Introduction About China

Where is China Located ? China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a sovereign state located in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of over 1.35 billion. Read more

Thursday, December 13, 2012

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Intelligence Council Poses Four Worlds of the Future

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:14 PM PST

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Intelligence Council Poses Four Worlds of the Future
12/13/2012 05:59 PM CST

Intelligence Council Poses Four Worlds of the Future

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - Prediction is an inexact science.

The 1939 New York World's Fair was billed as a look at tomorrow, and nations built pavilions and presented their latest inventions along with how they believed they would change the world.

One large part of the Fair itself was called "Futurama" -- a scale model of what planners believed would be America in 1960. The model had futuristic homes, urban complexes, bridges, dams and an advanced highway system which envisioned speeds of 100 mph.

The visionaries of 1939 did not anticipate suburbs, satellites, an oil embargo, nuclear energy or apparently where all those 100 mph cars were going to park.

The National Intelligence Council, which supports the Director of National Intelligence by providing long-term strategic analysis, has learned from instances like this and presents a range of options in its publication World Trends 2030.

The council posits four possible worlds in 2030: stalled engines, fusion, gini out-of-the-bottle and nonstate world.

"Gini" refers to the gini coefficient, which is a statistical measurement of income inequality.

The stalled engine world predicts a planet where the risk of interstate conflict rises due to a new great game in Asia. This scenario is a bleak one. "Drivers behind such an outcome would be a U.S. and Europe that turn inward, no longer interested in sustaining their global leadership," the report says. This scenario envisions the Euro Zone unraveling, causing Europe's economy to tumble.

The stalled engine world also sees the U.S. energy revolution failing to materialize -- despite current trends that suggest the U.S. will be a future energy exporter.

This scenario is most likely to lead to conflict between nations over scarce resources, but this scenario does not necessarily envision major conflagrations. Economic interdependence and globalization would be mitigating factors.

The fusion scenario represents the other end of the spectrum.

"This is a world in which the specter of a spreading conflict in South Asia triggers efforts by the U.S., Europe and China to intervene and impose a ceasefire," the report says. "China, the U.S. and Europe find other issues to collaborate on, leading to a major positive change in their bilateral relations, and more broadly leading to worldwide cooperation to deal with global challenges."

This scenario sees China adopting political reforms and Chinese leaders managing growing nationalism. Fusion sees more multinational organizations.

"In this scenario, all boats rise substantially," the report says. Developing economies rise, but so do those in developed countries. Under fusion, the American dream remains a reality with the council seeing U.S. incomes rising by $10,000 over a decade.

"Technological innovation -- rooted in expanded exchanges and joint international efforts -- is critical to the world staying ahead of the rising financial and resource constraints that would accompany a rapid boost in prosperity," the report says.

The genie out-of-the-bottle scenario is a world of extremes, but somewhere between the stalled engine and fusion scenarios. This scenario sees winners and losers in the global commons; a core group of the European Union remaining while others -- those not doing well economically -- fall away.

In the "gini" scenario the United States remains the preeminent power but it doesn't play global policeman. Energy producing nations see prices fall while they fail to diversify their economies. "Cities in China's coastal zone continue to thrive, but inequalities increase and split the [Communist] Party," the report says.

Global growth continues, but it is uneven. More countries fail in part because of the failure of international organizations.

"In sum, the world is reasonably wealthy, but it is less secure as the dark side of globalization poses an increasing challenge in domestic and international politics," the report says.

The final scenario -- the nonstate world -- sees nonstate actors taking the lead in confronting global challenges. Nonstate actors include nongovernmental organizations, multinational businesses, academic individuals, wealthy individuals and cities.

"The nation state does not disappear, but countries increasingly organize and orchestrate 'hybrid' coalitions of state and nonstate actors which shift depending on the issue," the report says.

This is a complex and diverse world that favors democracies. "Smaller, more agile countries in which the elites are also more integrated are apt to do better than larger countries that lack social or political cohesion," the report says.

By its nature, the nonstate world would be uneven and would carry its own dangers. Some global problems would be solved because the networks would coalesce to solve them but others would not. Security threats would increase because not all nonstate actors are benign. Access to lethal and disruptive technologies could expand, "enabling individuals and small groups to perpetuate violence and disruption on a large scale," according to the report.

The four worlds suggested in the report could happen or something altogether different may occur also. The report notes that unplanned, unforeseen events can change all of this.

The example of the New York World's Fair extends here too. While the Fair opened in 1939, it reopened in 1940. Two nations that sponsored buildings in 1939 -- Czechoslovakia and Poland -- had ceased to exist when the Fair returned in 1940.
 
Related Sites:
National Intelligence Council
NIC Global Trends

Related Articles:
National Intelligence Council Forecasts Megatrends
Global Trends Report Discusses Game Changers


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Panetta Meets with U.S., Afghan Leaders

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:13 PM PST

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Panetta Meets with U.S., Afghan Leaders
12/13/2012 06:03 PM CST

Panetta Meets with U.S., Afghan Leaders

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, 2012 - Over two days in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has met with U.S. and Afghan leaders here and in Kandahar, gathering information he says will help inform the decision President Barack Obama will soon make on troop levels there after 2014.

Last night here Panetta spent an hour-long meeting with Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan.

Afterward, Panetta and Allen attended a dinner with other military leaders. The event was closed to press but according to a pool report Panetta and Allen each made comments while photographs were being taken before dinner.

Panetta walked around the table, shaking hands with each general officer in attendance, including Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Thomas, commanding general at Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan; Army Maj. Gen. William C. Mayville, ISAF Regional Command-East commander; Army Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, commander of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan; Army Maj. Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commander of ISAF Regional Command-South and others.

Allen said the leaders here were honored to have Panetta with them for a candid conversation and to hear the secretary's guidance and views.

Panetta wished them all the best for the holidays, adding that the people of the United States appreciate their service and sacrifice.

The secretary said he traveled to Afghanistan to understand the "situation on the ground" and plans to meet with Afghan leaders in advance of President Obama's upcoming decision about future troop levels in post-2014 Afghanistan.

This morning, Panetta met with Afghan Minister of Defense Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and Afghan Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang here, then flew to Kandahar Air Field to meet with the leadership of Regional Command-South, including Abrams.

Afterward the secretary spoke with and took questions from troops who serve at RC-South headquarters.

The RC-South area of responsibility includes Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul and Daykundi provinces. The U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division soldiers at headquarters are joined by troops from NATO member nations Albania, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Non-NATO member nations Australia, Jordan and Singapore also have troops there.

Panetta stood in near-freezing temperatures with the troops around him, talking about the progress made in Afghanistan.

"As far as I'm concerned, 2011 was a real turning point. We've seen levels of violence go down. We've seen that the Taliban has found it almost impossible to regain any of the territory that they lost during that period," he said.

The Afghan army now conducts 85 percent of patrols, he said.

"That's moving it in the right direction," Panetta said. "They're taking over more and more of the responsibility, which has to happen if we're eventually going to have an Afghanistan that can secure and govern itself."

Every country that has troops in Afghanistan has spilled blood over nearly 11 years to complete the mission there, the secretary said.

"The bottom line is that those sacrifices -- all of those sacrifices -- are not in vain," Panetta said. "We have made good progress in achieving the mission that we're embarked on, and it's because of all of you."

"That's why I'm here -- to say thank you for all of your service and for your sacrifice. Thank you for giving back -- giving back in duty is the kind of service that is at the heart of our strength," he added.

"Military strength, as far as I'm concerned ... none of that would be worth a damn without the men and women in uniform who serve this country. You are the real strength of our military power," Panetta said.

In response to a question from one of the troops, Panetta said his proudest achievements as defense secretary include working with the Joint Chiefs and other military leaders to formulate a new defense strategy for the future, and helping open up service in the military to anyone who wants to serve by expanding roles for women and in 2011 ending the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

"I think that when it comes to serving the United States of America, anybody who wants to serve this country ought to have the opportunity to do it," he said.

After Panetta and his group left Kandahar and returned to Kabul, insurgents detonated a vehicle bomb near Kandahar Airfield, killing one service member and wounded three others and several Afghans.
 
Biographies:
Leon E. Panetta
Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen

Related Sites:
Special Report: Travels With Panetta
NATO International Security Assistance Force

Related Articles:
Insurgents Attack Near Kandahar Airfield


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

National Guard Bureau Guard News Update

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:13 PM PST

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Mass. celebrates National Guard's birthday with headquarters grand opening
12/13/2012 11:52 AM EST

Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray joined Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, to celebrate the 376th birthday...

Slovenian armed forces, Colo. National Guard cultivate innovative range training ideas
12/13/2012 11:52 AM EST

For more than a week in November, two Slovenian armed forces members visited Colorado National Guard and active duty military ranges to procure styles, ideas and techniques on revamping their ranges in Slovenia.

D.C. National Guard hosts rehearsal for 57th presidential inauguration
12/13/2012 11:52 AM EST

The D.C. National Guard joined hundreds of active-duty and Reserve military members and D.C. and federal officials during a two-day inauguration rehearsal at the D.C. National Guard Armory.

This email was sent to smart_z64.1111@blogger.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: National Guard Bureau · AHS 2 · 111 South George Mason Drive · Arlington, VA 22204 · 800-439-1420 Powered by GovDelivery

Close U.S.-Philippine Ties Aid Typhoon Relief Efforts

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 03:23 PM PST

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Close U.S.-Philippine Ties Aid Typhoon Relief Efforts
12/13/2012 04:57 PM CST

Close U.S.-Philippine Ties Aid Typhoon Relief Efforts

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - Praising the Philippine government for its "tremendous efforts" after Typhoon Pablo, internationally known as Typhoon Bopha, dealt a devastating blow there last week, the top U.S. commander in the Asia-Pacific region credited the close alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines for paving the way for U.S. forces to quickly provide assistance.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
Philippine service members and U.S. Marines palletize relief supplies at Villamor Air Base in Manila during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, Dec. 13, 2012. After palletizing the gear, the Marines transported the supplies via KC-130J Hercules aircraft to Davao International Airport for further distribution to citizens in need throughout Mindanao, the region of the Philippines most affected by Typhoon Pablo, internationally known as Typhoon Bopha, which made landfall Dec. 4. The Marines are landing support specialists with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and embarkation specialists with 3rd MLG and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Jean-Scott Dodd
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, also condemned North Korea's missile launch this week as detrimental to the security environment, "not only in East Asia, but the rest of the world."

During a joint news conference today in Manila with Gen. Jessie Dellosa, chief of staff of the Philippine Armed Forces, Locklear expressed condolences for the hundreds lost in the aftermath of the typhoon and commended efforts the Philippine military is undertaking to support recovery and relief operations.

Locklear also recognized U.S. forces that were already in the Philippines when the typhoon struck Dec. 4, and quickly shifted gears to lend support. Some were members of III Marine Expeditionary Force participating in a planning conference for the upcoming Balikatan 13 exercise, and others included special operators working with the Philippine military.

The Marines stood up the III MEF forward command element and are using it as a base to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support at the Philippine government's request. They are coordinating those requests with the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance.

"We have personnel with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Pacific Air Forces, OFDA, Joint-U.S. Military Assistance Group-Philippines and Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in the bilateral coordination center in order to prioritize and synchronize humanitarian assistance and relief efforts, which ultimately makes that coordination more efficient," said Marine Corps Col. Mark J. Menotti, the officer in charge of the III MEF FCE.

Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 also arrived in Manila from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, Dec. 8 to transport relief supplies to affected areas, according to Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jason W. Julian, the commanding officer of VMGR-152, part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF.

"The established partnership we have ensured swift coordination with U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, and allowed for the transportation of live-saving supplies from Manila to communities isolated by severe infrastructure damage," Locklear said today. "This type of coordination and response to such a calamity would not be possible if not for the robust relationships already in place between our two countries."

Locklear said he anticipates more bilateral and multinational training focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response that ensures regional nations are prepared to respond together when necessary.

"The things that you practice together to do that improve your operability, your information sharing, your intelligence, your common and shared values and goals," he said. "All of those add value, not just in [humanitarian assistance and disaster response], but in any contingency ... down the road."

Participating today in meetings of the Philippine-U.S. Mutual Defense Board/Security Engagement Board, Locklear said he and Philippine leaders focused on their 61-year alliance and ways to strengthen it to serve the national interests of both countries in the future.

The board represents "a unique opportunity for the government and military leaders from our two countries to come together and discuss how we work with one another to further advance our ability to respond to such disasters, as well as address shared security challenges, improve bilateral and multilateral relationships and to build upon our mutual defense objectives," Locklear said. "Strengthening the U.S.-Philippine alliance ensures [that] together, we continue to effectively and efficiently contribute to stability and the security in the Asia-Pacific."

Asked by a reporter about the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Locklear called North Korea's missile launch this week, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions "a provocative event" that "is not good for the security environment."

"It was against the wishes of the international community," he said, questioning North Korea's priorities in spending about $1 billion to launch a missile rather than tending to its own citizens' needs.

