Air force print news (Oct. 13, 2004): helmet upgrades enhance air power.

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here can now look, lock, and launch on an enemy target in the blink of an eye.

Because split seconds can mean the difference between life or death for a pilot in combat, the 52nd Fighter Wing here adopted an advanced approach to high-tech man-machine interaction with the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System.

The system provides an electronic interface allowing the helmet and jet to communicate, putting critical data less than three inches from a pilot's right eye.

Human retinal nerve impulses and eye movement can be faster than one-twenty-fifth of a second. Pilots quickly locate, track, identify, and lock onto airborne and ground-based targets at longer ranges and safer altitudes--all by simply looking at a target, said Staff Sgt. Terence Zelek, a life-support technician with the 23rd Fighter Squadron.

"By keeping their eyes pointed outside the cockpit, pilots will be better equipped to support the formation via visual lookout and to avoid potential midair collisions in crowded airspace," said Lt. Col. David Youtsey, 52nd Operations Support Squadron director of operations.

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Avoiding such collisions is part of what makes the nearly $100,000 per system price tag money well spent, Youtsey said.

"Compared to the cost of a trained pilot, the cost of the [F-16], or the cost of many weapons that are used only once, the price is not an issue," he said. "[With] more survivable air attack engagements or faster destruction of enemy ground forces during a close-air support mission, the benefits are easily recognized."

Youtsey said the new system also pays dividends in training. "Our young pilots will learn the skills and tactics necessary to transfer to more capable aircraft," he said. "The skills acquired via [the system] will support the fielding decisions and employment tactics of those future stealthy platforms in an even more networked and sensor-dense battlespace."

One pilot said the ease of the helmet system makes the idea of returning to the "old-fashioned" system unappealing, but he also recognizes the importance of meticulous training, fitting, and assembly on the new system.

"Your head is connected to the end [of the cord] and inside the helmet," said Capt. Kevin Lord, 23rd FS life-support officer and F-16 pilot. During an ejection or other mishap, "if the (system) is improperly connected, it could rip your head off."

Three dedicated rides with an instructor, coupled with a regular flight schedule, should keep pilots proficient with the new equipment.

"When you know how to wear [the helmet] and it's properly fitted, it's awesome," Lord said. "It's first look, first lock, first kill and now we can track altitude, speed, and just about any information we need to keep the aircraft level and in our control."

by Senior Airman Amaani Lyle