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2010 SICOFAA Award Winner – 14 Wing Greenwood Flight Safety Team

Left to right: WO Max Pennell (D/WFSO), Major Carl Rioux (WFSO), LGen André Deschamps (C Air Force), Col James Irvine (WComd), WO Yvan Lévesque (D/WFSO), Major Stéphane Racle (Wing Air Weapons Officer)

14 Wing Greenwood is one of the highest operational and training tempo Wings in the Canadian Air Force. Flying activities include search and rescue (SAR) and transport CC130 operations, Cormorant EH101 SAR and medivac Helicopter and Long Range Maritime Patrol on the CP140 Aurora. Supporting those operations are Operational Training Units, an Air Maintenance Squadron, civilian and Military technicians and a myriad of support personnel. The coordination of a Flight Safety Program which encompasses all these activities, all while in a high operational tempo, including overseas deployments, is no easy task. The 14 Wing Flight Safety Team has met and exceeded this challenge resulting in a Flight Safety Program which is considered by the Air Force Operational HQ as the exemplar for all other Air Force Wings to emulate.

The 14 Wing FS Team has excelled in their leadership by their unwavering commitment and determination to foster a FS culture where every Military and civilian personnel in operational and support facets at 14 Wing is motivated to do their part in Flight Safety. No other CF Air Wing has so successfully influenced Wing personnel so pervasively. Every personnel facet of the Wing, from Flight Feeding to the Aircrew, is clearly committed to their participation in FS and mission accomplishment.

This outstanding Wing FS culture was impressively manifest on Flight Safety and Air Weapons Safety Surveys conducted on behalf of the Air Division Commander. All 14 Wing personnel consider themselves as critical to mission accomplishment through FS practices and leading by example. Personnel discernibly demonstrate both the individual and team collaborative FS approach to every activity and the dividends were obvious from FOD awareness to assertive approaches to identify hazards and risks.

Air Weapons Safety practices are also pivotal to the success of LRP, SAR and ramp safety of personnel. Typifying the Wing FS Team’s proactive approach to safety is the provision of Air Weapons Awareness briefings to all personnel on the Wing. The inclusion of support personnel into the FS and Air Weapons Safety program has not only paid dividends on the Air Base, but also in the local community where flares and markers wash up on public beaches. With this knowledge, civilian and military Wing personnel have mitigated numerous dangerous incidents.

The 14 Wing FS Team has distinguished themselves by passionate leadership in transforming14 Wing into a truly embedded, systematic and integrated FS Culture within mission accomplishment. The FS Team’s accomplishment is inspiring for Canadian Forces personnel and epitomizes the achievement of a holistic Flight Safety vision.

In recognition of this outstanding achievement, the Officers and Non-commissioned members of the 14 Wing Greenwood Flight Safety Team are deserving of the 2010 SICOFAA Flight Safety Award.