The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) awarded Yuma Test Center’s (YTC) Flight Services Division an Award of Accomplishment in Safety.
The award from the Department of the Army's U.S. Army Safety Program signed by ATEC Commander Maj. Gen. Patrick Gaydon recognizes the division for its top-notch safety during the last 12 months.
The team conducted missions without any Class A, B or C mishaps. These classes encompass property damage up to 2-million dollars and injuries ranging from minor requiring one day off work to as severe as a fatality.
Mission Pilot Scott ‘Data’ Myers, a Marine/Naval Aviator veteran, says this award is a result of the entire team keeping safety at the top of their list.
“Safety is the ultimate team sport, because no one person can cover the huge number of known variables and mitigate against the unknown variables alone; there will always be unknown variables, and real-time changes that need to be made during an event, but the process of planning is vital.”
The Flight Services Division is made up of pilots, an airfield manager, airfield electronics technician, airfield quality assurance inspector and equipment manager. LOGMET, LLC, the aviation services support contractor supplements their team by providing personnel for many functions including maintenance pilots, crew chiefs, air traffic control, airfield operations, production and quality control, avionics, aviation maintenance, supply, ground support equipment and aviation life support.
Engineer Technician Stuart ‘Smitty’ Smith, a Marine veteran who works in aviation electronics says the team’s highly specialized experience in the military and aviation is a key factor.
“This place attracts folks with far reaching experience.”
The seasoned pilots collectively have more than 17,300 flight hours total. The aviation service personnel experience varies from a few years to over four decades.
“Even our youngest member has the safety attitude engrained into them from the induction,” said Smith.
In addition to experience, safety is a way of life with aircrafts. Especially in the testing world, “We have more checks and balances on an aircraft than you would normally see,” explained Smith.
Each member’s work is triple checked. Providing layers of safety. The hangars are immaculate. Their maintenance workspaces organized; each tool is accounted for before and after flights and at the end of the day. Nothing is left to guesswork because they are not only responsible for multi-million-dollar items, but they are also responsible for safeguarding lives.
Myers gives one group a lot of credit. “Maintainers are a huge part of safety.”
To ensure each aircraft is in tip-top shape Flight Services’ maintainers perform daily preventative maintenance checks and turnaround inspections after tests. They also perform checks after logging a set amount of flight time.
“I am very appreciative of their hard work.”
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