Operations depend on wing-wide focus on flight safety
With the arrival of new aircraft platforms, programs and infrastructure in the coming years, 14 Wing Commander Colonel Luc Vachon stressed the importance of putting flight safety (FS) at the forefront of operations during annual Director of Flight Safety (DFS) briefs June 10 and 11.
“We’re going to be busy for the next few years for sure,” said Vachon, “but good enough is never good enough. Flight safety remains paramount. We’re going to have a lot of things going on, new shiny gear, things that we’re seeing for the first time. It’s going to be important for everyone to make sure that we are not taking any unnecessary risks. We’re all professionals, and that’s what we’re asking from 14 Wing members. We need to take a safe and deliberate approach to making sure we convert our forces and familiarize ourselves with the new systems.”
Vachon thanked Gauvin and Directorate of Flight Safety Chief Warrant Officer Sebastien Robichaud for taking the time to visit 14 Wing, impart their FS knowledge and give members the time to pause and reflect on recent, highlighted incidents so everyone learns from past mistakes and – hopefully – is able to help prevent future losses.
Vachon’s message echoed DFS Airworthiness Investigative Authority Colonel Frank Gauvin’s ask of all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. Despite holding the platinum standard for FS programs in Canada, the CAF’s accidental losses for the last 20 years totaled 22 fatalities and 28 written-off aircrafts.
“We hold onto our toys a long time,” said Gauvin. “We can’t afford this. We certainly can’t afford those fatalities.”
While there are still improvements to be made in operations, CAF FS has improved drastically since the new millennium: members who were in service in the 1980s remember a time when the CAF averaged five to 10 crashes a year, and a decade that saw over 100 fatalities due to FS incidents.
“They remembered these years of a lot of crashing, and this is what shaped how we do flight safety now. That shaped our mindset going forward,” said Gauvin. Today, the CAF flies approximately three times less than it did in the 1990s, but flight safety reporting has increased – a trend DFS hopes to foster.
“That’s what we want. We are a learning culture, that’s based on a reporting culture – so keep reporting,” said Gauvin.
While this year’s losses provide valuable information for lessons learned, it is also important to celebrate the successes of the members who strive to provide a safer work environment for the CAF. June 10, 14 Wing Flight Safety Officer Major Richard Kinner, who has dedicated over 25 years to the FS program, was awarded a DFS Commendation for his contributions, steadfast leadership and enduring commitment to significantly enhance the culture of safety across the CAF. Kinner played a role in delivering the Flight Safety Course, and actively represented CAF FS on the international stage. As 14 Wing FSO, he has provided critical guidance to five wing commanders and over 20 unit commanding officers.
“ Major Kinner did a fantastic job here for the last few years with the Flight Safety program on the wing,” said Gauvin. “I use him – and 14 Wing – as an example to other wings.”
June 11, the FS “Good Show Award” was presented to Lieutenant Cameron Cleveland for their outstanding contribution to FS December 16, 2024. Their quick-thinking and decisive action that day resulted in the safe landing of a Piper Twin Comanche airplane with retracted landing gear – an issue that could have resulted in a serious incident.