"We will have to see what transpires from here," the admiral said.

Locklear recognized other challenges in the Asia-Pacific, from climate change and the impact of rising sea levels to the increase in natural disasters in the region to cyberthreats and the spread of terrorism and violent extremism.

The Philippines, one of five U.S. allies in the region, remains a close partner in addressing these and other challenges, he said.
 
Biographies:
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III

Related Sites:
U.S. Pacific Command

Related Articles:
Marines Aid Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Today in the Department of Defense, 12/14/2012

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 02:19 PM PST

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Today in the Department of Defense, 12/14/2012
12/13/2012 04:15 PM CST
Today in the Department of Defense, Friday, December 14, 2012

 

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta is traveling.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter has no public or media events on his schedule.

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Use Pick a Day to go to a different day. Check Other Events for additional listings, including air shows, band concerts, Congressional hearings, reunions and much more.

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Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Obama, Karzai to Discuss U.S. Future in Afghanistan

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 02:18 PM PST

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Obama, Karzai to Discuss U.S. Future in Afghanistan
12/13/2012 03:31 PM CST

Obama, Karzai to Discuss U.S. Future in Afghanistan

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 13, 2012 - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accepted an invitation from President Barack Obama to visit Washington in January, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters here today.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, left, answers a reporter's question during a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 13, 2012. Panetta and Karzai met earlier to discuss regional security items of interest to both nations. DOD photo
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Panetta made the comments during a joint news conference with the Afghan leader after a meeting between the two at the presidential palace.

"I am pleased to inform you that the United States, through our ambassador, has issued a formal invitation to President Karzai from President Obama to meet in Washington during the week of Jan. 7 to discuss a shared vision of Afghanistan beyond 2014," Panetta announced.

A U.S. official said the discussion during the Washington visit will include the United States' post-2014 role in the country.

The meeting will also be an important opportunity to discuss implementing the strategic partnership that Obama and Karzai signed in May, the official added.

Discussion will include progress made in negotiating the Bilateral Security Agreement that would replace the current Status of Forces Agreement, and lay out ground rules for a potential U.S. military presence after 2014, the official said, along with an Afghan-led peace process and the future of Afghanistan's security forces.

As Obama has made clear, the official added, any U.S. presence after the end of the NATO mission would be at the invitation of the Afghan government and aimed at training Afghan forces and targeting the remnants of al-Qaida.

Panetta told reporters this visit is his eighth to Afghanistan in the last four years.

"I personally have witnessed the fact that Afghanistan is moving in the right direction towards achieving the sovereignty and independence it has always desired," the secretary said.

"Through the course of these visits and many other consultations, President Karzai and I have built a friendship and a sustained dialogue that allows us to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead," he added.

Panetta strongly affirmed that the United States supports the aspirations of the Afghan people to be secure and self-governing, adding that forces from 49 countries are working together to achieve that goal.

"Over the last four years we have experienced the ups and downs of war and the challenges associated with that effort, he said, "and yet we have also seen people working together on the ground -- Afghans, Americans, our ISAF nations -- overcoming those challenges."

Panetta said their sacrifice, dedication and commitment have turned the tide of war.

"We now have the opportunity to make these gains lasting. We must be brave enough to seize the opportunity by pressing ahead together with a campaign plan," he said.

The purpose of the military effort is to build the Afghan National Security Forces' capabilities so they can assume full responsibility for security, the defense secretary said.

That strategy "continues to have the full support of the United States and of the international community. The ANSF are out in the front lines as we speak, fighting and dying every day to protect their fellow citizens," Panetta said.

"Last night I had the opportunity to meet with all of our U.S. commanders throughout Afghanistan," the secretary added. "To a person they said the Afghan forces are proving they can do the job."

Continued coalition support for the Afghan forces will include a focus on leadership development, an effort to build their planning, logistics and procurement capabilities, and training that will allow them to provide larger and more complex operations on the battlefield, Panetta said.

Recent progress on security in Afghanistan "makes it all the more important to confront broader strategic challenges that we face, and we are doing that," he said.

Both nations are working more closely to try to get Pakistan to confront the challenge of terrorism and insurgency in safe havens across the border, Panetta said.

The rule of law must be strengthened and the nations must work together "to reduce corruption and promote the quality of governance that will support these hard-won security gains," he added.

"Together with the international community we must promote sustainable economic development, education [and] health care to give the Afghan people the better future they deserve," Panetta said.

For the first time since 9/11, "we have a chance to achieve the mission that we are embarked upon," he said, adding that this will require continued commitment, perseverance, partnership and sacrifice on the part of all nations.
 
Biographies:
Leon E. Panetta

Related Sites:
Special Report: Travels With Panetta
NATO International Security Assistance Force


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Smart Defense Team Helps NATO Face Lean Times

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 01:36 PM PST

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Smart Defense Team Helps NATO Face Lean Times
12/13/2012 03:14 PM CST

Smart Defense Team Helps NATO Face Lean Times

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 - As the cost of militaries increase, NATO allies can benefit from an efficiencies-driven Smart Defense program, Allied Command Transformation officials said here yesterday.

Army Lt. Col. William Brown III, ACT Core Team member, and Richard Perks, ACT Capability Development Strategist spoke with reporters during the 2012 Chiefs of Transformation Conference. The event brings together NATO, partner, industry and government agency professionals to share best practices and expand collaboration.

"What Smart Defense really tries to do is help allies work together," said Perks, adding that even a small uptick in multinational group projects could significantly reduce the burden on individual allies.

"It's about facilitating allies' efficiency in their own defense programs ... and by doing so it's better for NATO," he said.
Brown agreed, noting that NATO aims to build and maintain capabilities that increase its effectiveness and relevance.

"Smart Defense is one of the ways that we are helping the nations to meet the demands of capability requirements as we go forward," Brown said. "We try to align the capabilities, achieve economies of scale and reduce duplication."

To do that, Brown explained, Smart Defense first examines the capabilities under a conceptual lens in helping to produce policy through NATO-level discussion. Next, he said, the core team takes a pragmatic approach to execute the ideas.

"We have 148 Smart Defense projects and proposals that cover a wide range of areas from procurement to training ... a lot of them in the logistical realm," he said.

Brown cited a recent helicopter maintenance success story in which allies merged powers and unearthed major savings.

"Instead of nations having to send their experts and their maintenance people to Afghanistan to do scheduled maintenance on the aircraft, they are able to work together through the NATO logistics committee [in which the U.S.] had the lead and several nations participated," Brown said.

Ultimately, Brown explained, the Smart Defense project saved a nation 1.2 million Euros by enabling it to leave the aircraft in place for repairs instead of sending it back to its home station.

Equally important is operational readiness, Perks said.
"The helicopter stayed there, and whereas it would've been three or four months before it was available again, it was available in three or four weeks," he added.

Perks also emphasized that NATO's capabilities are largely rooted in what the allies bring to the alliance. Because some NATO members have experienced difficult financial times, Brown said, Smart Defense is not a new concept, rather one brought to the foreground based on necessity.

Brown also noted the value of smaller countries that have positively impacted the alliance.

"It's great to see a country like Slovakia or the Czech [Republic], who both have robust programs in the chemical and biological area [and] are providing some of the expertise on the projects related to that," Brown said.

The Czech Republic's flight training program has been a feather in the nation's cap, Brown added.

"Instead of every nation having to train five to 10 pilots per year, let's work together on that. You can just imagine fixed costs when you run a flight school," Brown said.

"Smart Defense will continue if we're able to get the mindset included in everybody's beam," he said. "It's not always going to be about pushing projects or proposals under the Smart Defense banner, but we need to make it so that it is included as part of the [NATO Defense Planning Process]."

NATO's defense planning process, according to Brown, is a top-down approach where the requirements for member nations are being provided by NATO, while Smart Defense helps provide a bottom-up feed with the projects and proposals the nations use.

"The nations have come up with these ideas," Brown said. "If they believe that a project is important for them to pursue, the fact that they're working in a multinational effort instead of trying to do it themselves ... you see the efficiencies of these projects as they go forward."

Perks shared Brown's sentiment.

"Smart Defense addresses the fiscal reality head on," Perks said. "Capabilities are big, they're expensive, they're complex and it's increasingly difficult to build them, so we have to come together -- it's the way ahead."
 
Related Sites:
NATO Allied Command Transformation
NATO

Related Articles:
Admiral Addresses NATO Transformation Challenges, Solutions
Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts
Training, Resource Sharing Boost NATO Transformation Initiatives


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Admiral Addresses NATO Transformation Challenges, Solutions

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 01:35 PM PST

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Admiral Addresses NATO Transformation Challenges, Solutions
12/13/2012 02:34 PM CST

Admiral Addresses NATO Transformation Challenges, Solutions

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 - With fiscal challenges affecting the U.S. and Europe, many NATO member nations are bracing for reductions in military capabilities and forces, a senior official said here yesterday.

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, deputy chief of staff for capability development for NATO's Allied Command Transformation based here, said the two-day Norfolk 2012 Chiefs of Transformation Conference enabled command officials and NATO members to work together on their transformation priorities. The network unites hundreds of NATO partner, industry and government agency professionals to share best practices and expand collaboration.

"The conference is a culmination of a year-plus of work in the rearview mirror and the beginning of a year-plus of work in the headlamps," Pottenger said, noting the commitment of NATO's 28 member nations and 17 partner countries.

Amid an uncertain global economic climate many NATO member nations are bracing for reductions in military capabilities and forces.

"There is certainly anxiety, but also realism in capitals in doing what they can now and setting the stage for the future," Pottenger said.

At the conference, European nations discussed strategic priorities and how they'll provide security and defense with reduced forces. Efficiencies programs such as Smart Defense and the Connected Forces Initiative are designed to allay anxieties and provide opportunities to mitigate fiscal concerns.

The admiral acknowledged that every NATO organization or agency will face cuts as well as mandates to become more cost-effective.

"We'll have about 80 percent of the equipment we have now through the next decade," Pottenger said. "But we know that nations don't have the ability to invest in new equipment and capabilities right now."

Pottenger said the remaining 20 percent of the calculation represents either future capabilities or investment necessary in existing capabilities to keep them from becoming obsolete

While cyberdefense, ballistic missile defense and improved explosive device technologies will be imperatives, the admiral believes training, education and under-used resources such as reserve forces will also emerge as mainstays.

Many European nations still use a somewhat "Cold War mobilization construct," similar to how U.S. forces mobilized in decades past, Pottenger said.

"We've completely reimagined how we use our reserve forces in the United States and so have some other nations," she said. "Let's share those best practices and organize existing forces to deliver more effect."

The admiral also recognized the significance of joint and coalition partnerships and the need to retain the teamwork concept as the Afghanistan mission winds down.

"[]The International Security Assistance Force] is a stunning example of joint and coalition success in operations," Pottenger said. "We won't have that compelling factor of doing stuff together anymore -- the boots on the ground."
 
Biographies:
Navy Vice Admiral Carol M. Pottenger

Related Sites:
NATO Allied Command Transformation
NATO

Related Articles:
Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts
Training, Resource Sharing Boost NATO Transformation Initiatives


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Army Releases November Suicide Data

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 12:58 PM PST

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Army Releases November Suicide Data
12/13/2012 02:45 PM CST
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 978-12
December 13, 2012
Army Releases November Suicide Data

            The Army released suicide data today for the month of November.  During November, among active-duty soldiers, there were 12 potential suicides:  one has been confirmed as a suicide and 11 remain under investigation.  For October, the Army reported 20 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers; since the release of that report, one case has been removed for a total of 19 cases: nine have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under investigation.  For 2012, there have been 177 potential active-duty suicides:  113 have been confirmed as suicides and 64 remain under investigation.  Active-duty suicide number for 2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation. 

            During November, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 15 potential suicides (12 Army National Guard and three Army Reserve):  two have been confirmed as suicide and 13 remain under investigation.  For October, among that same group, the Army reported 13 potential suicides; since the release of that report, one case has been removed for a total of 12 cases (eight Army National Guard and four Army Reserve); six have been confirmed as suicides and six remain under investigation.  For 2012, there have been 126 potential not on active-duty suicides (84 Army National Guard and 42 Army Reserve):  97 have been confirmed as suicides and 29 remain under investigation.  Not on active-duty suicide numbers for 2011:  118 (82 Army National Guard and 36 Army Reserve) confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation. 

            "As part of the Army's team-based and holistic approach to suicide prevention and stigma reduction, Army chaplains remain committed to fostering a resilient and ready force by enhancing strength, reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking behaviors," said the Army's Maj. Gen. Donald L. Rutherford, Chief of Chaplains.  "Our soldiers, families and civilians are our most precious resource, and the chaplaincy embodies the best of our Army values when it proclaims hope, embraces community, and stands with those who feel they stand alone." 

             Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org . 

            Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in newly revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) at: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r600_63.pdf and Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention) at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_24.pdf . 

            The Army's comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Program information is located at http://www.preventsuicide.army.mil . 

