Greetings and best wishes for a prosperous 1996. I look forward to being
with you in Atlanta at our annual meeting.
The IAMFSP is made up of a diverse group aviators with wide ranging skills
and interests. In past gatherings I have found comfort in meeting my own
kind; while the details of the battles are different, we all have had to
work hard to continue as aviator-physicians. I return home challenged by
the stories I hear and the descriptions of ideas, projects and achievements.
Something I also see most years is that we, as a group, somehow feel our
organization is not living up to its potential. We discuss a variety of
worthwhile ideas: larger membership, a bigger panel, a better relationship
to ASMA, etc. But at the bottom is the idea that somehow IAMFSP is lacking.
My thoughts on this issue have evolved over the past several years. The
contributions made by pilot-physicians are from people wearing different
colored uniforms in many countries. As a group, our accomplishments are
impressive. None-the-less, we are small in number and work in a very "distributed"
manner. Our abilities are also very unique (which we never tire of mentioning
to each other at these meetings). This uniqueness defines how many we can
call our own. While we may search to grow as an organization - there just
aren't that many military pilot-physicians out there.
I suggest that we have two broad options: the first is to continue telling
ourselves that if only the IAMFSP were bigger and better it could influence
aerospace medicine entirely by itself. The second is to acknowledge that
we are (and probably always will be) a small group, and to focus the organization
on supporting each other. I suggest that the latter choice, focusing on
each other, will contribute more to military aviation and aerospace medicine
in the long run.
This really isn't a big change - it primarily means continuing what we
are already doing. But I suggest that we define these as our annual goals
for the group. This will allow us to stop worrying that might be missing
something really important.
I suggest that the IAMFSP concentrate on providing three primary services
to its members:
No, there is not much new on this list. However, simply agreeing that
"this is what we do" will allow us to get on with business. Doing
these three things well every year will make for an effective organization.
Efforts above and beyond this can and will occur, but lets consider those
value-added.
The last issue I propose for discussion in Atlanta is full IAMFSP membership
to Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) and their Air Force equivalents. I know
that there are diverging opinions on this matter. We need to raise this
issue from the U.S. Navy side for two reasons: the first is a pending proposal
to allow dual-designation of NFOs. Secondly, NFOs have in our TACAIR community
always been considered more as co-pilots; this includes being assigned
blame following flight mishaps, command of squadrons and carriers, and
even serving as the Navy's Director of Air Warfare.
Until June of this 1995 I was in a non-clinical billet at the Naval
Strike Warfare Center in Fallon, NV flying the A-6 and F-18. I taught targeting
of chemical and biological production facilities to Navy mission planners
and prepared contingency planning materials for deploying battlegroups.
Presently I am the flight surgeon for the Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent
River, MD. I just completed my safe for solo check in the T-38 (fly really,
really fast and don't forget to flare...).
Captain Jim Baker is in Pensacola, FL at the Naval
Aerospace Medical Research Institute. He recently flew a T-34 under the
bag only using vibrators (taken from commercial pagers) for spatial orientation.
When you see him, make sure you ask him where they put all the vibrators.
Captain Jack Shields transferred from China Lake to Beaufort, S.C. where
he still keeps the keys to the F-18 in his pocket. He probably has more
uninterrupted years flying the Hornet that just about anyone in the Navy.
Captain Bill Miller in with the VX-9 detachment in Point Mugu, C.A. where
he is flying and managing the T-45 cockpit upgrade. He is rumored to have
his eyes on the F-14D.
Captain Dave Hiland is our program sponsor at BUMED. While far away from
any airplanes, he has done a remarkable job representing us inside the
Beltway (the circumferential automobile highway surrounding Washington,
D.C.).
LCDR Kris Belland is our new guy on the block. He started as a Naval Academy
graduate who was inappropriately NPQ'd way back when - so he went to medical
school and became a flight surgeon. His track record includes back-to-back
sea tours on the USS Independence and USS Constellation, an Air Medal from
Southern Watch, and the Leuhrs Award as Navy Operational Flight Surgeon
of the Year. Kris turned this remarkable record into orders to flight training
and recently completed T-34's at the top of his class. He is now in Kingsville,
T.X. starting the T-45 program. Start planning your cross-countries now
to attend his graduation ('winging') in 8 months.
Again, I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta.
CDR Dave Brown
The annual business meeting was held in Anaheim, California during the annual scientific meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association.
Dr. Carrier was unable to attend the meeting and no report was submitted.
(NOTE TO READERS, THIS SECTION GIVEN AS IT WAS PRESENTED)
Commander Dave Hiland, USN presented the status of the Navy's Dual Designator
Program. The USN is welcoming a new surgeon General and preparing to cut
486 officer billets. He noted that there are currently 10 billets authorized
for dual designators but that not all of them were properly 'AQD' coded
so that assignments by personnel are not working as smoothly as they should
be. Of the 10 current billets, 3 are included in the 486 billets being
cut.
He reports that the USN has 5 active dual designators and one in training.
Lieutenant Commander Eric Schindler had just completed training in the
FA-18 'Hornet'. Lieutenant Kris M. Belland was in training at the time
of the meeting and leading his upgrade class.
