| |
CHAPTER 8
NAVAL AVIATION SAFETY
Aircraft mishaps are unforgiving. The loss of one
aircraft can cost millions of dollars. Therefore, aviation
safety has been of concern since man began to fly. As a
result, both civilian aerospace industries and the military
have developed aircraft mishap prevention programs.
Aviation personnel are exposed to many dangerous
situations. In fact, many insurance companies rate flight
line operations, and in particular the flight deck
environment, among the most dangerous jobs in the
world. Naval aviation safety programs have existed
since before World War II to reduce the danger of those
jobs. These programs are incorporated into the training
of all Navy pilots and aviation support personnel.
In this chapter, we discuss the following elements
of the Naval Aviation Safety Program:
Purpose of the program
Objective of the program
Scope of the program
Hazard reports
Aircraft mishaps
Pre-mishap plans
Mishap reports
Mishap investigations
Mishap investigation reports
Mishap investigation report endorsements
Mishap and Hazard Recommendation Tracking
Program
We also discuss the command aviation safety
program and shipboard aircraft safety.
THE NAVAL AVIATION SAFETY
PROGRAM
We will now discuss the purpose, objective, and
scope of the Naval Aviation Safety Program.
Remember, the goal of the safety program is to enhance
operational readiness by reducing the number of deaths
and injuries. In addition, the aim is to reduce the losses
and damage to material from accidental causes.
PURPOSE OF THE NAVAL AVIATION
SAFETY PROGRAM
The purpose of the Naval Aviation Safety Program
is to preserve human and material resources. The
program enhances operational readiness by preserving
the resources used in accomplishing naval aviation
missions.
The human resources include professional pride,
high morale, physical well-being, and life itself. These
resources are susceptible to damage and destruction by
mishaps.
The material resources include various kinds of
property, such as naval aircraft, ships, weapons, and
facilities, that a naval aircraft mishap might damage.
The Naval Aviation Safety Program directly supports
all aspects of naval aviation.
OBJECTIVE OF THE NAVAL AVIATION
SAFETY PROGRAM
Preventing damage and injury accomplishes the
purpose of the Naval Aviation Safety Program. Hazards
are the potential causes of damage and injury. The
elimination of hazards is the objective of the Naval
Aviation Safety Program. Setting up an effective,
aggressive, and continuous mishap prevention program
helps us achieve this objective.
SCOPE OF THE NAVAL AVIATION
SAFETY PROGRAM
The Naval Aviation Safety Program encompasses
all activities concerned with detecting, containing, and
eliminating hazards in naval aviation. For example,
these include, but are not limited to, activities involving
the following areas:
Aircraft design, research, development, testing,
evaluation, procurement, modification, mainte-
nance, servicing, and operations
Aircraft support equipment, facilities, supplies,
and weapons
8-1
|