            Suicide prevention training resources for Army families can be accessed at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/training_sub.asp?sub_cat=20 (requires Army Knowledge Online access to download materials).  

            Information about Military OneSource is located at http://www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental United States.  Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource website for dialing instructions for their specific location. 

            Information about the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program is located at http://www.army.mil/csf/ . 

            The Defense Center for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) Outreach Center can be contacted at 1-866-966-1020, via electronic mail at Resources@DCoEOutreach.org and at http://www.dcoe.health.mil . 

            The website for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is http://www.afsp.org/ and the Suicide Prevention Resource Council site is found at http://www.sprc.org/index.asp .
 

Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

General Officer Announcements

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 11:49 AM PST

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General Officer Announcements
12/13/2012 01:27 PM CST
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 975-12
December 13, 2012
General Officer Announcements

            Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced today that the President has made the following nominations: 

            Army Col. Christopher S. Ballard has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Ballard is currently serving as director, Army Cyber Operations Integration Center/G-3, Second Army/U.S. Army Cyber Command, Fort Belvoir, Va. 

            Army Col. David G. Bassett has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Bassett is currently serving as deputy program executive officer, Combat Support and Combat Service Support, Warren, Mich. 

            Army Col. Donald C. Bolduc has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Bolduc is currently serving as commander, Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. 

            Army Col. Edward M. Daly has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Daly is currently serving as commandant, U.S Army Ordnance School, U.S. Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, Va. 

            Army Col. Malcolm B. Frost has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Frost is currently serving as deputy director for operations, National Military Command Center Operations Team Four, J-3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. 

            Army Col. Donald G. Fryc has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Fryc is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Army Air Defense School, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Okla. 

            Army Col. Anthony C. Funkhouser has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Funkhouser is currently serving as commander, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Northwestern, Portland, Ore.

            Army Col. Peter A. Gallagher has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Gallagher is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. 

            Army Col. William K. Gayler has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Gayler is currently serving as deputy commander, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

            Army Col. Mark W. Gillette has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Gillette is currently serving as senior defense official/defense attaché Cambodia, U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

            Army Col. David B. Haight has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Haight is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Ga. 

            Army Col. Joseph P. Harrington has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Harrington is currently serving as executive assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. 

            Army Col. Michael L. Howard has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Howard is currently serving as director, future operations, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. 

            Army Col. John P. Johnson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Johnson is currently serving as deputy commander (operations), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. 

            Army Col. James E. Kraft Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Kraft is currently serving as deputy commander, Joint Task Force-Sword, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

            Army Col. Michael E. Kurilla has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Kurilla is currently serving as assistant commander -- support, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

            Army Col. Paul J. Laughlin II has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Laughlin is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Ga. 

            Army Col. Joseph M. Martin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Martin is currently serving as commander, U.S. Army Operational Test Command, Fort Hood, Texas.

            Army Col. Terrence J. McKenrick has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  McKenrick is currently serving as chief of staff, Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq, U.S. Central Command, Iraq. 

            Army Col. Christopher P. McPadden has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  McPadden is currently serving as director of future plans, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. 

            Army Col. John E. O'Neil has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  O'Neil is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Army Quartermaster School, Fort Lee, Va. 

            Army Col. Mark J. O'Neil has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  O'Neil is currently serving as deputy commander (operations), 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, N.Y. 

            Army Col. Erik C. Peterson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Peterson is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Army Cadet Command, Fort Knox, Ky. 

            Army Col. Andrew P. Poppas has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Poppas is currently serving as deputy commander (operations), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

            Army Col. James E. Rainey has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Rainey is currently serving as director, Mission Command Center of Excellence, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. 

            Army Col. Kent D. Savre has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Savre is currently serving as commander, U.S. Army Engineer Division, North Atlantic, Fort Hamilton Military Community, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

            Army Col. Wilson A. Shoffner Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Shoffner is currently serving as deputy commander (support), 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. 

            Army Col. Mark S. Spindler has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Spindler is currently serving as deputy provost marshal general/deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and Army Corrections Command, Quantico, Va. 

            Army Col. Sean P. Swindell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Swindell is currently serving as assistant commander for Special Operations Forces, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

            Army Col. Randy S. Taylor has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Taylor is currently serving as deputy chief of staff, G-6, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

            Army Col. John C. Thomson III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Thomson is currently serving as director, chief of staff, Army Coordination Group, Office of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C. 

            Army Col. Leon N. Thurgood has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Thurgood is currently serving as the deputy program executive officer, Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. 

            Army Col. Flem B. Walker Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Walker is currently serving as director for strategy and integration, G-45/7, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C. 

            Army Col. Robert P. Walters Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Walters is currently serving as deputy director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Arlington, Va.
 

Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Special Report: U.S. Transportation Command

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 10:04 AM PST

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Special Report: U.S. Transportation Command
12/13/2012 11:52 AM CST

Special Report: U.S. Transportation Command

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - The most sweeping strategic planning effort in U.S. Transportation Command's 25-year history is revolutionizing the way the military deploys, sustains and redeploys its forces. An American Forces Press Service special report at http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2012/1212_transcom/ provides the details.

 
Related Sites:
Special Report: U.S. Transportation Command


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Reduces Staffing, Operations at Lajes Field

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 09:59 AM PST

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U.S. Reduces Staffing, Operations at Lajes Field
12/13/2012 11:49 AM CST

U.S. Reduces Staffing, Operations at Lajes Field

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - The United States is reducing staff and operations at Lajes Field, Portugal, officials said today.

The field is on the Portuguese island of Terceira, part of the nine-island Azores archipelago in the mid-Atlantic, 900 miles west of Lisbon and 2,200 miles east of Washington, D.C.

The decision reflects U.S. operational requirements and is part of a DOD effort to find efficiencies and cost-cutting measures worldwide

There are now roughly 1,100 U.S. and Portuguese personnel at the base and U.S. officials say the workforce will likely shrink by at least half. Aircraft operations support will also drop, and the United States will return roughly 300 of the 400 buildings on base to the Portuguese government, officials said.

Washington will pay to maintain tower operations and emergency firefighting services, officials said.

By the summer of 2014, airmen will begin to serve unaccompanied 12-month tours and the last families will depart the island. The DOD schools there will then close, officials said.

While a significant change, the reduction does not reflect any diminution of the strategic relationship between the United States and Portugal. "The United States is grateful for Portuguese contributions to the national and allied defense, and for its support and partnership on a variety of security issues," James J. Townsend Jr., deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO Policy, said in a statement.

Townsend recognized Portuguese contributions to NATO operations including deploying troops to Afghanistan.

"While we must reduce our presence in the Azores," he said, "we are not leaving and our strategic relationship with Portugal will continue."

Townsend stressed that the decision to cut forces at Lajes is driven purely by budgetary demands.

"Other avenues for security cooperation exist, and Portugal continues to be an important and valued partner to the United States," he said. DOD will work closely with U.S. and Portuguese counterparts to find ways to increase cooperation with Portugal, including in the Azores.

U.S. Ambassador to Portugal Allan J. Katz said, "The U.S. will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors including defense, justice, home affairs, and science and we will continue to promote commercial and investment opportunities benefitting both our countries."

Lajes remains an important location for support to aircraft transiting to and from the United States, but flight operations have dropped over the years.

The United States has had a presence in Lajes since World War II, when Portugal allowed the U.S. and Great Britain to combat the Nazi submarine menace. The field was also a stopover for European-bound aircraft at a time when aircraft range was considerably smaller.
 
Biographies:
Ambassador Allan J. Katz
James J. Townsend Jr.


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 11, 2012

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 09:22 AM PST

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National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 11, 2012
12/13/2012 11:13 AM CST
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 976-12
December 13, 2012
National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 11, 2012

            The Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve announced this week a decrease in activated Guard members and reservists while the Army National Guard and Navy Reserve announced an increase of activated Guard members and reservists.  The net collective result is 469 more reservists and National Guard members activated in comparison to last week. 

            At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease.  The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 42,013; Navy Reserve, 4,946; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 8,241; Marine Corps Reserve, 2,386; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 658.  This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 58,244, including both units and individual augmentees. 

            A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/MobilizationWeeklyReport121112.pdf
 

Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Employment Website Teams With Joining Forces

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 08:58 AM PST

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Employment Website Teams With Joining Forces
12/13/2012 10:37 AM CST

Employment Website Teams With Joining Forces

From a Department of Commerce News Release

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - Employment website Monster.com is collaborating with the White House's Joining Forces campaign and will contribute to the initiative's goal of hiring or training an additional 250,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014, Acting Commerce Department Secretary Rebecca M. Blank announced here yesterday at the National Veteran Employment Summit hosted by Monster and Military.com.

Joining Forces is a comprehensive national initiative led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to provide service members and their families with the opportunities and support they have earned. One of the effort's main focuses has been connecting America's veterans and military spouses with careers that match their skills, experience and dedication. To date, Joining Forces has worked with more than 2,000 companies to hire or train 125,000 veterans and military spouses.

During the summit, officials said, human resource leaders from the public and private sector engaged with veterans, senior military and government officials, and respected nonprofit organization leaders about the most effective ways to prepare, support, and connect veterans with employers.

"All of us at the Commerce Department and throughout the administration have made hiring veterans a priority," Blank said. "Whether it's by making improvements in how the military transitions service members from the battlefield to the workplace, ensuring the post-9/11 GI Bill stays strong, or through the efforts of the Joining Forces initiative, President Obama and this administration are taking steps to ensure that veterans can find job opportunities when they return from service."

"We are proud to support the efforts of the private sector -- and companies like Monster and Military.com -- in hiring the men and women who have bravely served this nation," Blank added.

"Through Joining Forces we're working to show military families that they live in a grateful nation," said Navy Capt. Todd Veazie, executive director of the Joining Forces initiative. "Over the past year we've asked Americans to step up and show their support. Everyone we've met has exceeded our expectations not only by making commitments but also by raising their goals even higher. I saw that same energy today from Monster and Military.com, companies that are dedicated to helping military families connect with jobs and training opportunities. We're eager to continue working together in the months and years ahead."

With a local presence in more than 40 countries, Monster connects employers with quality job seekers at all levels, provides personalized career advice to consumers globally and delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. The Military Skills Translator, Veteran Virtual Career Fairs, Veterans Talent Index and today's Veterans Employment Summit are indicative of Monster's commitment to serving the full spectrum of veteran employment needs. The company provides employers with tools that help them attract veteran talent on a regular basis, including veteran friendly job postings, veteran power resume search tools and access to the Military Career Ad Network.

"We were honored to bring together human resource leaders from the private and public sectors, veterans, senior military and government officials and respected nonprofit leaders to participate in today's Veterans Employment Summit here in Washington," said Sal Iannuzzi, Chairman, President and CEO for Monster. "Throughout the day, these leaders addressed what programs and best practices their organizations are doing to prepare, support and connect veterans. Teaming with the Joining Forces initiative furthers Monster's commitment to help connect veterans to those employers who want to hire them."

Military.com, a business unit of Monster Worldwide Inc., is the nation's largest online military destination serving over ten million members, including active duty personnel, reservists, guard members, retirees, veterans, family members, defense workers and those considering military careers.
 
Biographies:
Rebecca M. Blank

Related Sites:
Joining Forces
U.S. Department of Commerce
Commerce Department News Release


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Marines Aid Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 08:57 AM PST

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Marines Aid Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts
12/13/2012 10:13 AM CST

Marines Aid Philippine Typhoon Relief Efforts

By Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jean Scott-Dodd
III Marine Expeditionary Force

MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 13, 2012 - Personnel and aircraft with III Marine Expeditionary Force are providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support at the request of the Philippine government in the wake of Typhoon Pablo which struck Dec. 4.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
U.S. and Philippine service members load food packs destined for disaster-impacted areas in the southern Philippines, Dec. 9, 2012. Courtesy photo by U.S. Embassy Manila
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, who were in Manila conducting planning for future bilateral training exercises with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stood up the III MEF forward command element Dec. 8 to support Philippine relief efforts.

"The III MEF forward command element has established the bilateral coordination center, which is providing command and control for U.S. Marine relief efforts and coordinating requests for support with the government and Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Embassy and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, part of the U.S. Agency for International Development," said Marine Corps Col. Mark J. Menotti, the officer in charge of the III MEF FCE.

"We have personnel with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Pacific Air Forces, OFDA, Joint-U.S. Military Assistance Group-Philippines and Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines in the bilateral coordination center in order to prioritize and synchronize humanitarian assistance and relief efforts, which ultimately makes that coordination more efficient," Menotti added.

Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 arrived in Manila from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, Dec. 8 to transport relief supplies to affected areas, according to Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jason W. Julian, the commanding officer of VMGR-152, part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF.

"As of Dec. 12, VMGR-152 has flown a total of 11 flights and transported approximately 330,000 lbs. of relief supplies, including 14,500 family ration packs, 500 relief aid boxes and 40 generators," Julian said. "We also transported four water purification specialists and three personnel from USAID and the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development were transported to Davao. It's critical we work with everyone involved in the relief efforts to expediently get these supplies to those affected by the typhoon and in need."

