Blackhawk crash on USNS ship

[lowflier03]

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_102309_blackhawk_crash.2445f9494.html

Army Blackhawks were doing ops on a USNS ship. Initial reports are 1 fatality, 8 injuries.

 

[Bevo16]

All of the Navy folks on board are fine. A few minor injuries, but nothing that will require hospitalization.

 

[Swanee]

Holy sh*t... I just realized that we (my TBS company was doing AMFEX this week) saw them take off head out to the boat as we were leaving Little Creek... Not to thread jack but that just gave me some serious chills...

 

[Clux4]

Holy sh*t... I just realized that we (my TBS company was doing AMFEX this week) saw them take off head out to the boat as we were leaving Little Creek... Not to thread jack but that just gave me some serious chills...

I am going to threadjack a little. What the hell is AMFEX? Is that something they just added to the POI?

 

[Swanee]

I am going to threadjack a little. What the hell is AMFEX? Is that something they just added to the POI?

Added a couple years ago. Basically we go tour an LHA/LHD in Norfolk as well as an LSD or other amphib in Little Creek, and we get some familiarization time with LCACs and LCUs and what not at LC. We call it chow fex as we seem to eat a lot...

 

[navy09]

How long have Army guys been flying off USNS ships? Is this a case of "it's so easy, the Navy can do it?" Is their training on par with that of USN rotorheads?

 

[RotorHead04]

How long have Army guys been flying off USNS ships? Is this a case of "it's so easy, the Navy can do it?" Is their training on par with that of USN rotorheads?

I would take a look at the link again, consider which Army Aviation Unit they are talking about, and rethink my comment if I were you. While I am all about the interservice rivalry, when it comes right down to it, there is no doubt in my mind that this was anything but what you are suggesting. "Those guys" are some wickedly good sticks.

 

[Clux4]

How long have Army guys been flying off USNS ships? Is this a case of "it's so easy, the Navy can do it?" Is their training on par with that of USN rotorheads?

I am sure someone had to sign-off for them to perform shipboard operations. Accidents happen. It could be equipment failure, after all, Soldiers also perform fast-rope operations.

I typed too slow and RotoHead04 beat me to it.

 

[navy09]

Thanks to both of you. I'm not trying to suggest anything, just throwing ideas out there. I had never heard of Army guys operating off our ships.

 

[RotorHead04]

And now for the softer side of RotorHead:

There are Army helo units that maintain qualifications to land on ships. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=73676
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=74190
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=76485

Reasons for this training can be as simple as providing options in a MEDEVAC situation to specific SPECWAR tasking. If you look in the NATOPS manuals for the Gators and Air Capable Ships, you will find wind envelopes for many non-Navy/Marine Corps aircraft.

Edit: As Clux4 so astutely pointed out, just cuz a helo crashes, doesn't mean it was necessarily pilot error.

 

[Pags]

And now for the softer side of RotorHead:

There are Army helo units that maintain qualifications to land on ships. Here are a few to whet your appetite:

http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=73676
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=74190
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=76485

Reasons for this training can be as simple as providing options in a MEDEVAC situation to specific SPECWAR tasking. If you look in the NATOPS manuals for the Gators and Air Capable Ships, you will find wind envelopes for many non-Navy/Marine Corps aircraft.

Edit: As Clux4 so astutely pointed out, just cuz a helo crashes, doesn't mean it was necessarily pilot error.

During one of our escapades in Haiti, a carrier had mostly Army helos on board. Immediately following 9/11 a carrier (Kitty Hawk?) deployed with very few FW a/c and instead had numerous Army RW guests, the kind that wear flightsuits without unit patches and nametags.

 

[HeyJoe]

During one of our escapades in Haiti, a carrier had mostly Army helos on board.

160th SOAR Haiti-bound, behold the power of a RFF

 

[HeyJoe]

Thanks to both of you. I'm not trying to suggest anything, just throwing ideas out there. I had never heard of Army guys operating off our ships.

Need to read more threads here then.

 

[HokiePilot]

160th SOAR Haiti-bound, behold the power of a RFF

Correction

 

[HeyJoe]

Correction

Oops, my bad. Thanks!