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VFA-192 Sets Bar For Aviation Safety

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060829-11
8/29/2006

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron Roob, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192 based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan was awarded the Department of the Navy 2006 Safety Excellence Award for Aviation Safety, Aug 18.

The Golden Dragons beat out every other active-duty Navy squadron to take the top honor.

“This is a great award for our command,” said Lt. Cmdr. Edmund Zukowski, VFA-192’s safety officer. “Safety is what keeps our airplanes flying and people coming home.”

The Dragons are well known for their safety record. The squadron was recognized for the last two years as the Chief of Naval Operations Safety “S” recipient West Coast F/A-18 Hornet squadrons.

The Golden Dragons have gone 23 years without a single Class “A” mishap, meaning the squadron has not had a fatal injury or suffered any major equipment damage.

"The squadron has plans to continue its safe track record," said Zukowski. "The 'True Confessions' program allows pilots to openly meet and discuss the day’s events in the air and on the flight deck. The air crew shares ideas and experiences with each other in an effort to make flight operations as successful and safe as possible without fear of retribution from the chain of command."

The Golden Dragons’ enlisted safety council includes representatives from each of its 12 work centers. The representatives pass along safety information to their Sailors and conduct training at least once a month to ensure their shop’s Sailors keep safety in mind.

“Constant training helps our new guys learn from the mistakes of some of our more experienced Sailors,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (AW) Emmanuel Soteras, a VFA-192 safety petty officer.

The Department of the Navy 2006 Safety Excellence awards ceremony will be held Sept. 14 at the Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center in Washington, D.C., for VFA-192 and winners from the other safety excellence categories.

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group includes USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), the aircraft squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing 5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and Destroyer Squadron 15 staff. The group’s ships and destroyer squadron staff are based at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and the air wing and staff are based at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.