Why Talk About Aviation Safety?

Aviation safety . . . I am sure you think that it is obvious what this safety is all about. Yes, it is obvious—on the surface. We do not want our people getting hurt or our equipment getting damaged, but there is so much more to a whole safety program. For example, the recent UPS crash in Louisville, KY, not only killed the crew and destroyed the airplane, but also fatally injured numerous civilians on the ground.[1] Such events serve as a reminder of the devastating potential of aviation accidents and the moral imperative to prevent them. We do not want this to ever happen, so we do our best to prevent it. But how?

This article is not about the answer, but how do we make aviation safety in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) a very important piece of going about our business, executing the mission. Military aircraft are incredibly expensive and technologically advanced assets. A single mishap can result in the loss of a multimillion-dollar aircraft and its highly specialized equipment.

A human life, though, is priceless. Most of us think that life is more important than a multimillion-dollar piece of equipment. We can replace equipment; we cannot replace a life that has been taken.

Many of us can agree that the goal of the Air Force’s safety program is to enhance combat capability by preventing mishaps that would otherwise deplete personnel and aircraft. Therefore, the Air Force’s commitment to safety is woven into every aspect of its aviation operations, from personnel training to aircraft maintenance and mishap investigation.

An effective flight safety program is not limited to the local safety office; in the aviation business, it includes a whole host of areas. To name a few:

• Aircraft maintenance
• Air traffic control
• Airfield management, to include Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard specialists
• Weather forecasting
• Cybersecurity
• Physiologists who focus on human factors
• Full-time safety professionals at all levels

All roles are important in some form, and not only does a cohesive team save lives, but a high level of aviation safety directly translates to a more effective fighting force. The USAF trains its pilots for complex and dangerous scenarios, including air refueling to extend its reach, low-altitude flying to evade sophisticated enemy air defenses, and airdropping supplies and personnel into combat zones.

Realistic training for pilots and others is a high priority for the Air Force, and it is conducted in a manner that balances realism with safety. So, we train. And train. And train. This training is inherently risky, but it is essential for survival and success in actual combat. A strong safety culture ensures that training can be conducted as realistically as possible while minimizing unnecessary risks.

As mentioned earlier, the most crucial reason for emphasizing aviation safety in the Air Force is the protection of its most valuable asset: Airmen. As Gen John Lamontagne, Commander, Air Mobility Command (AMC), stated during a recent AMC Commanders call, what we do is something that “starts and ends with you.” The demanding and dangerous nature of military aviation means that any mishap can have fatal consequences. Throughout my entire career as a military pilot and then a civilian employee in AMC Safety, I have been involved in numerous mishaps in some capacity and have seen so many lives lost that could have been prevented; this is why aviation safety is important.

As I think back to my early career, when I first began flying for the Air Force in the 1980s, we had no computers to speak of, certainly not at the level we have now in our most advanced aircraft. We did not have systems to keep us safer in the air, such as the Ground Proximity Warning System or Traffic Collision Avoidance System. It was mostly humans at work.

Over the last couple of decades in the safety career field, we have accomplished quite a bit. Historically, aviation safety was a reactive discipline. Safety efforts were largely focused on responding to incidents after they occurred. We do—and always have done—a great job investigating major and minor incidents and coming up with recommendations to prevent the next one, but we did little to prevent the next one before it happened. Other key elements of safety that still exist today include inspections, audits, studies, data analyses, information sharing in briefings, and so much more; however, we did not have structured, proactive safety programs.

Over the years, AMC Safety and AMC/A3 have teamed up to develop a much more proactive approach. It started with the risk management piece that we now call Aviation Operational Risk Management. It was a painful process with dedicated folks developing a product years ago that is still in use today. Then came Line Operations Safety Audits, Military Flight Operations Quality Assurance, the Aviation Safety Action Program and now Safety Reporting.

A proactive philosophy is not merely about avoiding accidents, but it is intrinsically linked to operational effectiveness. Proactive safety has reached up and down the levels of command, and I would say it has been the greatest accomplishment I have seen in preventing loss of life and equipment. We still have much more work to do in this area and all of safety, but I am encouraged today by our proactive approach to safety in the Air Force.

The aviation industry is constantly evolving, and so are the safety challenges. The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) into the airspace and the growing threat of cyberattacks are only a couple of areas that require ongoing research and the development of new safety protocols.

The USAF’s commitment to a proactive and multilayered safety program is a continuous effort. By embracing a Just Culture and leveraging the power of data and open reporting, the Air Force not only prevents accidents but also enhances its combat effectiveness. The journey from a reactive to a proactive safety mindset is a testament to the understanding that the preservation of its Airmen and assets is paramount to mission success.

In conclusion, aviation safety is not just a priority for the USAF; it is an indispensable element of its ability to execute its mission, protect its personnel, and responsibly manage its resources. Although the inherent risks of military aviation can never be entirely eliminated, the Air Force’s comprehensive and proactive safety program is designed to manage those risks effectively and ensure the preservation of its combat power.

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^[1] https://www.kbtx.com/2025/11/09/no-people-thought-unaccounted-ups-cargo-plane-crash-toll-stands-14-louisville-mayor-says/