The squadron also has transported 49,000 pounds of rice, 147 bundles of mosquito nets, one water purification unit, approximately 29,000 pounds of blankets, 833 sleeping mats and a United Nation's World Food Program relief module and three of their tents.

Marines transported relief supplies from Villamor Air Base located in Manila to Davao International Airport in Mindanao, the region most affected by the typhoon. From Davao, the supplies were principally distributed by government and nongovernmental organizations to displaced families affected by the typhoon as directed by the Philippine government..

"We're seeing a collective response from the international community to support the Philippines," Menotti said. "We are happy to help our close allies, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in order to provide necessary aid. The U.S. government -- including U.S. Marine forces -- is providing robust logistical and aviation support to quickly deliver life-saving supplies in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts."

The U.S. military has partnered and trained with the Armed Forces of the Philippines for many years in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, Menotti said.

"We frequently prepare for situations like this with our Philippine allies, so we are ready to work together to support the Philippine government and its citizens during this difficult time," he said. "Our goal is to help our ally recover from this natural disaster in whatever way we can."


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Insurgents Attack Near Kandahar Airfield

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 07:22 AM PST

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Insurgents Attack Near Kandahar Airfield
12/13/2012 09:11 AM CST

Insurgents Attack Near Kandahar Airfield

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2012 - Insurgents detonated a vehicle bomb today near Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta visited the base earlier in the day. Pentagon Press Secretary George Little, who is traveling with Panetta, issued a statement confirming the attack.

International Security Assistance Force officials are on the scene collecting facts and assessing the situation, Little said.

"I have no information at this time that this incident was associated with the visit of the secretary of defense," Little said, adding that the attack occurred after Panetta had returned to the Afghan capital of Kabul.
 
Related Sites:
Special Report: Travels With Panetta
NATO International Security Assistance Force


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Face of Defense: Marine Shares Love of Fishing With Injured Vets

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 07:22 AM PST

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Face of Defense: Marine Shares Love of Fishing With Injured Vets
12/13/2012 07:29 AM CST

Face of Defense: Marine Shares Love of Fishing With Injured Vets

By Marine Corps Cpl. Paul Peterson
2nd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Dec. 13, 2012 - They called his name, and the rest was just a blur.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua T. Shakeshaft, a combat engineer and head instructor for improvised explosive device awareness at the Battle Skills Training School on Camp Lejeune, N.C., accepts the 2012 Veteran of the Year award from Mayor Sammy Phillips of Jacksonville, N.C., during a ceremony held Nov. 20, 2012. Shakeshaft received the award for his ongoing efforts to help wounded veterans. Photo by Lisa Miller
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua T. Shakeshaft, a combat engineer and head instructor for improvised explosive device awareness at the Battle Skills Training School here, walked to the head of the council chambers at City Hall in Jacksonville, N.C., Nov. 20 to accept the 2012 Veteran of the Year award.

Jacksonville is proud of its unique bond with local veterans, said Mayor Sammy Phillips, who personally handed the award to Shakeshaft. Every year since 1988, the city takes a moment to recognize veterans from each of the city's veteran organizations for demonstrating outstanding volunteerism, support and leadership.

More than 100 people filled the council chambers as Phillips thanked each of the 30 recipients for their continued service to the local community and the nation.

"I was perfectly happy with a pat on the back," said Shakeshaft, who accepted the award as the nominee for Heroes on the Water, an organization that provides wounded and disabled veterans with an outlet for stress though kayak fishing. "The last thing I ever expected was to get an award from the mayor."

Shakeshaft, a Castle Rock, Colo., native and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, first became active with the organization after returning to the states to be with his mother, who was dying of cancer.

He instantly found an outlet for his own combat stress and personal loss through an activity he loved from his time back home: fishing.

"He was hooked the very first time he went out with us, and he has gone out ever since," said Patrick Curley, one of Shakeshaft's personal mentors and the Chrystal Coast Chapter coordinator for Heroes on the Water. "He has found something he enjoys doing, and now he is sharing it with other people."

Shakeshaft saw his participation as a personal means of healing and a way to help his fellow veterans struggling with visible and unseen wounds. It increasingly consumed his free time.

"No one here knew I was taking veterans out fishing every weekend," Shakeshaft said. "I don't expect recognition for it. I'm doing it for me. I'm doing it for my gratification -- helping people helps me. I got that from my mom."

Shakeshaft continues to share his expertise with IEDs as an instructor during his working hours here, but his weekends belonged to the waterways of North Carolina.

"It has changed my life," he said. "It is like the brotherhood you see when you are in combat ... [whether] it is a double amputee or someone who has post-traumatic stress disorder, everybody can relate with each other."

Shakeshaft said his wife, Traci, is his biggest supporter. Fishing and volunteering cut into the couple's small amount of free time, but she understands its importance and even tells him to go out.

He takes particular joy in seeing what he calls a "hero's moment," when a wounded warrior finds a few minutes of peaceful sleep in a kayak while his feet dangle in the water.

Shakeshaft's contributions to the community quickly grew after his first volunteering experience with the group. He regularly brought new participants to events and became increasingly involved in other volunteer opportunities.

Whether it is mentoring local youth, participating in veterans meetings and parades or simply providing an open ear to a fellow service member, he said the gratification of doing something good helps him heal.

Shakeshaft is planning additional outreach programs. He hopes someday to return to Colorado, where he can help veteran communities find some of the peace he experiences nearly every weekend in North Carolina.
 


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Losing the Holiday Blues

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 07:07 AM PST

US Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration Update:
Inside Veterans Health
Doctor smiling at Veteran
Losing the Holiday Blues
12/13/2012 09:30 AM EST

For some Veterans, the holidays are a time of loneliness and anxiety. Many things can cause the “holiday blues.” It could be stress or fatigue. The demands of family reunions can lead to tension. VA can help.

A bearded man with a serious expression outside in the snow

Sent to smart_z64.1111@blogger.com on behalf of US Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration · 810 Vermont Avenue, NW · Washington, DC 20420 · 877-222-VETS (877-222-8387)

Training, Resource Sharing Boost Transformation Initiatives

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 04:47 AM PST

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Training, Resource Sharing Boost Transformation Initiatives
12/13/2012 06:33 AM CST

Training, Resource Sharing Boost Transformation Initiatives

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 - To more coherently realize the alliance's strategic vision and future interoperability, NATO's Allied Command Transformation must champion training, capability development and education, the command's chief of staff said here yesterday.

Royal Navy Vice Adm. C.A. Johnstone-Burt said military leaders from NATO's 28 member nations and 17 partner nations are meeting here this week to promote technical and intellectual flexibility in weathering changes that a slower Afghanistan operations tempo and a fiscally constrained environment will evoke.

"We're trying to establish a dialogue and create a crucible within which we can generate ideas and think about how we can transform the alliance for the better," Johnstone-Burt said.
The admiral referenced the popular "King of Neptune" statue in neighboring Virginia Beach, Va., to liken Allied Command Transformation to the trident gripped by the Roman god of water.

As of Dec. 1, ACT has now assumed responsibility for all training within NATO, he noted, making that component the center prong.

"From a strategic, operational, tactical level we do training. From an individual to collective level, we do training," Johnstone-Burt said. "Cradle to grave -- that's ACT."

The other trident prongs can be thought of as ACT's charge to assess capability development requirements in strategic military thinking over the short, medium and long terms.

"To what degree are we clear about the challenges that we're going to face in 2040 and beyond?" Johnstone-Burt asked. "Are we configured as NATO, as an alliance, to prepare ourselves properly to deal with those challenges?"

The admiral said ACT consists of people around the world who painstakingly seek those answers.

"The shaft of the trident is transformation -- to transform NATO ... in preparation for the future," Johnstone-Burt said. "The core of the trident is made up of our member nations and partners, because we can't do it without them."

Finally, the grip of the handle, Johnstone-Burt asserted, is interoperability and coherence. ACT's connected forces initiative, he said, marries education and training with exercises and technology to maximize agility, standardize policy and expedite response.

"The CFI is hugely significant and will shape the future," Johnstone-Burt said.

Similarly, the NATO defense planning process and "Smart Defense" initiative enable member countries to benefit from the political, military and resource advantages of working together while maintaining sovereignty, the admiral explained.

Smart Defense projects, NATO officials explained, include developing advances in e-learning, pooling maritime patrol aircraft and amplifying the role of women as key leaders in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

Advances made within these new processes are thought to be among many drivers for transformation within the alliance, Johnstone-Burt said.

With 148 active efficiencies projects and proposals in place as of Dec. 6, the Smart Defense portfolio generates multinational solutions developed parallel to the NATO defense planning process and will continue to identify new opportunities for nation-to-nation cooperation, he said.

"The aim is to make sure [Smart Defense and the planning process are] as aligned as possible," Johnstone-Burt said. "The overlap must be the greater of the two circles."

Though Smart Defense has traction and the alliance's nations do recognize the value, the admiral said, now the ideas must be implemented.

Execution culminates with an ACT team visiting each participating nation to assess its capabilities.

"There's one nation that traditionally delivers far more than the others," Johnstone-Burt said in a reference to the United States. "The European NATO nations accepted that fully ... and came up with a tacit understanding that no nation should ... contribute more than 50 percent to any one capability, if at all possible."

This, Johnstone-Burt said, makes forging the future a critical part of transformation.

"If we collectively had an agreed picture of the future, then it follows logically that we could gear our NATO defense planning process around that in terms of capability," the admiral said. "We can gear our education and training exercises around it."

The doctrine and policies may be complex, but the transformational mindset part of the equation, Johnstone-Burt said, is quite simple.

"It's really not about ordering people to think differently. [Rather, it's about] releasing their potential," he said. "It's really looking at our different mindsets, our culture, our behavior and our systems to see how we can adapt those to embrace everybody."

Differing services within the nations further compound the challenges, the admiral acknowledged.

"It will take time, but the ultimate aim is to unleash this potential," Johnstone-Burt said. "We do have a spectrum of capability when the balloons go up, and nations can play to their strengths."

Finding the common ground in such a diverse alliance is not without its obstacles, but it's worth the effort, Johnstone-Burt said. "There is always a degree of friction in trying to get to an agreed position, ... but once we're there, boy, is it hugely powerful when you get 28 nations all agreeing," he added.

ACT's location in the United States also brings an advantage to NATO, the admiral noted.

"It provides that transatlantic bridge," Johnstone-Burt said. "It maintains a European-NATO perspective in America and enables us in wider NATO to reflect the U.S. perspective back into Europe, and vice-versa."
 
Related Sites:
NATO Allied Command Transformation
NATO

Related Articles:
Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts


Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Propwash

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 01:07 AM PST

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12.13.12 Edition: FAA v Riggs - Day 1: FAA Accuses Riggs Of Witness Tampering NTSB: Judge Geraghty Also "Distressed" Over Riggs Suit Against Witnesses


The ongoing battle between those attempting to keep aviation safe and
scoundrel-free, and a persistent aero-con-man, got a new start this morning
as aviation bad-boy, David Glen Riggs, stood before NTSB Administrative Law
Judge Patrick Geraghty. This is Riggs' most recent attempt to stave off the
FAA's fight to revoke his certificates for this part in an unlawful
commercial operation in which an associated airplane, flown by another pilot
crashed, killing the pilot, Doug Gilliss, and his passenger Rick Winslow.



Early indications are that Riggs is in for a rough ride.


FAA Counsel, Naomi Tsuda, started in early as Tsuda told Judge Geraghty in
the public hearing that she believes the lawsuit/documents Riggs filed
(against three witnesses who provided testimony at the request of the FAA)
was a clear attempt to intimidate the witnesses.


NTSB Administrative Law Judge Patrick Geraghty appears aware of those
concerns and our sources report that he indicated that he was "distressed"
by the documents Riggs' attorney sent to three witnesses. Geraghty appeared
to believe that Riggs/Mach One's claims may be an attempt to intimidate
witnesses, and noted that the document(s) was "threatening in its tone" and
added that he has never seen something like this in all his years with the
NTSB.


The Emergency revocation order was issued by the FAA last month and Riggs
lost the first defensive round a few days ago when NTSB's Chief
Administrative law judge refused to overturn the 'Emergency' aspect of the
FAA's claims.



The November 13th 'Emergency Order Of Revocation' Letter stated that, "Under
49 U .S.C. Section 461 05( c), the Acting Administrator has determined that
an emergency exists related to safety in air commerce. This determination is
based on your lack of qualification to hold your Commercial pilot
certificate, or a FAA issued pilot certificate of any kind, because of the
nature and seriousness of the violations set forth in this Order.


On or about May 18, 2012, you operated N139CK, an experimental certificated
aircraft, in the vicinity of Boulder City Airport, Boulder City, Nevada. You
operated N139CK on three separate passenger-carrying flights for
compensation or hire, when you knew you were not allowed to conduct such
flights. These three flights were conducted as formation flights with
another experimental certificated aircraft, thus further increasing the
overall risk of these flights. Less than two weeks before, you specifically
told FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors that you were not carrying passengers
for compensation or hire.


