FPP148 - Saving Lives: Collision Avoidance Systems

Oversteer protection, anti-lock brakes, and other emerging technologies help automobile drivers avoid accidents, thus saving money and—more importantly—lives. Wouldn't it be great if technological advances could also reduce or eliminate the leading causes of death among tactical military aviators?

On this episode, former episode 121 guest Billie Flynn returns to discuss collision avoidance systems with episode 78 guest Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton who survived a 2008 mid-air collision that killed his F-15 wingman. Developing, implementing, and testing the technology is one hurdle—another is convincing dubious pilots for the need of this life-saving feature.

Listener questions addressed on this episode include how death is handled while underway on an aircraft carrier, what happens when carrier landings occur in a setting sun, and whether aerial refueling will ever be automated.

Bumper music by Jaime Lopez / announcements by Clint Bell.