Keesler hosts safety event for local aviators

Published May 20, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Stephan Coleman
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler hosted its first Military and General Aviation Joint Safety Day May 18 at Stennis International Airport in Kiln, Miss.

A product of the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance program, the event was held to increase communication and safety among surrounding military and civilian aviation communities.

"Just like with driving, it's important to know where traffic is and what it's doing," said Lt. Col. Jeff Ragusa, 403rd Wing chief of safety. "We want to increase dialogue with pilots so we are all aware of what is going on in the community."

Pilots from Slidell, La., Hammond, La., Gulfport, Miss., Diamondhead, Miss., the Mississippi Wing Civil Air Patrol, Mobile Coast Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration flew in to Stennis for safety briefings and tours of aircraft, including a WC-130J Hurricane Hunter which was flown in to participate in the event.

The location at Stennis allowed pilots from all over to attend, said Dudley Cruse, 81st Training Wing chief of flight safety.

Keesler's normal training airspace extends well beyond the officially designated 4.2 nautical mile radius around its airfield. Much of the C-130J aircraft training done by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the 815th Airlift Squadron involves random or unmapped flight patterns throughout the gulf coast region, said Ragusa.

"Not all general aviation aircraft even have radios to communicate, so it's important to be mindful of the area," Ragusa said.

General aviation is welcome in the local airspace and Keesler control tower's airspace, and may even use the airfield for practice approaches. However, only in an emergency situation are civilian aircraft allowed to land on the airfield, said Staff Sgt. Corey Woerner, 81st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller.

"We want to welcome general aviation aircraft into our airspace at all times," said Woerner. "But, training comes first."

In addition to military presentations on safety and awareness, the FAA briefed safety for general aviation to broaden the scope of safety consciousness in the community.

"Everyone thinks accidents won't happen to them," said Tim Kleppner of the FAA. "But, when people get hurt, it's on all of us. The challenge here is to look after each other."

Pilot error is the cause of 72.9 percent of general aviation accidents, said Kleppner.

Kleppner cites a famous quote by Capt. A. G. Lamplugh: "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."

After the briefings, the pilots returned to the airfield for lunch, displays of each other's aircraft and were present for a training airdrop from a C-130J.

"We are glad to be involved in any way to assist with traffic pattern awareness and communication," said Burl Nelson, Experimental Aviation Association, Chapter 479 president. "We appreciate what the Air Force does."