Additionally, you had at least one more passenger-carrying formation flight
scheduled for compensation or hire immediately upon the conclusion of your
third flight. You deliberately operated your experimental certificated
aircraft in this reckless manner when you knew such flights were prohibited
by both the Federal Aviation Regulations and N139CK's operation limitations.
Your operation of N139CK as alleged demonstrates a reckless disregard for
the safety and property of others that is inconsistent with the requisite
care, judgment, and responsibility required of a holder of a pilot
certificate of any kind.



Furthermore, you have a history of committing other violations that indicate
you put your own economic gain over aviation safety and compliance with
Federal Aviation Regulations. On January 12, 2008, your Private Pilot
Certificate was revoked for deliberately violating numerous Federal Aviation
Regulations involving the operation of N139CK, the same aircraft involve in
these violations. The regulatory violations leading to the revocation of
your pilot certificate were also related to you promoting your personal
economic interests over aviation safety. In this case, you were willing to
sacrifice the safety of others for your own personal financial gain by
charging for flights in N139CK. Your enforcement history of deliberately
compromising aviation safety demonstrates that you lack the qualifications
to hold any FAA issued pilot certificate. Your repetitive, violative conduct
reflects an airman who is unwilling (or unable) to comply with basic
regulatory requirements governing airmen.


Based on the foregoing circumstances, the Acting Administrator is of the
opinion that an emergency requiring immediate action exists with respect to
safety in air commerce, and he has determined that safety in air commerce
and the public interest require the immediate revocation of your Commercial
Pilot Certificate, and any other FAA issued pilot certificates you hold, on
an emergency basis, and during the pendency of any appeal before the
National Transportation Safety Board. Emergency action in this case is a
safety measure that provides immediate protection to the public.



Moreover, it is long standing FAA policy to declare an emergency under 49
U.S.C. Section 46105(c) when, in circumstances such as those alleged in this
Order, the Acting Administrator determines that the certificate holder lacks
the qualifications to hold a FAA issued pilot certificate.


In conclusion, the Acting Administrator has determined that under the
criteria of FAA Order 2150.3B, Chapter 7, pages 1-3, your conduct as alleged
in this order demonstrates that you presently lack the degree of care,
judgment, and responsibility required of the holder of any FAA issued pilot
certificate. The Acting Administrator, therefore, finds in accordance with
49 U.S.C. section 46105(c) and the guidance found in FAA Order 2150.3B,
Chapter 6, pages 7-10, that the exercise of the privileges of your FAA
issued pilot certificates while any proceedings related to the issuance of
this Order are pending is contrary to the interest of safety in air
commerce."


ANN has a number of associates monitoring today's hearing before Judge
Geraghty and will update the story accordingly.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov, www.aviationcriminal.com

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Aero-TV: Introducing The MD302 -- Mid-Continent's Standby Attitude Module Extensive Expertise in Backup Solutions Makes MCIA Uniquely Qualified In
This Market


There's no such thing, in aviation, as TOO much caution... hence the reason
the industry has expended so much time, energy and talent in creating backup
systems for critical functions in today's aircraft. One of the true leaders
in the aero-backup technology arena is Mid-Continent Instruments and
Avionics.



Their latest offering is an impressive effort to create an even more
redundant cockpit... and to do so with a bit of technology that not only
provides critical standby info, but does so elegantly and easily. The MD302
Standby Attitude Module (SAM) is an entirely self-contained, solid-state
instrument that provides attitude, altitude, airspeed and slip information
to the pilot during normal operation or in the case of primary instrument
failure.


SAM is a compact device specifically designed to fit in less panel space
than a standard set of 2-inch mechanical attitude, altitude and airspeed
indicators. Its unique, two-screen display features selectable horizontal
and vertical orientation. This allows for flexible cockpit installation
without extensive rearrangement of equipment or the need for
re-certification of relocated avionics. Weighing 1.6 pounds, SAM is lighter
than just one of the three instruments it is designed to replace.


Copyright 2012, Aero-News Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
FMI: www.flySAM.com, www.mcico.com, www.aero-tv.net,
www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews

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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Successfully Launched Air Force Officials Say The Re-Usable Spacecraft Is Designed To Be In Orbit
Nine Months


The U.S. Air Force successfully launched its third X-37B Orbital Test
Vehicle December 11, officials said. The launch from Cape Canaveral's (FL)
Launch Complex 41 comes on the heels of the successful flight of OTV-2,
which made an autonomous landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, June 11
after a record 469 days in space.



"We couldn't be more pleased with the strides we've made in this program and
the success of the X-37B vehicle on the first two flights," said Richard
McKinney, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space. "However, it is
important to keep in mind that this is an experimental vehicle and a third
mission is still relatively young for a test program. This is the first
re-flight of a vehicle so that is certainly a key objective for us. We have
only just begun what is a very systematic checkout of the system."

Lieutenant Colonel Tom McIntyre, X-37B program manager for the Air Force
Rapid Capabilities Office, explained the third X-37 flight will not only
help the Air Force better evaluate and understand the vehicle's performance
characteristics, but this first re-flight is an important step in the
program. OTV-1 launched in April 2010 and spent 224 days in orbit before
going through the refurbishment process prior to being prepped for this
mission, he said. "This mission will incorporate the lessons learned during
the refurbishment process on OTV-1," said Lieutenant Colonel McIntyre. "As
the X-37B program is examining the affordability and reusability of space
vehicles, validation through testing is vital to the process. We are excited
to see how this vehicle performs on a second flight."

"The X-37B OTV is designed for an on-orbit duration of approximately 9
months," said Lieutenant Colonel McIntyre. "As with previous missions,
actual duration will depend on the execution of test objectives, on-orbit
vehicle performance, and conditions at the landing site."

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is led by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities
Office, and is designed to demonstrate reusable spacecraft technologies for
America's future in space and operating experiments which can be returned
to, and examined, on Earth. Technologies being tested in the program include
advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems,
avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable
insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, and autonomous
orbital flight, reentry and landing.


Officials anticipate multiple missions will be required to satisfy the test
program objectives, but the exact number of missions has not been
determined.


(Images provided by United Launch Alliance)
FMI: www.af.mil

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Portland, Oregon Flights To Be Cleaner, Greener FAA Publishes RNAV NextGen Approaches To KPDX


The FAA announced Tuesday that pilots will start using new NextGen
technology and procedures that will enable aircraft to fly more efficient,
environmentally-friendly flights into Portland International Airport (KPDX)
beginning next year. The NextGen program uses cutting-edge technology,
including new Area Navigation (RNAV) approach procedures, to create a
modern, satellite-based air traffic control system, transforming the
national airspace system to make it even safer and more efficient for the
traveling public, airports and operators, and facilitating economic growth.



“These new procedures in Portland are the building blocks of
NextGen,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (pictured, left).
“NextGen initiatives underway in major regions across the country are
helping deliver more on-time flights for consumers, reducing fuel
consumption for airlines and creating an even safer aviation system.”


RNAV enables aircraft to fly safely on any desired flight path within the
coverage of ground-based or space-based navigation aids. NextGen GPS
technology is the basis for new RNAV approach procedures, which replace
procedures that do not have the benefit of precise, satellite-based
navigation. Aircraft approaching Portland can now power back sooner, saving
fuel, making less noise and emitting fewer pollutants.


“These procedures will continue to enhance operational safety and
efficiency at this important airport while improving air quality around
Portland,” said Acting FAA Administrator Michael Huerta (pictured,
right) . RNAV procedures also can increase the efficiency of the air traffic
control system. Aircraft using RNAV can fly more precise and predictable
routes, resulting in a more efficient use of airspace and fewer
pilot-controller communications.


The FAA included the PDX Citizens Noise Advisory Committee in the design
phase of the new RNAV approaches in support of the PDX Fly Quiet Program.
The FAA, the Port of Portland, airlines, and local citizen groups designed
six new RNAV approach procedures. The FAA designed these new approaches to
link up with future arrival routes from the north, east, and south. Pilots
of aircraft equipped with RNAV can begin flying these new arrival routes in
2013.
FMI: www.faa.gov

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AIAA To Host Policy Symposium On Civilian UAV Applications March Event Will Examine Role Of UAVs From A California Perspective


The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will host a
March symposium on the nonmilitary uses of unmanned aerial vehicles. The
“AIAA Policy Symposium: Civilian Applications of UAVs – A
California Perspective” will take place March 26–28, 2013, at
the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, Thousand Oaks, CA. The event is co-hosted by
California State Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-44), California Lt. Gov. Gavin
Newsom, California State Senator Steve Knight (R-21), and California State
Assemblyman Steven Bradford (D-51).



“AIAA is pleased to partner with California State Assemblyman Jeff
Gorell and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and other members of the California
State Legislature, to offer this vital symposium on the civilian
applications of unmanned aerial vehicles”


The symposium will engage policymakers, designers, manufacturers, and
consumers in discussion about the benefits of commercial and civil
governmental UAV applications. These include the role of UAVs in wildfire
detection and management, pollution management, event security, traffic
monitoring, disaster relief, fisheries management, pipeline monitoring and
oil and gas security, meteorology and storm tracking, remote aerial mapping,
and transmission line inspection.


“AIAA is pleased to partner with California State Assemblyman Jeff
Gorell and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and other members of the California
State Legislature, to offer this vital symposium on the civilian
applications of unmanned aerial vehicles,” stated AIAA Executive
Director Sandra H. Magnus. “While the military applications of UAVs
are discussed nightly in our news media, many of the civilian uses of the
vehicles go largely unconsidered. By offering this event, with a focus on
the California airspace, we will bring together community and business
leaders, public safety officers, engineers, scientists, and military
personnel, to discuss how UAVs can be harnessed for the good of our
communities, the safety of our populace, and the prosperity of all.”
Assemblyman Gorell added, “I am very excited to co-host this important
conference with AIAA and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom as a direct result of our
California Gold Team efforts. This partnership with AIAA is a major
opportunity to bring new manufacturing and much needed jobs to Southern
California.”
FMI: www.aiaa.org

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Thunderbirds Announce 2013 Show Schedule Will Spend Part Of August And Much of September In Asia


The USAF demonstration team The Thunderbirds has released their 2013 show
schedule which includes an extended tour of several Asian countries in the
months of August and September.



The sharply choreographed, drill-style ground ceremony kicks off the
demonstration by showcasing the attention to detail and esprit de corps that
defines our enlisted members. As the jets take to the skies and fly only a
few feet from wingtip to wingtip, the crowd gets a glimpse of the awesome
skills and capabilities that all fighter pilots must possess. The solo
pilots integrate their own loud and proud routine, exhibiting some of the
maximum capabilities of the F-16 Fighting Falcon – the Air
Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet.


The 2013 show season schedule is as follows:


February

1) 24 Daytona Beach, FL (Daytona 500 NASCAR Race Fly-by only)



March

1) 6 Nellis AFB, NV (COMACC Approval Show)
2) 10 Las Vegas, NV (Kobalt Tools 400 NASCAR Race Fly-by only)
3) 12 Creech AFB, NV (Appreciation Show)
4) 16-17 Luke AFB, AZ
5) 23-24 Titusville, FL



April

1) 6-7 TBD
2) 13-14 Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic
3) 20-21 Fort Lauderdale, FL
4) 27-28 TBD



May

1) 4-5 Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
2) 11-12 Martinsburg, WV
3) 18-19 Fairchild AFB, WA
4) 25-26 Wantagh (Jones Beach), NY
5) 29 USAF Academy, CO (Academy Graduation)



June

1) 1-2 Rochester, NY
2) 8 Joint Base Charleston, SC
3) 15-16 Ypsilanti, MI
4) 22-23 Dayton, OH
5) 29-30 Myrtle Beach, SC



July

1) 6-7 Battle Creek, MI
2) 20-21 Kalispell, MT
3) 24 Cheyenne (F. E. Warren AFB), WY
4) 31 Oshkosh, WI



August

1) 3-4 Milwaukee, WI
2) 10-11 Burlington, VT
3) 17-18 Chicago, IL
4) 22 Begin PACAF Tour (Not all dates and/or locations are firm)
5) 24-25 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI
6) 28 Andersen AFB, Guam
7) 31-Sep 1 Clark Field or Subic Bay, Philippines (TBD)



September

1) 5 Bangkok or Chiang Mai, Thailand (TBD)
2) 10 China or Singapore (TBD)
3) 14 Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan
4) 18 Kunsan AB, Korea
5) 21 Osan AB, Korea
6) 25 Misawa AB, Japan
7) 28 Yokota AB, Japan



October

1) 12-13 Rome, GA
2) 19-20 Cocoa Beach, FL
3) 26-27 Houston, TX



November

1) 2-3 Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, TX
2) 9-10 Nellis AFB, NV



The Thunderbirds have the privilege and responsibility to perform for people
all around the world, displaying the pride, precision and professionalism of
American Airmen. In every hour-long demonstration, the team combines years
of training and experience with an attitude of excellence to showcase what
the Air Force is all about.
FMI: http://afthunderbirds.com

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New NASA-Funded Forecast System Helps Transoceanic Flights Avoid Storms NCAR-Based System Combines Satellite Data With Computer Models


A new NASA-funded prototype system developed by the National Center for
Atmospheric Research (NCAR) of Boulder, CO, now is providing weather
forecasts that can help flights avoid major storms as they travel over
remote ocean regions. The eight-hour forecasts of potentially dangerous
atmospheric conditions are designed for pilots, air traffic controllers and
others involved in transoceanic flights.



