How do you spell safety

Flying Safety, May, 2003 by Leonard G. Litton

"Safety? I don't even know how to spell safety!" That was my first reaction when I was hired for the job as Chief of Safety at the 71 FTW at Vance AFB, OK. Throughout my Air Force career I have always found that safety is one of those topics that can be difficult to define or narrow down to where you can get your arms around it. It can be one of those things that you have trouble describing precisely, but you know it when you see it, or you miss it when it's not there. As pilots, we know if takeoffs and landings are equal, we had a "safe" sortie. But how did we get there? What were all the things that had to happen, or not happen, to make that sortie safe?

I have not had an extensive background in safety billets during my career. So, in preparation for this assignment, I figured I had better be quick to figure out what safety was all about. After much in-depth thought (as much as a former fighter pilot is capable of), I have decided safety is not so much an entity in itself, but rather more of a by-product. We don't "manufacture" a successful aircraft sortie by mixing in the ingredients of proper training, well-maintained equipment, motivated student and IP, proper supervision, good weather, and then add a dash of safety" just for good measure. As well, you don't have a safe holiday weekend Just because you received your predeparture safety briefing prior to beginning your travel and off-duty activities. Rather, I believe safety is built into the way we do business, both in the air and on the ground, if we will just take the time to do things "right" the first time.

"How do you do things 'right'?" you ask. Well, there are several ways. First, you do things "right" by adhering to established rules and regulations. Our Air Force Instructions provide us a proven way of doing our job and set up parameters designed to keep us safe. It is one of our primary tasks as flight instructors to teach our students the concept of flight discipline. As Air Force aviators, we are to do things "by the book" the first time, every time. You cannot afford to allow your students to leave SUPT without this valuable lesson ingrained in their flying habit patterns. On the ground, you need to ensure you use the tech order when repairing airplanes, you actually check the vehicle before signing off the AF Form 1800, and you follow the established guidelines for length and driving time on that holiday "road trip."

You also do things "right" by instructors and supervisors calling "knock-it-off" when things don't look right. The primary reason experienced people are placed in supervisory positions is so they can use their experience to prevent unsafe situations before they even begin. Our rules and regulations cannot possibly foresee every situation that might occur. If it doesn't look right, feel right, or smell right, call "knock-it-off" and take a step back. Reevaluate the situation, and if it makes sense, proceed. If not, terminate the activity and accomplish the task another day.

Another way you can do things "right" is by employing your operational risk management techniques both on and off the job. ORM is a decision-making process designed to systematically evaluate possible courses of action, identify risks and benefits, and determine the best solution. Simply put, you need to think about what you are doing, and the risks associated with those actions, before you accomplish the task. If the task is unusual, different, or seems to have a higher-than-normal risk level, elevate the issue to your supervisor for further evaluation.

Finally, you do thin "right" by watching out for and taking care c each other. No matter what airplane you fly or what job you do in the Air Force, we are all on the same team. As teammates, we each have a responsibility to watch each other's back. How many times have you let your wingman step out the door to fly when you know he or she was up too late last night with a sick child? As well, how many times have you allowed your buddy to drive home after having too much to drink at the club on Friday night? Cancel the sortie, take the keys and drive him or her home. Doing it "right" the first time just might prevent a mishap and save someone's life.

Safety does not stand on its own; it is a result, a by-product. Safe outcomes don't just happen, they take each and ever y one of us doing things "right" the first time, every time. Doing things "right" takes knowledge of the rules and regulations and the discipline to follow them, it takes the "guts" to call "knock-it-off" when things don't look right, it takes the proper analysis of risks and rewards, and it takes all of us "Checking six" for our buddies. I believe you spell "SAFETY" by taking the time to do things the "right" way the first time. Our great Air Force deserves nothing less!