Behind the Wings

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we explore the critical challenges pilots face while suffering from mental health issues and discuss possible individual and organizational solutions.

Our guests are United Airlines Pilot, Troy Merritt, and Neurologist and Aircrew Brain Health Researcher, Dr. William "Billy" Hoffman. Troy discusses his personal experience of grounding himself due to mental health issues and explains the pilot mental health paradox. Dr. Hoffman draws on his research and medical experience with mental health in aviation to help us understand the efforts being made by researchers and the broader aviation community to bridge the gap for pilots and the industry as a whole. There is a lot to learn in this episode!

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots have two options; disclose their mental health issues to the FAA and become grounded or keep them secret and continue flying while untreated. Many pilots will face this paradox at some point in their flying career.
• Troy suffered from anxiety and depression and chose to ground himself in 2022. He found a doctor who prescribed SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and is already on the application pathway to fly again.
• Special Issuances are given to pilots who are approved to fly, despite their current health problems.
• Troy encourages all who are suffering from mental illness to seek treatment. Even talking to a therapist as a "life coach" is a great first step that doesn't alert the FAA.
• Billy continues to research with pilots and participate in conversations on how to better approach mental health problems in aviation.
• This paradox isn't limited to mental health. Many pilots also keep physical ailments to themselves or seek treatment without alerting the FAA.
• The FAA has set up a mental health rules committee to research and possibly change some regulations.

Resources:

• Pilots say they're afraid to seek mental health care. The FAA says it's listening - NPR
• The Pilot’s Pandemic Podcast
• Pilots hide mental health issues so they don’t ‘lose their wings’ - Washington Post

Gain insight into the newest branch of the U.S. military- the Space Force.

In this episode, we explore the creation and operations of the Space Force, the newest branch of the United States military. From its roots as a small office within the Air Force to its current status as a fully-fledged branch, we delve into the challenges and successes of the Space Force as it works to defend and protect American interests in space.

Our guest, Colonel Marcus Jackson, is the Commander of Space Base Delta 2, headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. As commander, he leads an 857-member team providing Base Operating Support to more than 757 military, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel serving at 14 operating locations world-wide, executing critical United States Space Force Missile Warning and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. In addition, SBD2 hosts 6 wings (or equivalents) and 92 tenant organizations as well as supporting over 14,000 base personnel and a 98,000-retiree population.

THIS is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways

• Established as a new branch of the United States Armed Forces: The US Space Force is a newly established branch of the US Armed Forces that was created in December 2019. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Air Force and is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping military personnel to conduct space operations.
• Focuses on space operations: The primary focus of the US Space Force is on space operations, including satellite communications, missile warning, and other activities that take place in space. The Space Force also aims to protect US space assets from potential threats, including those from other countries.
• Supports the civilian space industry: The US Space Force also supports the civilian space industry by providing satellite launch and other services. It also collaborates with other agencies such as NASA to advance space exploration and research.
• Emphasizes technology and innovation: The Space Force places a strong emphasis on technology and innovation to improve its capabilities and stay ahead of potential threats. This includes investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and space-based sensors.
• Relies on partnerships and collaboration: The US Space Force works closely with other branches of the US military as well as with international partners to achieve its goals. It also collaborates with the private sector and academia to develop new technologies and capabilities.

[ChatGPT was used to generate these key takeaways]

Resources

• www.spaceforce.mil
• https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11495
• https://www.axios.com/2021/12/05/us-space-force-china-threat
• https://www.axios.com/2020/12/18/astronaut-mike-hopkins-space-force
• https://www.axios.com/2021/02/03/biden-keeps-space-force

In today’s show, we’re going to go Behind the Wings of a cutting-edge space vehicle – The Orion Spacecraft, and the Artemis Missions - with Lockheed Martin systems engineer and Integration senior manager Kerry Timmons.

Kerry leads a team of engineers at Lockheed Martin, working on Orion’s vehicle requirements - from the advanced electrical systems to human integration for the Artemis I and II missions. With the Artemis program we’ll be able to explore uncharted parts of the moon, and learn more about what it takes to not only explore the moon but deep Space.

What an exciting time for human space flight. I remember as a kid the wonder of Apollo – In today's conversation that excitement is back!

