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HT-8 Reaches 900,000 Flight Hours

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030328-06
Release Date: 3/28/2003 8:01:00 AM

By Lt. Allen Cahanding, Helicopter Training Squadron 8 Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION WHITING FIELD, Fla. (NNS) -- Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 8, the U.S. Navy's oldest helicopter training squadron, recently achieved a major milestone March 11, when it attained 900,000 flight hours without a major flight or ground mishap - no loss of life or aircraft.

"For 33 consecutive years, the squadron has safely produced the best rotary winged aviators for the fleet," said Cmdr. Chip Laingen, commander HT-8.

Laingen said this past year, the squadron trained a total of 239 Navy, Marine, Coast Guard and Allied student aviators. The squadron's professionalism, airmanship, and procedural knowledge are the keys to its safety success.

"Developing safety programs and procedures on the ground and air is vital to preserve resources and support mission accomplishment," said Lt. Cmdr. Brian Moore, the squadron' safety officer.

Laingen thanks Eightballers (personnel assigned to Helicopter Training Squadron 8) of the past for setting high safety benchmarks, and credits his current team of professionals for maintaining and exceeding this remarkable achievement of flight hours.

"After winning the Cheif of Naval Operations (CNO) Aviation Safety Award for five years in a row, we like to think of ourselves as 'Safety Aces," said Laingen. He continued, "I attribute that record, principally, to the total team approach to safety. Our partners at Raytheon put a very safe product on the line every day, and our instructors fly a tremendous amount of hours, but don't take anything as routine. Our students are part of the team from the moment they strap in on their first familiarization flight.

Laingen pointed out that the challenge is not to rest on the squadron's success.

"Our approach is to involve everyone in the command, and to proactively manage the challenges we have ahead," said Laingen.

Despite the estimated increase in students over the next decade and changes in the training program from the new curriculum, Laingen expects more milestones in the future.

"We need to take our proactive safety approaches to the next level, so that we can reach a million hours and beyond," he said.

Laingen added that HT-8 will continue to focus on a mishap-free squadron and work environment, while providing leadership by example - a lesson that all student naval aviators will carry to the fleet.