Aircrew safety: award of distinction

During a combat mission, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, a Global Hawk aircraft experienced multiple system faults. The fault indications showed a low engine oil level, high engine oil temperature, and an abnormal change in engine fuel flow. With a 4-hour flight required to return to the normal launch and recovery base, the decision was made to execute an emergency landing on a 9,800-foot runway at a Forward Operating Location (FOL). Unable to contact air traffic controllers, the Mission Control Element (MCE) crew informed the Global Hawk Operations Center (GHOC) by telephone that they would be executing an emergency landing to an FOL. Unable to further contact the GHOC due to busy phone lines, the MCE instructor pilot directed two assigned systems operators to communicate the divert plan to other agencies involved with the mission. One sensor operator was sent to the GHOC to coordinate air traffic control and transient alert personnel at the FOL. The other systems operator assisted the pilot by communicating critical information through secure chat reports to other agencies. The GHOC personnel contacted radar and tower controllers on the phone at the FOL to advise them that a large aircraft would be landing at their base in approximately 30 minutes with zero souls on-board. The crew's next concern was to ensure the airspace and runway was clear. With clearance to land, the aircraft descended on a pre-programmed emergency landing route, but failed to land on the first attempt due to excessive altitude and steep descent rate for the planned flight profile. The MCE crew commanded the aircraft to turn away from the runway and climb, but due to a computer software anomaly, the aircraft would not accept the command to climb to the Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA). With rising terrain in all quadrants, the MCE crew quickly commanded the aircraft to fly to a waypoint that ensured an altitude higher than the MSA. After the aircraft attained the commanded waypoint and altitude, the MCE pilot directed the aircraft to a normal descent and a safe landing. This first-ever deployed Global Hawk emergency landing was a true success due to the crew's timely decisions, knowledge of systems, crew resource management, and disciplined actions to prevent a mishap and save a $45M YRQ-4A aircraft--and they did it all from 6,500 miles away.

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Col Greg A. Kern, Lt Col Donald M. Corley, Maj Ed C. Maraist, MSgt Eric C. Muntz, SSgt Sean T. Kelly, 12th Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, Calif.

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