On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:20:25 GMT, Jose
wrote:

Don't mix flight plans with ATC clearances.

Ok, I won't. But then your statement that every military flight is on a
flight plan is disengenuous.

The question was regarding FLIGHT PLANS. I answered, based on my
experience in the military as a pilot. I stated that ALL military
flights are on a FLIGHT PLAN. I confirmed that there are both VFR and
IFR FLIGHT PLANS. I stated that in the USAF, the governing regulations
specify that flights will be on an IFR FLIGHT PLAN "to the maximum
extent practicable." I further indicated, in direct response to
queries, that with very few exceptions all USAF military flights are
on IFR FLIGHT PLANS.

Exactly how is that statement of facts based on experience and in
reply to a direct and specific series of questions being in any way
disingenuous?

Let me repeat--upon reaching the training airspace, the flight is
dropped from ATC control and exercises a delay enroute.

That's the part that counts. Never mind the flight plan stuff, that's a
red herring.

The questions involved confusion regarding how military flights manage
to do all of their VFR maneuvering if they are on IFR FLIGHT PLANS. I
described the procedure.

If you are unfamiliar with terminology, that isn't my problem.
Providing specific answers to specific questions, even when they are
asked by those without clue, isn't introducing red herrings.

The investigation determines who is responsible. There was an
investigation. It was conducted in great detail.

Was this investigation conducted by a disinterested third party?

An accident investigation is convened based on very specific
regulations. Composition of that board is IAW those regs. A board will
always have a presiding officer (usually O-6) and always from another
organization than the unit which had the accident. There will also be
a trained Flying Safety Officer (graduate of flight safety school
which used to be at Univ. of Southern Calif.--dunno if it's still
there.) There will be a flight surgeon--to provide medical expertise.
And there will be a "pilot officer" member of the board--a pilot
qualified in the aircraft, but not a member of the unit. And, there
will be a maintenance officer qualified in the aircraft type. There
may be additional members based on expertise required to make
determinations.

The principle reason for the accident board is to determine cause and
therefore to prevent future occurences of mishaps from the same cause.
The interest is safety. Findings usually involve a primary cause and
one or more secondary or contributing causes.

Should there be evidence of pilot error or malfeasance, there will be
an additional board convened to deal with those specific issues. This
is called a corollary board. The corollary board can and does assess
damages.

Depending upon board findings, there may be an Article 34
hearing--similar to an arraignment in civil court which could lead to
a court-martial. There could also be a recommendation for a
FEB--Flight Evaluation Board, which would make a determination
regarding continuation of involved crew-members on flight status.

More to the point, what would the outcome (consequences to the pilot)
have been had the pilot of the fighter been, say, a civilian on his way
to an airshow? Yes, I'm asking you to speculate, but it doesn't seem to
be a very difficult speculation.

Jose

You are asking if a civilian flying a fighter aircraft would be
subject to similar proceedings? That would be such as a "war-bird"
enthusiast? Or a manufacturer employed test or demo pilot?

Those individuals would not be involved in the military process, but
would be subject to NTSB accident investigation. Outcome would
probably be very similar with the principal difference being that if
there were suspicion of criminal behavior (flying under influence of
drugs/alcohol for example leading to a mishap), the proceedings would
take place in civil court.

Now, I can only sit back and wonder what of the above will be
considered disingenuous or red herring.



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com