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Safety first, two Edwards Squadrons win awards

By Kenji Thuloweit, 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs / Published March 17, 2010

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EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Safety is of the utmost importance to any organization and even more so in the Air Force. Here in the high desert, there's probably nothing more vital than the safety of pilots in the air and personnel on the ground. That's why two squadrons at Edwards have been recognized for their safety.

The Air Force Safety Center has awarded the 412th Test Wing's 417th Flight Test Squadron Air Force Directed Energy Weapons Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for their safe work on the YAL-1A Airborne Laser mission. Also recognized is the 416th Flight Test Squadron for their safety effort with a Flight Safety Plaque.

The awards are part of the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff and Chief of Safety Awards for 2009. These awards exemplify the best of the Air Force safety teams and their hard work. Air Force Chief of Safety, Maj. Gen. Frederick Roggero, said 2009 was the safest year ever in aviation.

"I'm very proud of the team's effort to conduct our mission safely," said, Lt. Col. Michael Contratto, 417th FLTS commander. "ABL is unique amongst the Combined Test Forces and Flight Test Squadrons, because we're testing with a lot of potentially hazardous chemicals, and once the aircraft is loaded for testing, we're basically a continuous 24/7 operation for extended periods of time."

During the time period the award covers, the 417th FLTS flew 31 mishap-free test sorties and for the first time ever, flew the ABL
with a full complement of chemicals, successfully firing the laser twice.

The ABL requires several chemicals to operate the high energy laser so the transportation, usage, and disposal of these chemicals requires special procedures, equipment, and care to ensure everyone's safety. the award is the result of a combined team effort between military, government civilians and contractors following the rules and working with precision around the clock, according to Colonel Contratto.

The 416th Flight Test Squadron also exemplified excellence in safety while conducting multiple programs and tasks.

"I can't thank the men and women of the Global Power Fighters Combined Test Force enough for their continuous hard work and dedication continuing to improve the F-16 while always ensuring we execute our flight test mission in a safe and effective manner," said Lt. Col. Todd Ericson, 416th FLTS commander. "My hat is off to all of the maintainers, engineers and aircrew -- military, contractor and civilian alike -- who won this award. I'm proud of each and every one of them and am extremely happy that AFMC recognized their efforts."

Colonel Ericson added that with over 30 programs executing at any given time, ranging from avionics to engine and departure testing, safely conducting daily operations at the CTF requires a dedicated team of professionals who never let down their guard.
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