Air Combat Command held a joint aircrew flight equipment evaluation event at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., recently, testing current and future flight equipment for aircrews of every aircraft in USAF’s inventory, according to an Oct. 20 release. Representatives came from JB Langley-Eustis, Va.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Beale AFB, Calif.; Tinker AFB, Okla.; Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; and Hill AFB, Utah. Among the items tested at the Oct. 7-14 event was the joint service aircrew mask, which was evaluated for tactical aircraft as well as the F-35 for its ability to keep aircrew safe from airborne contamination. Other equipment for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-22 Raptor was put to the test to see if improvements could be made for better integration. Each aircrew’s chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense flight suits were sprayed with fluorescent particles during testing, simulating exposure to biological and chemical agents. After spraying, the test participants went through an aircrew contamination area to manage contaminated equipment and to simulate disinfecting and neutralizing potential hazards. Results from testing were compiled and sent to the joint program office for CBRN defense at Edgewood, Md.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.