The USAF Pilot-Physician Program is receiving good support now that Lieutenant
General Edgar R. Anderson (F-4), a pilot-physician himself, has become
the USAF Surgeon General. The USAF is holding an annual, formal board to
appoint new pilot-physicians- The board consists of two representatives
from the medical corps and two representatives from the line. It meets
each May. LtCol Rodger D. Vanderbeek (F-16) has assumed the reigns as the
officer of primary responsibility for the program and has recently moved
from Air Combat Command Headquarters at Langley APB to be Chief of Operational
Medicine for the USAF at Bolling AFB in Washington,
D.C. (Since then he has been elevated to Chief, Aerospace Medicine)
The USAF had three flying pilot-physicians- Major Robert A. Munson is currently
on exchange with the Royal Air Force at Farnborough, England and is flying
the Hawk and the Hunter. Major Delos D. Carrier has been assigned to the
C-17 program and will be leaving for an orthopedic surgery residency with
the Army at William Beaumont Amy Medical Center in El Paso, Texas in June
95. Major David L. "Lex" Brown is flying the F-117 for the Air
Combat Command.
The remainder of the USAF pilot-physicians are in nonflying jobs. LtCol
Tom Travis (F-16/15) and Major (LtCol Gel) Pete Demitry (F-16) are in staff
jobs at Brooks APB in San Antonio, Texas. Major (LtCol Sel) Pete Mapes
(B-52) is finishing a Masters Degree in Public Health at the Uniformed
Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Colonel Geoffrey W. McCarthy
(F-16, RAF Exch) is the commander of the 2nd Medical Group at Barksdale
AFB, Louisiana. Colonel Leroy Gross and Colonel Tom McNish have both retired.
There are three applicants for the USAF Pilot-Physician Board this year.
Results will be published in the newsletter (See article). The U-S- Department
of Defense Medical School (The Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences, F. Edward Heber (Pronounced 'A Bare') School of Medicine has
5 former USAF Pilots in the class of 1998 and 3 more have applied for the
class of 1999 including the first woman Air Force Academy graduate who
is also a pilot.
LtCol Robert 'Bob' D. Banks has not flown since 1991 but he reports that
the Canadian Forces are now training a pilot-physician in the Tudor and
have a former FA-18 pilot graduating from medical school. LtCol Dave Salisbury
is not actively flying but, like Bob Banks is leading from behind the inevitable
desk.
LtCol Jan Linder (Viggen) reports that dual-designators now occupy the
top two positions in the Swedish Air Force Medical Department. The Swedish
Air Force now has two active dual designators, one in rotary wing and one
in fixed wing. He reports that there are 2 pilots in medical school and
3 pilots studying psychology.
Dr. Benjamin Z. Kallner reports that Israel has one pilot-physician who
is currently a surgical resident. He is unaware of any accessions in the
pipeline.
Major Robert 'Bob' A. Munson, USAF (Now LtCol) who is on exchange to the Royal Air Force reports that the RAF currently has no indigenous pilot-physicians but one RAF pilot has just come forward and identified himself as a physician (shades of Tom Koritz). The Royal Army, Bob reports, has 10 pilot-physicians.
Colonel Geoffrey W. McCarthy requested that any pilot-physicians who
have presented or published papers send him courtesy copies which he had
volunteered to archive.
Captain William 'Bill' Miller, USN volunteered to help with the program
committee this year. He suggested centering on the advanced cockpit standardization
with a focus on Situational awareness and spatial disorientation. Colonel
Geoffrey W. McCarthy will lead the program committee this year. The topic
which the group present decided on was 'Current Operational Strengths &
Weaknesses.' A pseudonym suggested for this topic was 'Cockpits That Kill
Pilots' but this was felt to carry too negative of a connotation for the
overall subject.
The members present who volunteered to support the scientific program for
1996 with abstracts were:
Maj Lex Brown, USAF (F-117)
Maj Pete Mapes, USAF (B-52 Pilot Human Factor Survey)
LtCol Jan Linder, SAF (Viggen)
Capt Bill Miller, USN (JPATS, T-45 Issues)
LCDR Eric Schindler, USN (F-18)
Dr. Paul Morton, MD (Altitude Control Issues)
LtCol Bob Banks, RCAF (Cockpits That Kill Pilots)
The members present considered scheduling a Wednesday night dinner for
future ASMA meetings but no action wad taken on this issue due to scheduling
concerns,
Lieutenant Commander David 'Dave' M. Brown, USN - President
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas 'Tom' W. Travis, USAF - Pres. Elect
Major (LtCol select) Peter 'Pete' B. Mapes, USAF - Sec Treasurer
All new officers were elected by a unanimous vote of those present.
Following the successful format of the last 2 years, we will again present
a single, pertinent topic, then individual papers on other topics. The
panel discussion is entitled 'Cockpits, Good and Bad' and is advertised
in the abstract as a tutorial. Members from the Swedish AF, RAF, US Navy,
Canadian AF, and USAF will describe accidents and excess workload from
poorly designed cockpits, and then propose solutions to make tomorrow's'
jets better. Three other papers were approved by the ASMA Program Committee,
so it will be a full 90 min session, Tuesday at 1400. See you there!
