Federal Drive Show Blog – August 29, 2013

Helicopters figure into a large number of military and civilian federal operations. But when they crash, few people survive. So yesterday, a team of experts from NASA, the military and the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a test at NASA’s Langley Research Center. NASA’s Martin Annett was the lead test engineer for the helicopter fuselage crash test.

View photos and a video of the crash test.

While the National Forest Service fights wildfires throughout the West, it is also battling budget problems. With a month to go in the fiscal year, the Forest Service has used up its firefighting budget. Mike Ferris is a Public Information Officer with the Forest Service. He’s based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Ferris explains how the agency is handling its dual challenges.

In the effort to find something that can identify someone for the rest of their lives, the answer might be in plain sight. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have just completed a study of scans of frequent fliers’ eyeballs. Their findings have implications for law enforcement, the military and other federal agencies. Patrick Grother led the project.

Army Reserve leaders say a new project will let units get more overseas training without new spending. The Reserve will partner with other entities to conduct exercises in Africa and South America. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu tagged along with a reserve unit on a trip closer to home. He reports from along the Potomac River.