The NCAR-based system combines satellite data and computer weather models to
produce maps of storms over much of the world's oceans. The system is based
on products that NCAR has developed to alert pilots and air traffic
controllers about storms and related hazards, such as turbulence and
lightning, over the continental United States. Development of the forecasts
was spurred in part by the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which
encountered a complex of thunderstorms over the Atlantic Ocean.


The system was funded by NASA's Applied Sciences Program, which supports
efforts to discover and demonstrate innovative and practical uses of NASA
Earth science and satellite observations. NCAR worked with the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory,
and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to create the system.


"These new forecasts can help fill an important gap in our aviation system,"
said NCAR's Cathy Kessinger, lead researcher on the project. "Pilots have
had limited information about atmospheric conditions as they fly over the
ocean, where conditions can be severe. By providing them with a picture of
where significant storms will be during an eight-hour period, the system can
contribute to both the safety and comfort of passengers on flights."


The forecasts, which continue to be tested and modified, cover most of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, where NCAR has real-time access to
geostationary satellite data. The forecasts are updated every three hours.


Pilots of transoceanic flights currently get preflight briefings and, in
certain cases involving especially intense storms, in-flight weather updates
every four hours. They also have onboard radar, but that information is of
limited value for strategic flight planning while en route.


"Turbulence is the leading cause of injuries in commercial aviation," said
John Haynes, Applied Sciences Program manager at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. "This prototype system is of crucial importance to pilots and is
another demonstration of the practical benefit of NASA's Earth
observations."



Pinpointing turbulence associated with storms over the oceans is far more
challenging than it is over land because geostationary satellites, unlike
ground-based radar, cannot see within the clouds. Thunderstorms may develop
quickly and move rapidly, rendering the briefings and weather updates
obsolete. Onboard radars lack the power to see long distances or through
dense clouds.


As a result, pilots often must choose between detouring hundreds of miles
around potentially stormy areas or flying directly through a region that may
or may not contain intense weather. Storms may be associated with hazardous
windshear and icing conditions in addition to lightning, hail and
potentially severe turbulence.


To create the forecasts, Kessinger and her colleagues first turned to
geostationary satellite measurements to identify regions of the atmosphere
that met two conditions: particularly high cloud tops and water vapor at
high altitudes. These two conditions are a sign of powerful storms and
strong updrafts that can buffet an aircraft. The scientists next used fuzzy
logic and data fusion techniques to home in on storms of particular concern,
and applied object tracking techniques and simulations of wind fields to
predict storm locations at hourly intervals out to eight hours.


Researchers verified the forecasts using a variety of data from NASA Earth
observations, including the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM)
satellite.


"These advanced techniques enable us to inform pilots about the potential
for violent downdrafts and turbulence, even over the middle of the ocean
where we don't have land-based radar or other tools to observe storms in
detail," Kessinger said.
FMI: http://go.nasa.gov/W0doRu

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Blue Angels Announce 2014 Schedule As Always, Performances Planned From Coast To Coast


It never hurts to plan ahead. The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the
Blue Angels, announced its show schedule for the 2014 season at the annual
International Council of Airshows convention.



Following winter training, the team begins the season Mar. 15 at Naval Air
Facility (NAF) El Centro, CA, and will conclude the season Nov. 8 at Naval
Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL. The Blue Angels are scheduled to perform 65
shows at 34 locations throughout the United States in 2014.


The 2014 show schedule is:


March

1) 15 NAF El Centro, CA
2) 22-23 March ARB, CA
3) 29-30 NAS Kingsville, TX



April

1) 5-6 Lakeland, FL
2) 12-13 Fort Smith, AR
3) 26-27 NAS Fort Worth JRB, TX



May

1) 3-4 St. Louis, MO
2) 10-11 Vero Beach, FL
3) 17-18 MCAS Cherry Point, NC
4) 21 US Naval Academy, MD
5) 23 US Naval Academy, MD (flyover)
6) 24-25 Jones Beach, NY
7) 31 La Crosse, WI



June

1) 1 La Crosse, WI
2) 7-8 Pittsburgh, PA
3) 14-15 Smyrna, TN
4) 21-22 Milwaukee, WI
5) 28-29 Dayton, OH



July

1) 5-6 Traverse City, MI
2) 12 Pensacola Beach, FL
3) 19-20 Offutt AFB, NE
4) 26-27 St. George, UT



August

1) 2-3 Seattle, WA
2) 16-17 Chicago, IL
3) 23-24 Duluth, MN
4) 30-31 Selfridge ANGB, MI



September

1) 6-7 Cleveland, OH
2) 13-14 Baltimore, MD
3) 20-21 NAS Oceana, VA
4) 27-28 MCB Hawaii, HI



October

1) 4-5 MCAS Miramar, CA
2) 11-12 San Francisco, CA
3) 18-19 Millington, TN
4) 25-26 Jacksonville Beach, FL



November

1) 1-2 Houston, TX
2) 7-8 NAS Pensacola, FL



Demonstration sites are selected in support of the Department of Defense
objectives and in the interest of the armed services with safety as the
primary consideration. Performances support the recruiting and retention
goals of our military services, enhance esprit de corps among uniformed men
and women and demonstrate the professional skills and capabilities of the
Naval services to the American public and U.S. allies.


For information about individual air shows, please go to each air
show’s official website.
FMI: www.blueangels.navy.mil

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AMR Near End Of Bankruptcy Proceedings Horton Says The Company Could Look To Private Equity


AMR Corporation is nearing its exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings,
according to CEO Tom Horton, and could be willing to accept private equity
to help bring the company back to solvency.



Bloomberg Business Week reports that Horton said in an interview that he has
not yet determined whether the airline would do best as a stand-alone
carrier, or if it should merge with suitor US Airways. American is currently
the nation's third-largest airline.


Horton said that the final capital structure for the airline is still being
developed, and that he is open to discussions with a private-equity partner.
He predicted that the company would "have industry-leading margins" that
would make it an attractive investment.


If AMR merges with US Airways, the move would make the combined airline the
world's largest based on passenger traffic. United Continental Holdings
currently holds that distinction. The merger talks have been going on since
January, and a merger is supported by American's pilots' union. The Allied
Pilots Association reached a new labor agreement with American last week.
FMI: www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/newsroom/mn-restructuring-news.jsp

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First Flight: Production Eurocopter EC175 Eurocopter Announces Projected Performance Figures For The Medium Twin Helo


Eurocopter has conducted the first flight of its no. 1 series-production
EC175, and confirmed the performance of this next-generation multi-role
helicopter. The maiden flight occurred last week at Eurocopter’s
Marignane, France headquarters facility, with company pilot Augustin Dupuis
at the controls.



“With this first production series aircraft now airborne, the EC175
helicopter is a reality, and Eurocopter is very pleased to bring this new
product in its civil range to the market,” said Lutz Bertling,
Eurocopter’s President & CEO. “This first flight is the
occasion to confirm our objective – which was to develop, in
cooperation with our industrial Chinese partner, AVIC – the safest and
best medium-sized rotorcraft, which also is a leader in terms of
competitiveness, power efficiency and comfort. Following the success of
Eurocopter’s EC130 T2 and the EC145 T2, the EC175 is yet another
example of our strategy to provide outstanding value to customers.”


Eurocopter announced performance figures for the aircraft Wednesday which
are better than the helo's original estimates. Its recommended cruise speed
is 150 kts. – 10 kts. faster than the previous figure without
affecting payload range – while the maximum cruise speed exceeds 165
kts. Eurocopter’s program flight tests to date also have confirmed the
EC175’s power performance, including hover out of ground effect (HOGE)
at maximum take-off weight at 4,500 ft. at ISA+20°C conditions;
excellent one engine inoperative (OEI) hover performance, which ensures
safety during hosting for search and rescue missions ; extensive power
reserve and heli-deck performance (PC1) at maximum take-off weight in
ISA+20°C conditions –available with application of the latest
certified version of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6C-67E engines.


The EC175 avionics extends the EC225’s undisputed superiority of
in-flight envelope protection, pilot assistance and situational awareness
and includes the most innovative alerting and self-monitoring system.
“Helionix,” the newest avionics family being certified, meets
the latest international avionics standards, and makes the EC175 the second
aircraft to apply them – after the Airbus A380.


For these new state-of-the-art standards compliance to be available from the
initial helicopters provided to customers, Eurocopter has shifted the
EC175’s certification date – while not impacting the first
deliveries, which are to begin in September 2013. “Flying the EC175 is
a fantastic experience,” said Eurocopter company pilot Dupuis.
“The excellent avionics, power, speed and low vibrations levels make
it a unique aircraft.”


The first EC175 version to receive airworthiness certification will be for
the highly-demanding oil and gas market. With the designed-in attributes
that meet rigorous operating conditions for off-shore missions – along
with its range and speed – the EC175 is the best choice to address all
missions, including search and rescue, emergency medical services, public
services, VIP and executive transport.


(Image provided by Eurocopter)
FMI: www.eurocopter.com

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MEBAA, GAMA Announce Joint Initiative Will Work Together To Facilitate Business Aviation Interests In The Middle
East And North Africa


The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), and GAMA announced a
joint initiative to work together to further promote and develop business
aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.



“Our two associations share a strong sense of purpose and have decided
to work together more closely. The Middle East and North Africa region is of
growing importance for business aviation, and we want to ensure it develops
to its full potential,” said GAMA President and CEO, Pete Bunce
(pictured). “It is important we combine our efforts to ensure business
aviation is treated fairly, with proportional rules implemented across the
region. I am looking forward to working closely together on this new
initiative with our friends at MEBAA, given their vital role representing
the business aviation operators’ community in this important part of
the world.”


"Our joint initiative to work together to further promote and develop
business aviation in the MENA region has come at an opportune time when the
region is on the threshold of rapid expansion in this sector of aviation,"
said Founding Chairman, MEBAA, Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi. "It is a step in the
right direction to synergize the experience of both associations for the
orderly growth of this industry in the region that is still in the
developing phase" said Founding Chairman of MEBAA, Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi.



The objective of this joint effort is to transform the regulatory
environment by encouraging civil aviation authorities in the region to adopt
a common set of principles to facilitate business aviation operations.
“Business aviation is not commercial aviation and should not be
regulated as such; it needs access to airports and airspace, airport
infrastructure tailored to its needs, and the freedom to operate with
flexibility and agility,” Bunce stated. MEBAA Founding Chairman Al
Naqbi added, “the single biggest obstacle to the full development of
business aviation in our region is the lack of an appropriate regulatory
framework tailored to the particular needs of business aviation. Through
this partnership we aim to change that.”


GAMA and MEBAA will leverage the expertise resident in their member
companies as well as their extensive global experience to develop a
“best practices” set of common principles that regulatory
authorities could adopt. The aim is to have appropriate regulations focused
on safety that will facilitate business aviation operations while allowing
authorities to focus their scarce resources more efficiently.
FMI: www.gama.aero, http://mebaa.com/

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T-51 Mustang Replica Down In DeKalb County, IL Pilot Who Built The Aircraft Survives The Accident


A pilot flying a T-51 Mustang replica in Illinois Tuesday survived when the
airplane went down in a cornfield south of DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
(KDKB). The airplane is a 3/4 size replica of the iconic P-51 Mustang from
WWII.



The pilot was ambulatory and talking to emergency workers following the
accident, according to DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott. He said that a
citizen who saw the airplane go down contacted authorities. WBBM television
in Chicago reports that there were "puffs of black smoke" coming from the
aircraft as it appeared to be making an approach to the airport. The pilot,
who was identified as 62-year-old James Auman of Sycamore, IL, appeared to
make a gear-up landing in the field. The airplane reportedly flipped onto
its back after first touching the ground.


Auman reportedly had to be cut from the inverted airplane as fuel leaked
from its tanks. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he was listed
in stable condition.


Auman reportedly built the airplane himself. He is a member of the EAA's
chapter at Schaumburg Municipal Airport (06C) in Schaumburg, IL.


(T-51 image from file. Not accident airplane)
FMI: www.ntsb.gov

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Southwest Airlines Announces Executive Changes VP And General Counsel Madeleine Johnson Announces Retirement


Madeleine Johnson (pictured, left) will be retiring as Vice President and
General Counsel at Southwest Airlines effective Feb. 1, 2013. Her successor
will be Mark Shaw (pictured, right), currently Southwest's Associate General
Counsel of Corporate & Transactions. Ron Ricks, Southwest's Executive
Vice President & Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer said, "Madeleine
has been a joy to work with, a ferocious protector of Southwest, and someone
who has made incredible contributions to the success of our airline in her
relatively short tenure."



