ACC sets safety records

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amy Robinson
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  The results are in and, according to the numbers, Air Combat Command knows how to get the job done - safely.

Even with manpower and monetary cuts.

By the close of fiscal 2006, the command set new records for the lowest number of Class A ground and flight mishaps and closed out a fifth year without a single weapons mishap.

"The good news is the ground and flight numbers have gone down and we've had the best record ever," said Col. Billy Gilstrap, ACC's director of safety. "What this says is that leadership, risk management and accountability are paying off."

Throughout 2006, Airmen reduced the number of Class A flight mishaps by 67 percent - a mere four mishaps in 2006 compared to the tally of 12 in fiscal 2005. This is the lowest flight mishap rate in 16 years, spanning the history of Tactical Air Command, ACC's predecessor, and ACC combined, said Col. Kelly Fletcher, ACC chief of flight safety.

In addition to the reduction in Class A flight mishaps, the command also lowered the number of Class A ground mishaps by 30 percent - from 20 mishaps in 2005 to 14 mishaps in 2006 - the lowest number of ground mishaps since ACC was created in 1992, said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Ennis, ACC chief of ground safety.

The chief attributes the successful year to a focus on leadership, training and accountability, stating the command's wingman culture helps emphasize safety at all levels.

"I've worked ground safety for 20 years, and ACC is firmly committed to getting the safety message out, making sure that those sound bites get out to the commanders and down to the lowest level," said Chief Ennis.


Although leaders at all levels can continue to emphasize ground, flight and weapons safety, Colonel Gilstrap said poor judgment is probably the leading cause of a lot of reportable mishaps.

"That's the hard part - the human factor," he said.

But human factors included, the colonel said the safety mindset the command has built over the years is beginning to show - at all levels - and has been recognized by ACC's senior leadership.

To top off 2006, Gen. Ronald Keys, ACC commander, attributes 2006's successful safety record to ACC wing commanders, their focus on training and the "Leader-Wingman Culture."

"We have had some impressive 'knock-it-offs' by young Airmen when they lacked the tools, training or equipment to do jobs correctly," said General Keys. "That has paid dividends - convincing people that we do have time to do it right ... lose the sortie - not the jet or your finger."