Then You Pick Up the Squawk

Author: Bobo

Gary G. was a senior captain when I got to Vance in 1975.  He had been a Forward Air Controller (FAC) in Vietnam before becoming a T-38 IP.  Gary had kind of a 'cynical demeanor' but in a humorous way.  I never saw him use his humor in a harmful manner - but he sure could get his point across with it!

One day, Gary was out in the area when a T-5 Amp on one of his engines let go on him.  The T-5 Amp was a device on each engine that controlled engine temperature by opening the nozzles to keep the temperatures within their operating range.  They only came into effect above 95% rpm.  It was not a 'big deal,' but something that you didn't want to continue the mission with.  So, Gary requested a return to Vance and then called the SOF (Supervisor of Flying) to inform him of the situation.

At the time, when we experienced an 'anomaly' with the jet, we could declare either an Emergency or a Precautionary, depending upon the severity of the problem.  This would give us preferential treatment for recovery. 

When Gary gets the SOF on frequency, he asks whether he is declaring an Emergency or a Precautionary.  Gary was a bit perplexed by the question, as it really didn't warrant either.  So he told the SOF that he wasn't declaring anything, to which the SOF replied that he (the SOF) was declaring a Precautionary for him!

Gary was somewhat taken aback.  Like many of us, he had never heard of such a thing like this.  So then told the SOF, "Roger that, you can go ahead and pick up the squawk!"  Meaning: the SOF could turn his transponder to the 'precautionary setting!'  (SOFs don’t have transponders.)  Gary felt he was justifiably upset that the SOF was attempting to 'fly his jet.’

The squadron operations officer didn’t see it that way, and right after this incident, Gary was transferred over to Wing Safety!