Key Takeaways:

• Kerry Timmons is a second-generation Lockheed Martin employee. She has been working on the Orion spacecraft since 2008.
• Orion is the US and NASA's crewed deep space exploration vehicle, consisting of the crew vehicle, the service module, and the launch abort system.
• Orion uses the same blunt-body capsule as the Apollo spacecraft, but there are differences in the crew capacity (3 on Apollo, 4 on Orion), and mission length (Apollo 14 days, Orion 21 days).
• The Orion capsule is reusable, enabling more frequent missions.
• The Apollo missions were named after the Greek god Apollo, the god of the sun. The Artemis missions are named after Apollo's twin sister Artemis, the goddess of the moon.
• Artemis I is an uncrewed mission around the moon planned for launch in 2022. The spacecraft will go deeper than any crewed vehicle has before, based on the trajectory and orbit, to ensure the safety of the vehicle for Artemis II
• Artemis II will take the crew out for the first time in the Orion Spacecraft to orbit the moon. It is planned for 2024
• Artemis III will take the first woman and person of color to land on the moon. It is planned for 2025.
• Artemis IV will be another mission to the moon, possibly incorporating the upcoming Lunar Gateway. It is planned for 2026.
• NASA wants to build a sustainable lunar environment both on the surface and as orbiting an orbiting platform to grow our knowledge and experience living and working in space
• Lockheed Martin partnered with Amazon on the Callisto payload to bring the Alexa voice control and Cisco WebX video communication aboard Orion.
• When the Orion Spacecraft returns to Earth it will bounce off the atmosphere in a maneuver called a skip re-entry. This was conceived during the Apollo program but is only now technologically possible.
• Kerry Timmons's hope for the future of space exploration, is for more people to be part of the space industry, a thriving earth-lunar economy, and for more people to be able to experience the wonder of exploration in space.

Use the code SEASON1 for 20% off a new membership at Wings: Become A Member | Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum (wingsmuseum.org)

Support Behind the Wings by making a financial contribution to Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum’s Annual Fund! (wingsmuseum.org)

References:

• Orion (spacecraft) - Wikipedia
• NASA Artemis
• Orion | Lockheed Martin
• The Next Frontier in Space | Behind the Wings on PBS
• Callisto (lockheedmartin.com)

In 1996, astronaut Tom Henricks became the first Space Shuttle pilot/commander to log 1,000 hours in space.

Tom tells us about his time as an F-4 pilot and F-16 test pilot, astronaut training, flying four Space Shuttle missions including two as a commander, and the challenges of flying at Mach 25. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Tom's love of aviation started when he bought an airplane ride near his family's farm.
• Tom graduated number one in his weapons and test pilot school.
• After applying four times, Tom was selected to be a NASA astronaut in 1985.
• Tom flew to space four times on missions STS-44, 55, 70, and 78. They ran experiments, deployed satellites, and did some early testing that later would help build the International Space Station.
• The Space Shuttle reenters the atmosphere at Mach 25, making it very complicated to land successfully. Tom landed the Shuttle on his last two missions.
• At the time, STS-78 was the longest space mission to date at 405 hours. Later that same year, STS-80 broke its record by 19 hours.
• Tom is excited about the future of Artemis and hopes someday he may even step on the Moon.

Resources:

• Tom Henricks NASA Bio
• Tom Henricks Wiki Page

In celebration of Women's History Month, dive into the story of the first female Air Force pilots and their roles during World War II.

Today's episode tells us about the lives and history of The Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. The WASP helped the United States domestic war effort by ferrying aircraft, towing targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice, simulating strafing missions, transporting cargo, and so much more. Plus, hear a special story about the first two women to fly the B-29 Superfortress. This one is going to be cool!

Key Takeaways:

• Pilot Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran and test-pilot Nancy Harkness Love wanted to help the war effort in the United States and worked with the military to start the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS). Eventually, both programs were merged to form the WASP.
• Even with strict requirements to enter the WASP, more than 25,000 women applied, 1,830 were accepted, and 1,074 graduated.
• The WASP trained in Sweetwater, TX at Avenger Field where they stayed on base in the barracks and trained most days.
• Two WASP, Dorthea Johnson and Dora Dougherty, were chosen by General Hap Arnold to fly the newly arrived B-29 Superfortress in a demonstration for future male pilots. The male pilots didn't want to fly this airplane due to engine concerns, and the WASP was meant to show that "if a woman can do it, so can a man." They flew the B-29 successfully several times.
• In 1944, the WASP were shut down to make room for men returning from war who needed the jobs.
• Years later, in the 1970s, the Women Airforce Service Pilots were finally given military and veteran status, officially cementing their history.

Resources:

• Women Fly the B-29: PBS
• Women Airforce Service Pilots Wiki
• Deanie Parish WASP Speech
• The WASP of World War 2: Radio Diaries
• V. Scott Gough Collection: Library of Congress
• Margaret Ray Ringenberg Collection: Library of Congress
• Nell S. Bright Collection: Library of Congress