Risk Management Magazine

While deployed to an Eastern European country as a chief warrant officer three, I was a maintenance test pilot assigned to a UH-60L air assault company. My unit was more than halfway through our deployment with no major aircraft mishaps. Well, at least none yet.

When you are downrange in an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platoon, everything gets repetitive. You launch your aircraft, fly your mission and land several times every day. The platoon is usually isolated from the rest of your unit and everyone knows the rules of the flight line. It’s when visitors arrive that problems sometimes arise.

It is my hope that others might learn from my experience and never find themselves in an aircraft that’s inverted and ice-covered. If by misfortune you do find yourself there, know you can get out alive.