1
Jan
2018
Let’s face it, we aviators are can-do people. When confronted with adversity, we find a way to accomplish our mission. However, even with the best of intentions, we occasionally do things we later wish we had done differently.
The day started just like any other in Baghdad, Iraq. We began by reviewing the mission plan and manifest for the day.
It’s natural for an aircrew to be focused on performing its mission. But what happens when focus crosses the line into fixation? What happens when situational awareness is momentarily sacrificed in a crowded sky?
Most aviators have experienced quick weather changes during a flight. Those experiences, both good and bad, can affect the way you fly for the rest of your career.
There I was, month 13 of a 15-month deployment. My only thoughts were of going home and reuniting with my family.
There we were one sunny Saturday in December on standby to help fight forest fires when we got the word to launch three aircraft. Everything was uneventful — or so we thought.