Greetings from the UK! It's cold and dark here this time of year, so
I was happy to escape to Northern Virginia in December (a little brighter,
but no warmer there) for the AsMA Executive Council and Program Committee
meetings. I really don't have too many specific items from the council
to report. I am impressed by how the Association does its business, and
by the level of energy injected by some IAMFSP members who were present.
IAMFSP members Bruce Bohnker, Glenn Merchant, Pete Mapes and I were all
there, representing various interests. Pete is now extremely active in
AsMA as the Membership Committee chairman, and anyone who knows Pete well
knows how "stuck in" Pete gets (Brit term that basically means
Pete is enthusiastic in everything he does). This was no exception. Pete
has an aggressive plan to get more AsMA members in the next few years.
On that note, membership in AsMA is up slightly from last year to 3462,
so there is hope that it has bottomed out. Dr. McMeekin (Pres) and Dr.
Landry (Pres-elect) have designated 1998 as the Year of Membership, making
that the top priority for the Association's activities this year. So, Pete
will be busy.
In regard to the program committee activities, there were plenty of excellent
abstracts reviewed and the program has been set. The Scientific Meeting
will take place in Seattle during the week of 17 May. The IAMFSP Panel
(Laser Eye Protection Tutorial) will occur Tuesday, 19 May, from 1400-1530
in a large room (anticipating our usual crowd). I staked out our traditional
slot early and tried to make sure that operationally-flavored sessions
(such as the Spatial Disorientation panels on Wednesday) would not conflict.
The program has been set up as follows:
Thanks to Bob Munson and the above contributors, it looks like an excellent
program again this year! The IAMFSP Business Meeting will follow that afternoon,
exact time and location TBA.
It's not too early to talk about the program for 1999 in Detroit. I would
like to get some of those ideas published in the Spring newsletter BEFORE
we meet in Seattle to give members a chance to think them through and perhaps
decide how they might contribute next year. And I would really like to
get some international papers next year! Please e-mail me at TTravis21@AOL.COM
with any ideas regarding the program for '99 (or any other agenda items
or correspondence).
I look forward to seeing everyone in Seattle!
Further to our President, more greetings from UK (and I'm feeling the
cold and damp after my enjoyable tour at Fort Rucker!) The wind in early
January played havoc with my limited power take-offs and sloping ground
landings during my refresher flying course at Middle Wallop!
You've heard from Tom about the panel that we are sponsoring at AsMA 98,
but I thought I'd publicize another panel that has been accepted at the
1998 meeting, to further tempt you to Seattle. The day before you kindly
elected me as VP in Chicago last year, Lieutenant Colonel John Crowley
MC, the chairman of the U.S. Army Aviation Medical Association, asked me
to organize a panel on countermeasures to Spatial Disorientation - International
Initiatives. Despite the rough handling of the FEDEX package which contained
the abstracts en route to Virginia, with the consequent loss of 12 of the
17 abstracts!, this has been achieved. (My penultimate day at USAARL was
spent resurrecting the situation!). This is going to be a "triple"
session and, thanks to Tom, will not conflict with the IAMFSP Laser Panel.
It is scheduled for Wednesday 20 May and has been set up as follows.
COUNTERMEASURES TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION - INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES.
AN OVERVIEW.
Presenter: Malcolm Braithwaite.
A TRISERVICE REVIEW OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR
MILITARY AVIATORS.
Presenter: Ben Lawson.
A STUDY OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION IN RAF AIRCREW.
Presenter: David Winfield
ASSESSMENT OF THE BRITISH ARMY SPATIAL DISORIENTATION DEMONSTRATION SORTIE
IN TRAINING U.S. ARMY AVIATORS.
Presenter: Phil Johnson.
DISORIENTATION DEMONSTRATION IN THE NETHERLANDS
Presenter: Bernd de Graaf
ASSESSMENT OF SIMULATED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION SCENARIOS IN TRAINING U.S.
ARMY AVIATORS.
Presenter: Art Estrada.
IN-FLIGHT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION TRAINING.
Presenter: Bill Ercoline
A TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW OF INSTRUMENTATION TO ENHANCE SPATIAL ORIENTATION.
Presenter: Dave Yauch
TACTICAL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM.
Presenter: Angus Rupert
RECENT ADVANCES AND APPLICATIONS OF THE USAARL NOVEL FLIGHT INSTRUMENT
DISPLAY (notification of demonstration only).
Presenter: Malcolm Braithwaite.
PANORAMIC NIGHT VISION GOGGLE: IMPROVED SPATIAL ORIENTATION.
Presenter: J.C. Antonio
NOLO: REPORT OF AN AUTOMATIC AND REMOTE PILOT AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SYSTEM.
