offer a completely different perspective. Friend, you haven't lost your drive, your desire, your motivation. You've lost your heart. If you think that you'll be able to jump to the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Homeland Security (all of which have flying) and that said flying job will stir you back to who you want to be by scratching that itch, you're wrong. Oh, don't hear me wrong. The itch is real and so is your disgust with your current situation. Very real, very valid, very potent, and very very treacherous. From what I can hear, the solution you are seeking isn't the real antidote...it's a band-aid...granted, it's a very comforting one, but a short term solution none-the-less. Unless you get your heart back, you will get bled dry by a thousand other tiny cuts that any other institution WILL inflict. The USAF did it to me when I was about 27, and many other's on this board will attest to the same. You need to get your heart back so you can endure that course. My recommendation is to definitely go snowboarding. Take some time to clear the perspective...preferably without a smart phone. Decide about quitting your job afterwards. Take a book with you too: "Becoming a King" by Morgan Snyder. Only 200 pages. It might help you re-discover the real fire and where your heart went. Without your heart, nothing you try will succeed. Rediscover it though, and you're in a whole new ball-game. What I hear about your work situation could benefit, in the short term, from an adjustment of perspective...the cubicle is not the prison, it's the enabling water-fountain and or spring-board to finance your real career/adventure/commissioning. Endure only as much as you have to. Don't jump early, but definitely don't jump late. Leverage it until you don't need it anymore...and it sounds like you still might need it...but I'm just guessing on that last part. Afraid of money mistakes you've made? Ok, don't make those mistakes again. It don't mean you're dumb, it means you've had an experience and learned from it. What you've done DOES NOT define who you are nor what you will do in the future, unless you let it. Go get your heart back. You want a change of career into flying and you won't take no for an answer? Ok. Blitz through your instrument and commercial ratings like you mean it, and start flying night cargo. I'm being completely serious here. Do it. Quit your job and hang it out there. Do it, live in squalor for season, make some mistakes, learn from them, and move on. If that's what it takes to get your heart back, it's FAR better than moving from bad situation to bad solution. That road...the one where you fix today by jumping to what looks like greener pastures in the military...(as several here have alluded to) will only lead you right back to the discontent you feel right now, only it will be worse, because then you'll be saddled with a 8-10 year commitment to the military that you have no choice about. Go get your heart back (pro-tip, let your wife know what's going on, but do not look to her for the answer of finding your heart), then go get your flying career. If those goals coincide, all-the-better, but measure the cost first. You may decide to wait, but don't stand still. Standing still is indecision. Waiting has purpose, meaning, and a trigger to end it. Whatever you do: Don't stand still. FF

How else do you expect them to close their IFR flight plan from a farmer’s field?

I worked in a SOC (Security Operations Center, think of a NOSC with cyber) for a software company but recently was hired as a contractor on a MAF program. I will say cybersecurity, with education and experience in artificial intelligence, is a great sector to be in the new few decades. I'm currently applying for a doctorates program in aviation and space at Oklahoma State and I hope to use my cybersecurity knowledge with advanced persistent threats (APTs) with modern aircraft computing systems.

I feel like this is what the AETC must look like over the last 12 months. Doesn't appear the Guard or Active Duty is any better based on the wait times I am seeing with people selected for those.

Maybe, but how do you fight an enemy like China without mass? What happens when they shoot down 5 of your 20 B-2s and 10 of your ~50 B-1s in the first week? How do you continue to mass effects without the depth on the bench to replace those losses? The F-22 is an awesome aircraft, but what happens when your 4-ship of F-22s encounters 32 J-10s? At some point, you have to start planning to the idea that losses are going to happen, and you need to be able to launch the next day's ATO. You can't do that if you only have a small handful of planes you're planning to task day after day.

The fly is Pence’s one black friend.