This is Brian telling stories about his time at the Chinook users conference. Every year there is a big gathering of all parties involved with Chinooks in Huntsville Alabama. It is geared towards the military but a lot of private companies are there selling products designed to make our jobs easier. It is a good opportunity to discuss what is happening in the field and changes that are coming our way. Brian was able to schedule his leave so that on the way back over here he attended the conference.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
This is Brian telling stories about his time at the Chinook users conference. Every year there is a big gathering of all parties involved with Chinooks in Huntsville Alabama. It is geared towards the military but a lot of private companies are there selling products designed to make our jobs easier. It is a good opportunity to discuss what is happening in the field and changes that are coming our way. Brian was able to schedule his leave so that on the way back over here he attended the conference.
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Could just anyone show up at this conference? I mean could Brian just stop by? Do you guys have any imput as to products, modifications, etc. that would make flying easier, safer. etc.? Or are these decisions made much higher up? Is there an official way for you to give suggestions/ Complaints?
As far as I know anyone can show up if you pay the conference fee. I have heard of military people going on their own but for most of them their unit sends them (to cover hotels, food, rental cars, ect.) or in Brian's case the Cargo PM office paid his way (they are the ones who put on the conference). Cargo PM (project manager) is where retired Chinook guys go to work. Each helicopter has it's own office that acts as a central clearing house for all things related to that aircraft. It acts as the liaison between all interested parties and is run by the military but most of the staff is civilian (which is why you get a lot of guys who retire there and come to work the next day doing the same job as a civilian). The decisions on what modifications are done to the aircraft are made at the PM office but it is a long process (usually - unless there is an urgent clear cut need for something then they move pretty fast). We do have input but it is more of a consensus building event. There are always complaints about the aircraft but if over time the complaint becomes widespread then they will start looking at ways to address it. Of course money is always the big counterbalance. There may be good ideas but if they aren't a high priority then they don't get funded. It's actually a pretty small community so almost all of us know people at Cargo PM so they hear about what is going on out in the field.
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