McChord hosts first Joint Skies Seminar

Published Sept. 14, 2010
By Airman Leah Young
62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing flight safety office, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, hosted the first Joint Skies Seminar Sept. 9 to share information and resources in an effort to ensure safer skies by bringing the Northwest aviation community together.

"The Northwest has been a leader in aviation for many years, and this seminar will put the 62nd Airlift Wing at the forefront of aviation safety," said Capt. Zachary Dorman, 62nd AW flight safety officer and Joint Skies Seminar lead organizer.

The Joint Skies Seminar was the first of its kind nationwide, bridging the information gap between civilian and military flying. The program will help establish a new link to aviation programs, information and ideas across the region.

There are two main parts of aviation safety: reactive and preventative. According to Captain Dorman, this seminar will help use all available resources to better define the preventative half and remedy solutions to aviation safety issues in the region.

"Hopefully, it will soon become benchmarked for aviation safety across the nation," said Captain Dorman.

The Joint Skies Seminar consisted of more than 50 guests including members from all branches of the armed forces, representatives from the FAA, National Transportation Safety Board, airfield managers, wildlife biologists, tower operators, safety inspectors, aviation safety consultants, civilian pilots, maintainers and aviation enthusiasts.

"This was an excellent way to bring attention to certain issues," said Dr. Jean Mpouli, FAA program manager. "We can now begin to establish a free flow of information between military and civilian pilots."

Not only did the seminar create a new flow of information, it helped to establish the first regional database of wildlife migration patterns in the country. Biologists from Portland, Ore., McChord Field, Olympia, Seattle-Tacoma Airport and Whidbey Island, all located in Wash., are now collecting and consolidating wildlife data. This will not only provide a large data source to find trends, but will also be used for prediction purposes.

"This was a great way to start this program," said Matt Klope, Bird/Animal Air Strike Hazard specialist. "It shows the military is reaching out and really making an effort to get a plan established. It's great."

The seminar also provided a chance for the older generation of pilots to connect with the younger generation and share their experience. The pilots will be able to adapt to the changing culture and understand where aviation safety is headed.

"I'm a former Air Force pilot," said Mark Arend, attorney at law who attended the Joint Skies Seminar. "I enjoyed the meeting, and hope everyone gained as much from it as I did. I look forward to the next one."

According to Captain Dorman, the 62nd AW plans on hosting the seminar every year.

"The best part about this program is that it will be able to grow," said Captain Dorman. "We've already had a few offers to host the next one. We started this program, and now it can be utilized across the country and adapted by organizations to improve aviation safety everywhere."