Safety is no accident

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Airmen and families who have spent their first winter at Eielson Air Force Base quickly understand the importance of safety. Sound judgment and proper precautions in Alaska can make the difference between life and death.

Furthermore, maintaining high safety standards is a benefit to mission success. The wing safety office provides materials for educational purposes in order to promote personal safety and prevent workplace injuries.

At the squadron level, unit safety representatives raise awareness for health and safety standards. These trained individuals help enforce rules and regulations to protect Airmen.

"The squadron safety representatives are really important because we, as members of wing flight safety, may not always be available to address safety concerns," said Maj. David Anderson, 354th Fighter Wing Flight Safety chief. "A constant safety presence is provided through the use of safety representatives as knowledgeable people with high-quality training who are able to answer questions pertaining to flight safety and other concerns; they make sure that safety is on the mind of the aviators as they are out there flying."

While unit representatives serve as an invaluable capability to the wing safety office; flight, ground, and weapon safety set a standard for others to follow.

As spring approaches, migratory birds are a threat to flight operations; the F-16 is especially vulnerable since it is a single-engine aircraft. The safety office has met the problem by managing the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The team maintains continuous surveillance of the flight line to protect people and assets from dangers posed by wildlife.

"Recently PACAF inspected our BASH program to see how we did things at Eielson," said Master Sgt. Michael Stavesky, 354th safety office, flight safety NCO in charge. "They said Eielson and Elmendorf have the best BASH programs they've seen."

Extreme weather and remote locations add to the potential hazards facing Airmen at Eielson.

"The extreme weather can make conducting safety operations troublesome," said Sergeant Stavesky. "In the event of a safety investigation, snow and other factors can give Airmen a tough time, plus the remote locations we often have to operate in further complicate issues."

Eielson is host to numerous visitors year-round, and multiple large-scale, aerial combat training exercises. These exercises take place in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex which totals more than 67,000 square miles of airspace.

"We fly in some of the most remote places in the world," said Major Anderson. "In the winter time you have the severe cold, and in the summertime thunderstorms occur periodically, plus you have wildlife to contend with while still doing your job."

As a result of Alaska's unique hazards, the personal safety of Airmen and their families is a concern shared by all.
Developing and caring for Airmen is among the Air Force's top priorities. Encouraging Airmen and families to be mindful of their surroundings is one way to increase safety awareness and protect one of the Air Force's greatest assets, its people.