Presenter: Bill Miller
THE "OUTSIDE - IN" ATTITUDE DISPLAY CONCEPT REVISITED.
Presenter: Fred Previc.
APPLICATION OF VISUAL SCANNING/POINT OF GAZE TECHNOLOGY TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
TRAINING.
Presenter: Bob Cheung
THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAYS IN THE COCKPIT TO IMPROVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
Presenter: Leo van Breda
APPLICATIONS of 3D AUDITORY DISPLAYS
Presenter: Adelbert Bronkorst
"CLOSING THE LOOP" - ADDRESSING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION IN ARMY
AVIATION.
Presenter: Ed Murdock
I hope you agree that it should also be an excellent program (and will
give you something to do on most of Wednesday). As well as presentations
from (in)famous international researchers and flight surgeons, five are
being made by IAMFSP members, and two by "operators" so it should
be worth attending.
A final note - as we go to press this time, we are desperately trying to
contact Dave Brown to get the web site updated. The web site is our window
to the world, and in my mind, should be enhanced. Please give the topic
some thought before May so that we can discuss at our next meeting what
WE all want out of our web site, AND what those who "find' us on the
Internet would wish of us.
I too forward to seeing everyone in Seattle. If you wish to contact me
directly, please use: MalcBrai@aol.com OR telephone: ++44 1980 674367,
FAX: ++44 1980 674481.
Malcolm Braithwaite
Money
As of 31 Jan 98, the organization has $483.41 in savings, $2922.55 in our
money market fund, and $254.62 in our checking account. The only upcoming
expenditures I foresee are the next couple of mailings and possibly the
purchase of some web page software if we decide we need it.
Missing Folks:
The following newsletters were returned from the last mailing. We need
new addresses. I am not going to send out newletters to these folks until
I get a new one.
Ceresia, Patrick J.
Gillis, Dabid B.
Hatley, Thomas E.
Jackson, Frederic L.
King, Paul A. H.
Laub, James L.
Paine, Gregory F.
Web Site
I've communicated with Dave Brown who has agreed to continue to update
our web site until our next meeting. We will need to consider the items
our VP has suggested in his words to the membership. Additionally, we need
to find some means to continue this web site if we deem it worthwhile.
Perhaps designating someone from within our ranks? Perhaps hiring someone?
Consider this well (if I may quote Myamoto Musashi ,Book of Five Rings).
Membership/Dues Status
Membership remains at 99 with consideration of the non-dues-paying members.
Speaking of those non-dues-paying members, I am still shying away from
the public humiliation. If your dues are up to date read no further. If
they are not then consider this newsletter and this organization like public
radio. Should you be reading this newsletter and have not contributed an
amount which would be a tip for a good night on the town, please feel an
appropriate twinge of guilt.
EMAIL
As many of us live in the email world it might be handy if we had a listing
available to contact each other. As we are all aware our addresses for
snail mail change quickly and updating those can be quite difficult. I
am suggesting that anyone that has an email address send it to me at:
eric.schindler@ndti.net
I will include these addresses in our database with your snail mail addresses
so that at least someone will have a common list. The few addresses I have
have been quite useful in helping me find information to help me better
do my job as a flight surgeon. Better yet, you may even enjoy some of the
great jokes Bob Munson sends out.
British Army Specialists in Aviation Medicine Play Musical Chairs (and
Desk!)
By Major Allison Eke
Late '97 and early '98 have seen several moves in our specialty. Lt Col
Malcolm Braithwaite has now moved from USAARL, Ft Rucker to replace Col
Simon Durnford (on his retirement) as Consultant Advisor at HQ, Director
Army Aviation, Middle Wallop. Major Phil Johnson has crossed the pond to
USAARL, and his previous post at DERA Centre for Human Sciences, Farnborough,
is now filled by Major Allison Eke. Major Paul Cain has replaced her as
Consultant in Aviation Medicine at HQ Land Forces. We are hoping to produce
another strong turnout in Seattle to follow our record attendance in Chicago.
LCDR Kris Belland is one of the newer dual designates having recently
earned his wings with the U.S. Navy. He is presently stationed at NAS Fallon,
NV with the Naval Strike Air Warfare Center as their flight surgeon. He
is presently getting some time in the UH-60 helicopter and the FA-18 as
he awaits resolution of what he will be flying on a more regular basis.
P L E A S E F O L D A L O N G T H I S L I N E
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Return Address Affix Appropriate
Postage Here
International Association of Military Flight Surgeon Pilots
200 E. Kendall Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
IAMFSP
200 E. Kendall Ave.
Ridgecrest, CA
U.S.A. 93555