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Canopy open: USAF restarts competition for F-16 escape system

Posted on December 22, 2024December 22, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Air Force is restarting the competition to select a new ejection seat for its F-16 fighter fleet. This unexpected move comes after the service initially awarded a sole-source contract for the Next-Generation Ejection Seat (NGES) program to Collins Aerospace in 2020.

54th Maintenance Squadron egress system specialists remove a canopy from an F-16 Fighting Falcon on March 13, 2017 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Egress system specialists ensure that pilots can safely eject from aircraft in the event of an emergency. They perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on seats, hatches, canopies and modules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Kenney)

Legend” lands for good: Instructor pilot retires with 10,000 hours

Posted on December 22, 2024December 22, 2024 by alert5

Lt. Col. Bob Volpe, call sign “Legend,” retired from active duty on Apr. 12, after an extraordinary U.S. Air Force career. Volpe’s career was marked by an incredibly rare achievement: he logged over 10,000 flight hours. This milestone, seldom reached by pilots in the Air Force, solidifies Volpe’s place in aviation history.

Lt. Col. Robert Volpe, an instructor pilot in the 5th Flying Training Squadron, celebrates reaching 10,000 flying hours in the Air Force Oct. 25, 2023, at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. Volpe achieved this milestone while training a student pilot to fly the T-6A Texan II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Ornelas Jr.)

Singapore hosts planning conference for Cope Tiger 2025

Posted on December 19, 2024 by alert5

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is hosting the Final Planning Conference (FPC) for Exercise Cope Tiger 2025, marking the initial phase of the large-scale air combat exercise. The conference, taking place from Dec. 16 to 20, in Singapore, brings together key participants from the RSAF, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), and the United States Air Force (USAF).

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Canadian pilots take to the skies with RAF on Poseidon training mission

Posted on December 18, 2024December 18, 2024 by alert5

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilots have begun intensive training with the Royal Air Force (RAF) on the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. This collaboration marks a crucial phase in the RCAF’s transition to the advanced platform, replacing the aging CP-140 Aurora fleet. The training is taking place at RAF Lossiemouth, a key hub for Britain’s Poseidon operations.

A Canadian exchange pilot and rear crew observers train on UK Posedion P-8A. They have started the flying phase of the Poseidon Conversion Course.

Photo: RAF
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SPYDR device certified ‘Safe to Fly’ after extensive U.S. Air Force testing

Posted on December 18, 2024December 18, 2024 by alert5

A new device aimed at preventing potentially life-threatening emergencies for pilots has been certified for use by the U.S. Air Force, marking a significant leap in aircrew safety. The SPYDR device has been certified as safe for use on select aircraft by the service, following an extensive test and evaluation process. The device, developed by Spotlight Labs, is a small earcup equipped with integrated sensors that monitor blood oxygen and heart rate by resting on an artery beneath the ear. This real-time monitoring capability aims to provide early warnings of potentially dangerous physiological events (PEs) before they escalate into emergencies for pilots and other aircrew.

Inflight physiologic monitoring systems light up and prepare to collect physiological data in flight with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, August 6, 2024. The human performance testing focused on analyzing the effects of long duration flights on aircrew performance, gathering real-time data directly from pilots before, during and after flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Rebecca Abordo)

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