Under Johnson's leadership, the General Counsel Department dealt with
several complex legal cases in addition to intricate business negotiations.
Perhaps her most significant victory for the future well-being of the
Company was orchestrating the legal work to enable Southwest's acquisition
of AirTran Airways, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest.


Johnson joined Southwest in 2008 as the airline's Vice President and General
Counsel. She previously served as the Dallas City Attorney, as an Assistant
United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, as Chief of the
Opinion Division at the Texas Attorney General's office, and as a principal
in the law firm of Fish & Richardson. She began her career as a
commercial litigator at Thompson & Knight in Dallas, and received her
undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and her law degree from Tulane
Law School.


A known "travel buff," Johnson said her retirement will allow her to add
more stamps to her U.S. Passport. She reports having traveled to 60
countries around the globe, and she is eyeing travel adventures to Dubai,
Oman, India, Scandinavia, and the Galapagos. She also said she hopes to
volunteer more time with organizations focused on women's business
initiatives. While at Southwest, Johnson was named a Texas Corporate Counsel
"Superlawyer" in 2010; was selected as one of the top 25 DFW Women in
Business by the Dallas Business Journal in 2011; and received the Texas
General Counsel Forum Magna Stella Award for General Counsel of the Year in
2011.


Ricks announced that Shaw, 49, has been named to succeed Johnson as Vice
President and General Counsel. Shaw joined Southwest in 2000 as an attorney
in the General Counsel Department and was promoted in 2008 to his current
role as Associate General Counsel of Corporate & Transactions. Prior to
Southwest, Shaw worked as an attorney in the Dallas office of the law firm
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP. He received his undergraduate
degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his law degree from Loyola
University Law School. Shaw also serves on the board of the DFW Chapter of
the Association of Corporate Counsel and on the advisory board of the
Southern Methodist University Journal of Air Law & Commerce.


"I have great confidence in Mark's abilities and his character as a Leader,"
Ricks said. "This will be a seamless transition given his history with
Southwest and with his colleagues in the General Counsel Department."


As Vice President and General Counsel, Shaw will assume the leadership role
providing legal advice to Southwest on all legal matters and running the
Company's General Counsel Department. Shaw said: "I look forward to
continuing the work of our talented General Counsel group and on building on
the many important initiatives and accomplishments of Madeleine Johnson, who
has been an outstanding leader and mentor to me during her time at
Southwest. I am honored to step into this leadership role."


Johnson said the decision to retire was not taken lightly. "I can imagine no
better way to cap a legal career than to have served as General Counsel of
Southwest Airlines. I have had the privilege of working with a group of
exceptionally talented lawyers, leaders, and some of the most wonderful
people I will ever meet. Together, our People have built a powerhouse among
corporate legal departments, and I am thrilled to turn the reins over to
Mark Shaw. Mark brings experience, talent, humor, and compassion to this
position and will be easily embraced by all as a Leader in the Southwest
family."
FMI: www.southwest.com

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BTS: Domestic Airlines Report Two Tarmac Delays Over Three Hours None Longer Than Four Hours On International Flights In October


Airlines reported two tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic
flights but no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international
flights in October, according to the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released Tuesday.



The long domestic tarmac delays took place on October 24 and involved
flights departing from Denver, where a snowstorm affected the area that day.
Both of the reported tarmac delays are under investigation by the
Department. The larger U.S. airlines have been required to file complete
reports on their long tarmac delays for domestic flights since October 2008.
Under a rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines
operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report
lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports.


Also beginning Aug. 23, 2011, carriers operating international flights may
not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours
without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. There is a separate
three-hour limit on tarmac delays involving domestic flights, which went
into effect in April 2010. Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic
and international flights are allowed only for safety, security, or air
traffic control-related reasons. Severe weather could cause or exacerbate
such situations.


The consumer report also includes data on on-time performance,
cancellations, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays
filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
by the reporting carriers. Many flights along the East Coast were cancelled
or delayed because of Hurricane Sandy at the end of October. In addition,
the consumer report contains information on mishandled baggage reports filed
by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability, and
discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer
Protection Division. The consumer report also includes reports of incidents
involving the loss, death, or injury of pets traveling by air, as required
to be filed by U.S. carriers.
FMI: www.bts.gov

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Air Force: Drone Accident Rate At Civilian Airports 'Unacceptably High' Pilot Error, Software Issues, Mechanical Failures All Cited As Causes


Internal Air Force investigation reports indicate that the service is losing
drones at an unacceptably high rate at civilian airports similar to an
accident which occurred in the Seychelles in April. In that accident, an
inexperienced operator flying an MQ-9 Reaper (similar aircraft pictured in
USAF photo) launched the aircraft without permission, mishandled the flight
controls, and wound up crashing it onto the runway without its landing gear
deployed. It skidded into the ocean off the end of the runway.



In an enterprise report in the Washington Post, documents obtained through a
Freedom of Information Act request show that there have been numerous
accidents involving military UAVs at civilian airports over the past two
years. The reports consistently cite pilot error, software issues,
mechanical failures, and inadequate coordination with civilian air traffic
controllers in the accidents.


The paper reports that there have been numerous instances of Predator and
Reaper accidents occurring near non-military airports, sometimes with
civilian contractors operating the aircraft. Some have been under the
auspices of the CIA, which is basing UAVs at a civilian airport in Ethiopia
for missions over Somalia.


The accidents have not gone unnoticed by those expressing concerns about the
FAA's plan to allow the operation of unmanned aircraft in the National Air
Space (NAS). The Air Force says the accident rate is declining as the
technology matures, and that the incident rate is now comparable to that of
the service's fleet of F-16 fighter jets at a similar stage of development.
FMI: www.af.mil

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Airbus Military A400M Completes Critical Flight-Test Phase On Track For Full Certification And First Delivery


Airbus Military has successfully completed the 300 hours of Function &
Reliability (F&R) flight-testing of the A400M new generation airlifter
which is a key requirement prior to full certification. Data from the
F&R program, which was performed entirely using the first
production-representative aircraft – MSN6 / Grizzly 5 – is now
being examined by the civil and military certification authorities for the
A400M – respectively EASA and a committee appointed by OCCAR.



Having received the restricted Type Certification begin May this year, this
phase of the flight test program was the last major requirement prior to
full Type Certification. It is expected that the aircraft will receive the
full civil Type Certificate and military Initial Operating Capability in the
first quarter of next year subject to the approval of the relevant
authorities. First delivery to the French Air Force, of MSN7, is planned for
the second quarter, and a total of four aircraft will be delivered during
the year in line with the schedule.


The F&R testing was completed in just 32 days, during which the aircraft
made 52 flights and visited 10 different airfields. The exercise is intended
to examine the aircraft´s behavior in conditions representative of
normal in-service experience, including both routine and simulated abnormal
operations in a wide range of weather and locations. It helps minimize the
risk to operational crews, particularly on new aircraft entering service, of
malfunctions and failures that increase pilot workload.


This intensive testing demonstrated the excellent reliability of the A400M
and its systems as well as its TP400 engines even under an exceptionally
demanding schedule.


Airbus Military Head of Flight and Integration Tests Fernando Alonso said:
“During this F&R campaign the A400M has really been put through
its paces. It has flown an average of two flights and 15 flight hours per
day over a 26 day timeframe with only 6 days devoted to routine maintenance
activities.The crews have been greatly impressed with the performance of the
on-board systems and engines, and we are confident that we have a sound
basis for completing the civil and military certification in the next couple
of months.”


(A400M image from file)
FMI: www.airbus.com

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NavWorx ADS-B Is 'Fully Operational,' TSO Anticipated Installed On Certified Cessna, Experimental RV Aircraft, And Others


Avionics company NavWorx says its Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) ...
delivering the benefits of NextGen air transportation technology to general
aviation aircraft ... is "fully operational," and the company expects TSO
certification "soon." The company’s flagship product, the ADS600-B, is
a single device that both transmits and receives critical flight data and
information services into the cockpit. Pilots can choose from a variety of
options to display this data, including panel mounted or portable devices.
The ADS600-B is designed to meet the FAA’s 2020 mandatory compliance
requirements for ADS-B equipage.



Working in conjunction with NavWorx, ADS-B solutions developer SkyVision
Xtreme has been using the ADS600-B in two certified Cessna aircraft, a 182
Skylane and 177 Cardinal, since 2009. SkyVision selected the NavWorx ADS-B
device, as it “was the only reasonably priced ADS-B receiver that
worked,” said Jeremy Brady of SkyVision. “We have continued our
relationship with NavWorx through their development of the ADS600-B
transceiver and it is still the only reasonably priced ADS-B In and Out
solution on the market. NavWorx has consistently met the challenges of a
rapidly evolving technology, which has kept them at the forefront of the
ADS-B market.” SkyVision has also overseen ADS600-B installations in
aircraft ranging from light-sport models to Cessna Citation Ultra jets.


Dennis Sorber of Avionics 1st, has also used the ADS600-B successfully in
certified aircraft. Sorber stated, “We have done two provisional
installations of the NavWorx ADS600-B in a Cessna Cardinal and an A36
Bonanza. They are operating on Aspen Avionics and [Garmin] MX20 displays.
Having flown these aircraft in the Dallas area, we find they provide
excellent traffic info complete with bearing line.” He continued,
“Comparing these to installations of [Garmin] GTX 330 transponders and
[SiriusXM] XM WX satellite weather, the ADS600-B excels on both price and
functionality. Installation was relatively easy and NavWorx provided very
good support.”


Customers Amy Laboda, an aviation writer for Kitplanes magazine, and Deepun
Desai, president of Affordable Avionics Inc., have had success with the
ADS600-B in their Vans RV amateur built aircraft. “It gives us the
ability to see NEXRAD weather radar images superimposed on our routing in
our Grand Rapids Technologies Horizon I EFIS and other weather products,"
Laboda said. "An added bonus is that the transceiver also provides us with
traffic information. The NavWorx transceiver worked amazingly well, picking
up the ADS-B weather feed at 500 MSL and displaying traffic even
quicker.”



NavWorx says the unit delivers the full benefits of ADS-B, requiring no
transponder or display changes, additional equipment or installations. The
ADS600-B is a single compact unit and fully compatible with the most
commonly used EFIS, EFB, iPad and other devices.


NavWorx equipment is available today and can be installed on both
experimental and certified aircraft when it meets “portable
installation guidelines.” Installations on certified aircraft can be
carried out via logbook entry using certified antennas, wiring and circuit
breakers per aircraft maintenance manuals. A portable ADS600-B unit is then
installed by the owner. SkyVision Xtreme also offers its SkyVision Portable.
Complete with ADS600-B, it includes antennas and wiring in a stowable
briefcase.


In addition to the ADS600-B, NavWorx offers WxBox, an ADS-B In solution. The
company says that while other devices highlight dual-link, TIS-B traffic, or
application benefits, complete ADS-B traffic reception and compliance
requires an installed ADS-B Out system such as the NavWorx ADS600-B.


The ADS600-B is priced at $2,595, with TSO certification is expected soon.
WxBox, a receive-only ADS-B device, is now priced at $849.
FMI: www.navworx.com

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CAE Names New VP Bob Lewis Tapped As GM Of The Global Business Aviation, Helicopter and
Maintenance Training Business Unit


Robert (Rob) H. Lewis has been named Vice President and General Manager of
CAE's global Business Aviation, Helicopter and Maintenance Training business
unit. The company made the announcement on the eve of the Middle East
Business Aviation (MEBA) conference.



Lewis has a multi-faceted business aviation experience, encompassing over
the past decade international aircraft operations management, maintenance
and avionics support, and staff training. He most recently led the growth of
Pentastar Aviation as CEO and President of the privately owned U.S. aircraft
operating company, MRO and FBO operator. Previously he was President of
Everest Fuel Management, an aviation contract fuel provider, and Vice
President Supply for Sentient Jet Inc., a leading U.S. private aviation
company. Lewis has implemented more than two dozen significant partnerships
or joint ventures with aircraft manufacturers, service providers and
suppliers in several countries around the globe.

"Rob Lewis brings a strong client-centric perspective to his role as global
leader for CAE business aviation, civil helicopter and maintenance training.
He and his team will continue to enhance the superior service experience for
which CAE is renowned, leveraging his extensive operational experience with
continuous client feedback," said Jeff Roberts, CAE Group President, Civil
Simulation Products, Training and Services. "With his experience as an
aircraft owner, pilot, MRO supplier and aircraft management company leader,
Rob understands the myriad facets of day-to-day aircraft operations,
training, safety and efficiency, and the value of delivering consistent,
high-quality client service."

