| by Lt Rich Shettler, VR-58 Safety Officer
"Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or
neglect." This quote, which dates back to World War II, continues to hold true today.
Unfortunately, we sometimes see catastrophic events unfold when we take to the sky. To minimize the risk of flying, it takes steadfast attention to safety, a tremendous amount of focus, and perhaps even a bit of luck.
In April of this year, the VR-58 Sunseekers celebrated their 26th
consecutive year of Class "A" Mishap free operations. This achievement encompassed over 128,000 flight hours in two separate model aircraft, from the venerable C-9 Skytrain to the brand new C-40 Clipper (Boeing 737-700) aircraft.
Also, in May, VR-58 was awarded the CNO's Safety Award for calendar year 2003. This recognition was especially meaningful to the squadron because it validated the dedicated efforts of aircrewmen and maintainers alike as they made a challenging transition to a new airplane, while setting operational records and establishing the C-40 as a significant player in the fleet logistics mission.
It would be impossible to determine all the intangibles that permitted such a feat. VR-58, with over 270 personnel, is one of the largest reserve
squadro ns in the Navy. Therefore, teamwork and communication are paramount.
Through the years, Sunseekers have come and gone, steadily performing their jobs
without ever realizing their significant safety achievement. Thousands of
man-hours have been invested in round-the-clock maintenance of squadron aircraft, training has been accomplished, and in-flight emergencies have been handled without a miscue. Managing risks, minimizing hazards and learning from past mistakes keeps safety foremost in the Command's operations. It is a testament to the men and women of the Sunseeker team and the Navy that they have flown - and will continue to fly - one of the safest planes in the inventory. With continued diligence and hopeful good fortune, the VR-58 Logistics team will strive to sustain this trend throughout another 26 years of safe operations.
Congratulations Sunseekers!
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