Col. Lori L. Robinson, left, commander, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, congratulates Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bill Ham for earning the Army’s 7,500 Accident Free Flight Hours award at Butts Army Airfield Dec. 4. Ham is accompanied by his wife, Sheila Ham. (Photo by Scott Prater)
By Scott Prater
Mountaineer staff
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bill Ham has been flying Apache helicopters for more than 25 years.
The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, senior instructor pilot and standardization officer has flown in four combat deployments; earned countless medals, including the distinguished flying cross and two bronze stars; and logged thousands of flight hours during training and instructional missions. So, it’s no surprise that he was recognized outside a hangar at Butts Army Airfield Dec. 4, 2015, for reaching a milestone few in the Army have even come close to.
Col. Lori L. Robinson, 4th CAB commander, stood on the tarmac alongside an AH-64 Apache and announced to a gathering of fellow pilots, friends and unit members that Ham had logged 7,500 accident-free flight hours.
“The 7,500 Accident-Free Flight Hours award is presented on behalf of Gen. Robert B. Abrams, commanding general, U.S. Army Forces Command,” Robinson said. “What Bill has proven (through earning the award) is a testament to his skill, dedication and technical proficiency in this aircraft. We wanted to take the time today to recognize him and his award, and it serves as an example for every Army aviator, as something to strive toward throughout their career.”
Ham explained that he enjoys his work, “probably a little too much,” and that aviators should understand that they, too, can accomplish such a feat without breaking rules.
Robinson said it is extremely rare to find someone with so many accident-free hours. In her 22 years of Army service, Ham is the first pilot she has seen earn the award.
Ham, who graduated from Colorado’s Florence High School, began flying the AH-64 A model in 1990. He explained that the aircraft has been upgraded throughout the past two decades to include modern avionics, computer and fire-control systems.
“The A model used 1970s’ technology, but by 1998 I was flying the D model,” he said. “Now, I’m qualified on the E model, which includes the Longbow upgrades, and I instruct on that as well.”
While he performs a staff officer role, Ham feels fortunate to fly on a regular basis. As the brigade standards officer, he said his real job is to support the brigade commander with advice on aviation employment, tactics, operations and standardization.
“I help with the overall training plan for the brigade, but on an individual level I still fly individual pilots and perform basic instruction and evaluation,” he said. “There’s probably not too many staff officers who also get to fly, but I’m a pilot first. It’s just how warrant officers fit into the overall picture.”
Ham will also gain the opportunity to add to his flight hours in the near future. He’ll depart to an unspecified location for his fifth combat deployment soon.
“I think this ceremony is a bit much,” he said. “This is not a lifetime achievement award. We’ll be doing this again in 500 or more hours. I’d like to reach 10,000.”