Kentucky Team Takes Great Lakes Region 'Gray Flag' Title

Preparing to fly

The Kentucky Wing finished first in the Great Lakes Region’s fourth annual Gray Flag competition Oct.13-14, besting four other wings in responding to scenarios involving aircrews, communications, ground teams, and small Unmanned Aerial Systems.

The communications section involved four main components – communications safety, a written quiz, sending and receiving communications, and practical application.

Meanwhile, the ground crew, aircrew, and small Unmanned Aerial Systems teams had to cope with increasing winds and lower cloud bases as the weather worsened during the second day of competition at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indiana.

The sUAS teams participated in a scenario requiring them to take photos of a Civil Air Patrol van about 150 yards away. They also carried out a pair of practical scenarios, including a missing person search with simulated closes bases 200 feet above ground level.

Ground teams conducted an emergency beacon search and a simulated aircraft search requiring map-reading and navigation skills.

Aircrews were tasked with aerial searches and a beacon search simulating emergency locator transmitter activation. They were judged on their beacon search’s accuracy and duration, communication protocols, and professionalism.

In finishing first overall, the Kentucky Wing captured the air and ground operations categories. The Ohio Wing topped the field in communications, and the Indiana Wing led the way in sUAS. The Illinois and Wisconsin wings participated as well.
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Lt. Col. Bill Vendramin
Public Affairs Officer
Indiana Wing