Lewis is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science
degree in physics, and served as a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer. He
also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and
economics from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business. Lewis is
an active instrument-rated private pilot and aircraft owner.
FMI: www.cae.com

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IMC Club Steps Up Marketing Efforts Video Produced By One Of The Top Marketing Firms In The Country


One of the top marketing agencies in the country, which prefers to remain
anonymous, provided its pro bono services to the IMC Club International by
designing and producing a ninety-second promotional video about the
organization. The Club is working to expand its presence in the General
Aviation community.



The video presents the IMC Club’s philosophy of enhancing instrument
proficiency and safety for all pilots in the General Aviation community. The
video will become part of the IMC Club Open Chapter meetings at aviation
events, and is published on YouTube, the IMC Club website and various other
media.


“This Agency’s depth of marketing knowledge is a real asset to
our organization. We are honored and excited to receive such a great gift. I
don’t remember ever before having an agency of this caliber getting
involved in helping to advance General Aviation safety. There are no words
that will express how grateful we are,” said Radek Wyrzykowski, the
president of the IMC Club.


The IMC Club was established to promote instrument flying, proficiency and
safety. Along with IFR flying and monthly local chapter meetings, it offers
a resource-rich website which provides an electronic experience base.
FMI: www.imcclubs.org

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Man Who Apparently Fell From A Plane Over London Is A Three-Month-Old Mystery Believed To Be From Africa, Stowaway In Airliner Wheel Well


Authorities are still searching for the identity of a man who they believe
fell from the wheel well of an airliner as it lowered its landing gear on
approach to Heathrow airport in London September 9th.



Detectives say that the man was likely from Angola in Africa. His body was
found lying on the ground early one Sunday morning near some shops in the
Mortlake neighborhood of West London. Thinking he might have been a murder
victim the area was cordoned off, but police detectives later concluded that
it was more likely he dropped out of the sky as an airliner passed overhead.


The Associated Press reports that they only thing the man had in his
possession was some Angolan currency. An investigation revealed that a plane
was arriving from Angola about the time the man was thought to have landed
on the sidewalk.


The cause of death was listed as "multiple injuries." It was not known if he
was killed by the retracting landing gear, or the extreme conditions in the
unpressurized wheel well during the flight. Authorities are holding the body
in the hopes that he can be identified and returned to his home country for
burial.


(E-FIT image (Electronic Facial Identification Technique) provided by the
Metropolitan Police on Dec. 7, 2012 shows a computer-based face of a man
whom British police are trying to identify after his body was found near
London’s Heathrow Airport.)
FMI: http://content.met.police.uk/Home

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ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming
How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV?


If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim
Campbell via the link below. Please include the following information when
submitting a story idea or lead: who the intended subject is, a general
story outline of said subject, important dates or deadlines for the story
lead, and any appropriate contact information for both yourself and related
subjects.

What kind of content is welcome?


The Aero-TV crew is always enthusiastic about new ideas and leads that are
provided by our viewers. It is our aim to provide aviation coverage that our
viewers find important, relevant, and meaningful to the industry. If you
believe that you have such a story, please do not hesitate to contact us;
however, please bear in mind that some stories are better suited for our
print department rather than our video department.

What is Aero-TV looking for when reviewing story submissions?


When reviewing story submissions, our production crew is looking for three
main elements: does the feature idea provide interesting visual elements, is
it newsworthy, or does it share a compelling story? When we use the term
“visually interesting,” we are referring to our ability, as a
video production crew, to document the story in a dynamic way.



For example, if you have a lead story on new aircraft being developed,
access would be an extremely relevant consideration: will we be able to show
imagery of the new aircraft? Will we have access to the location where the
aircraft is being developed and built? Will we be able to either shoot or
obtain footage of the aircraft in flight? Such questions help us determine
whether we will be able to provide our viewers with visual representations
of the presented story.



Finally, the Aero-TV crew remains committed to our quest of sharing the
heart of aviation with our viewers. We are looking for stories that
demonstrate this passion and commitment both for the field of aviation, as
well as its impact on the community at large.



No story is considered “small” in our eyes; if an aviator or an
aviation-related story has touched you, we want to hear about it. These are
the elements that make up this great industry and we want to share them with
our viewers.
FMI: I Have A GREAT Story Idea For Aero-TV

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Aero-News: Quote Of The Day (12.13.12) Aero-News: Quote of the Day


ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve
the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's
events and issues.



Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the
day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.


Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly
intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the
Day.


Let us hear from you, folks!
Aero-News Quote of the Day



"The X-37B OTV is designed for an on-orbit duration of approximately 9
months. As with previous missions, actual duration will depend on the
execution of test objectives, on-orbit vehicle performance, and conditions
at the landing site." Source: Lieutenant Colonel Tom McIntyre, X-37B program
manager for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The Air Force launched
its third X-37B mission Tuesday.
FMI: www.af.mil

For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=357a05f8-0197-40de-a81c-12de1d143092
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ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.13.12): Occluded Front Aero-Terms!


Aero-Terms are designed to be a daily reminder of the terms, names, acronyms
and explanations of the unique language that populates the aviation world.
Aerospace, sport aviation, fixed wing, helo, you name it... it's all fair
game.



Aero-Terms should serve as a quick but intriguing reminder of the terms you
may use every day, or an introduction to an aspects of the Aero-World you
may not yet be familiar with. ANN also encourages readers to go beyond the
FMI link, and further research any intriguing terms.


Suggestions for future Aero-Terms are ALWAYS welcome, as are additions or
discussion of the explanations given for each Aero-Term.
Occluded Front


A composite of two fronts, formed as a cold front overtakes a warm or
quasi-stationary front. Two types of occlusions can form depending on the
relative coldness of the air behind the cold front to the air ahead of the
warm or stationary front. A cold occlusion results when the coldest air is
behind the cold front and a warm occlusion results when the coldest air is
ahead of the warm front.
FMI: http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?letter=o

For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=1d640626-aa31-45f5-8ac3-2d0c70b3bba2
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ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.13.12) Aero-Linx!


Scouring the information super airways can sometimes be a tough, if
educational, task for the Aero-News staff... but it also allows us to check
out some truly neat and exciting sites, so it's not that bad a gig. On any
given day, we may check dozens (and often hundreds) of different sources for
story ideas, and facts confirmation. And, as is the nature of our business,
much of this is done on the Internet.



The ANN gang decided we probably shouldn't keep some of the neat sites, info
resources, and organizations we've discovered to ourselves... so we decided
to bring you Aero-Linx. These are the sites that WE check out -- when we
need added perspective, a new spin on a day's topic... or just want to
escape into cyber-aero-space for awhile.


Look for some of our favorite sites, coming each day to ANN via Aero-Linx.
Suggestions for future Aero-Linx segments are always welcome, as well.
Aero Linx: Aero Files


Occasionally, as you browse through the vastness that is the Internet, you
come across a site that has obviously been put together just for the love of
it. Aero Files (no affiliation with Aero-News.net) is one of those sites.
This site's owner has compiled a wealth of information about flying, from
gliders to airliners, and made it all available for free. We had to stop
browsing in order to get our work done.
FMI: http://aerofiles.com/home.html

For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/featurestories.cfm?ContentBlockID=ee37e689-5c9b-4967-8492-382b8257cad0
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AD: Agusta S.p.A. AD NUMBER: 2012-21-52


PRODUCT: Agusta Model AW139 helicopters.
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2012-21-52
ACTION: Final Rule, Request for Comments



SUMMARY: This AD requires inspecting the pilot's and co-pilot's collective
and cyclic control sticks for correctly installed attaching hardware. This
AD is prompted by a report of an incorrectly installed pilot's collective
stick, pilot's cyclic stick, and co-pilot's cyclic stick. These actions are
intended to prevent detachment of the cyclic or collective control stick,
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES: This AD becomes effective December 26, 2012. The FAA must receive
comments on this AD by February 8, 2013.
FMI: AD

For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbus.cfm?ContentBlockID=4af9832b-b734-469f-9b5f-6266ad6145bb
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AD: The Boeing Company Airplanes (737) AD NUMBER: 2012-24-08


PRODUCT: Certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900,
and -900ER series airplanes.
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2012-24-08
ACTION: Final Rule



SUMMARY: This AD was prompted by reports of flight crew failure to activate
air data probe heat. This AD requires modifying the anti-icing system for
the angle of attack sensor, the total air temperature, and the pitot probes.


The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent ice from forming on air data system
sensors and consequent loss of or misleading airspeed indication on all
airspeed indicating systems, which could lead to loss of control of the
airplane.


DATES: This AD is effective January 14, 2013.
FMI: AD

For the WHOLE story, go to http://www.aero-news.net/news/commair.cfm?ContentBlockID=242f7a94-264b-45b8-bcc1-b4703a904d9b
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ANN Senior Staff Roster


J.R. 'Zoom' Campbell
CEO/Editor-In-Chief
jim@aero-news.net


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Aero-Cast Producer
gmoyer@aero-news.net


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Nathan Cremisino
Ashley Hale
Aero-TV Video
Production Team
Aero-TV HQ


MKTG Inquiries
Marketing Director
mktg@aero-news.net



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"Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time." Marion Wright Edelman

Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 09:23 PM PST

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts
12/12/2012 10:20 PM CST

Commander Describes NATO Transformation Efforts

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 12, 2012 - Partnerships, education and training are indispensable for NATO, the organization's supreme allied commander for transformation said here today.

French Air Force Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros spoke at a media roundtable during the 2012 Chiefs of Transformation conference hosted by his command.  The event brings together hundreds of NATO, partner, industry and government agency professionals who strive to leverage work across the alliance by sharing best practices and expanding collaboration among the nations.

Paloméros described Allied Command Transformation efforts as an evolving endeavor rooted in collaboration and coherence with a focus on efficiencies and innovation.

 "We are deeply involved in the heart of the U.S. military forces, which is good because we get a great opportunity for common connections, engagement and training," Paloméros said. "We know that what we build today will be indispensable for the future, and what we don't build today [we'll need] for the future."

The hub of transformation across the alliance, partner nations, military, government, non-government agencies and academia, Allied Command Transformation gleans and interprets information to identify opportunities to not only keep pace, but stay proactive in an ever-changing security environment, Palomeros said.

"We are here to share our experience and our vision," he said. "[The command] works to supply the forces with the support they need [in] their respective challenges and tackle that in a wide and open way, not only from the military perspective, but with a comprehensive vision, approach and solutions."

The general touted strategies such as Smart Defense and the Connected Forces Initiatives as avenues to increase collaboration and buffer against the inevitability of increasing financial austerity throughout the world.

Funded by participating nations, Smart Defense, he said, is an initiative encompassing 24 multi-national projects across logistics, munitions, aviation training and maritime capabilities and more to deliver improved operational effectiveness.

The Connected Forces Initiative helps develop the framework and interoperability by bringing a human-centered approach to the table, Paloméros said.

"Partnerships are the focus of these initiatives and we need to ensure we have consensus and share ideas from the very highest levels down," he added.

The successes of major joint and coalition training exercises, such as one currently in progress at the Joint Warfare Center in Stavanger, Norway, may be the most visible solutions in establishing a collective vision of NATO's future operating environment, Paloméros said.

"We are able to fulfill the task in this very important exercise preparing the staff and the forces for their Afghanistan engagement," he said. "We take the best out of every nation committed within NATO, including the partners, [and] the best is possible."

Paloméros characterized the challenge of maintaining relevance in a post-Cold War and post-Afghanistan environment as a "difficult but sensible question" in terms of NATO's future, particularly after 2014 when many troops are projected to return from deployments.

"The perception of this world could be different from one country to the other in NATO and this is ... the reality," Paloméros said. "We are here to give coherence to these different visions and propose a common perspective for the alliance, as far as the military answer to those challenges."

The general said recent summits in Chicago and Lisbonyielded useful discussion and solution-driven brainstorming for effectively steering NATO's endeavors to maintain peace -- all while balancing political and military aspects with the consensus of 28 countries.

"This is the role of NATO: preparing itself for future challenges, being there, being relevant and making sure we coordinate that with the partners and coordinating that with partners.Presence is part of prevention," the general said.

Paloméros added that despite NATO's successes, the need to continually pursue balance remains.

"We [need to] keep focusing on the priority shortfall areas and the minimum capability requirements of NATO," Paloméros said. "We are working on a day-to-day basis to ensure that every country can participate in NATO according to its own national priorities, perspectives, sensibilities and qualities.

The general did not dismiss the importance of cyber defense, intelligence, surveillance and response and information technology, particularly through distance learning, a critical component of training throughout the alliance.

"I see that as very promising in how we tackle the issue of cyber defense in NATO," Paloméros said. "We are going in the right direction in keeping the overall deterrence policy of NATO clearly set up in the Chicago defense package."

In the long run, the alliance, as with many government organizations, can only plan based on the projections and assumptions of resources, so fostering fruitful discussions between politicians and military leaders to better understand crucial requirements is key.

"That's why we are here ... for the countries; they are the stakeholders that provide us with the human resources and the budget," Paloméros said. "Every country adopts its own vision with their economic and financial perspectives, [and] we will try to find any opportunity for connection between the different forces."
Related Sites:
NATO Allied Command Transformation


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