Col Geoffrey McCarthy, USAF
The 1995 USAF Pilot-Physician Board met on 22 May 1995. Two new USAF
Pilot-Physicians were approved. Major Byron Hepburn, a former C-9 pilot
and family practitioner was approved with the recommendation that he replace
Major Delos Carrier in the C-17 program at Charleston AFB, South Carolina.
Major Phil Levallee, a former U.S. Army commissioned helicopter pilot and
current USAF flight surgeon was selected with the recommendation that he
be granted a U.S. Air Force rotary wing Pilot Rating based upon his Army
rating (Both USAF and USA helicopter pilots are trained in the same program
at Fort Rucker, Alabama) and that he be assigned to USAF Special Operations
Command at Hurlburt Field in Florida.
Congratulations to the new USAF pilot-physicians.
20 members paid dues for 1995 in Anaheim and one member, Major Byron Hepburn, joined in September, The resulting $245.00 was deposited to our savings account which now has a balance of $250.81. Our checking account now has $1,823.48 in it before the expenses of this newsletter.
This newsletter is being sent to the address which ASMA shows as your current one. Non-ASMA members can only get their addresses updated if they personally notify the secretary-treasurer. Technically you have to be an ASMA member to belong to IAMFSP so make sure you keep your dues current and keep the folks in Arlington advised as to your address. Please take the time to fill out and return the attached membership information update page.
Congratulations to LtCol Pete Demitry, USAF who was promoted below the
zone (i.e., early) and LtCol Pete Mapes, USAF who was promoted in the primary
zone (i.e. on time) to LtCol.
Lieutenant Commander Dave Brown, USN (IAMFSP President) has been promoted
to the rank of Commander.
Major General Edgar R. Anderson, USAF was nominated and confirmed for promotion
to the rank of Lieutenant General.
LtCol Pete Demitry, USAF will begin the Occupational Medicine Residency
at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts on 1 July 96. He will be
leaving Brooks AFB in San Antonio, Texas.
LtCol Tom Travis, USAF has been selected to move to Farnborough, United
Kingdom as the USAF exchange pilot-physician to the RAF. He will be replacing
LtCol Bob Munson who will be completing 3 years at Farnborough in the Summer
of 1996. LtCol Travis will be leaving Brooks AFB in San Antonio, Texas.
LtCol Munson's assignment is unknown at this time.
LtCol Pete Mapes, USAF completed a Master of Public Health Degree at the
Uniformed Services University in May of 1995 and has moved to Brooks AFB,
San Antonio, Texas to the USAF Residency in Aerospace Medicine which he
should complete in June of 1997.
LtCol Rodger Vanderbeek, USAF is chief, Aerospace Medicine in the Al-r
Force Medical Operating Agency (Office of the Surgeon General at Bolling
AFB in Washington, D.C.).
Colonel Geoffrey McCarthy, USAF has completed his tour as Commander of
the Second Medical Group at Barksdale AFB, LA and has moved to the Armstrong
Lab/ (AL/CF] at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7901. He reports he is
a staff officer in the headquarters of the Crew Technology Directorate
and simply loves his new job flying a desk... Hope you all saw his paper
on treating Fear of Flying in Dec AvSpEnvMed. If you become aware of any
cases, he'd be happy to discuss them with you.
Commander Dave Brown, USN has moved from Fallon NAS, Nevada to
Patuxent River NAS, Maryland.
Lieutenant General Edgar R. Anderson, USAF was selected to become the Surgeon
General of the United States Air Force and moved from Wilford Hall Air
Force Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas to Balling APB in Washington
D.C.
Major Delos Carrier has moved from Edward's AFB, California to the William
Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas where he began an Orthopedic
Residency on 1 Jul 95.
The following members have paid dues through 1995 or later:
Dr. Michael Bagshaw
LT Kris Belland
Col Yehezkel Caine
Maj . Byron Hepburn
Dr. David Jones
Maj. P.G. Larsson
Col. Jan Linder
Maj. Bob Munson
LtCol. Dave Salisbury
Col. Igal Shochat
LtCol. R. Vanderbeek
CART Jim Baker
Dr. Dean Bristow
Maj. Dee Carrier
CDR Dave Hiland
Dr. Ben Kallner
Col. Fred Leonard
LtCol. Pete Mapes
LCDR Greg Paine
LCDR Eric Schindler
Capt. Bill Tamer
LtCol. Robert Banks
Maj. D. Lex Brown
CDR Dave Gillis
Capt. Dwight Holland
Dr. Glenn Kelly
Dr. Mark Lewis
Dr. William Miller
Col. Jim Roudebush
Capt R. J. Shields
LtCol . Tom Travis
If your name is not on the shove list, please remit S10.00 (U.S. dollars)
to IAMFSP. If you are more than one year out of date the fee is $10.00
per year. 96 dues are due at the May Scientific Program of the Aerospace
Medical Association. All IAMFSP members should keep their ASMA dues current
as well.