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Chapter 6

Safety

Commanders and other unit leaders are responsible for managing risk involved in all unit

operations. The unit safety officer/NCO must assist the commander and staff by developing and

implementing an integrated, imaginative, and comprehensive accident prevention program within

the scope of the unit=s TOE or TDA mission. The risk management process will be used when

developing unit operation plans. Plans will ensure the identification of hazards and the

implementation of appropriate control measures. Chapter 6 discusses aircraft accident prevention. It

describes a pre–accident plan and contingency plans. It outlines the requirements for an aircraft

accident investigation. It describes the operational hazard report (OHR), which contains

information on how to prevent accidents. It lists several safety regulations and procedures for

handling hazardous material. Finally, it discusses aircraft firefighting and crash and rescue

services.

6–1. AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT PREVENTION

Accident prevention involves identifying and controlling risks in aviation operations.

a. Accident prevention is a command responsibility. Commanders must ensure that the safety

program involves all personnel and activities of the organization. Commanders must establish

whatever requirements that may be necessary to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment

under their control.

b. Major Army command (MACOM), corps, division, aviation brigades, aviation battalions, and

companies will have a TOE– or TDA–authorized, full–time position for a qualified aviation safety

officer (ASO). This person will assist in administering the aviation accident prevention program. A

safety–trained NCO will be appointed to assist the ASO at brigade level and below. These

appointments will be made according to AR 385–95.

c. Commanders will establish a formal process to identify, assess, and control risks in aviation

operations. Management of risk is an operations function of a unit.

6–2. PRE–ACCIDENT PLAN

A pre–accident plan lists actions to be taken if an accident occurs. A good plan will include care for

injured personnel, security of the accident scene, and procedures for safe airfield operations during a

crash rescue/recovery operation. A pre–accident plan will be developed and maintained for each

operational Army airfield, heliport, and aviation activity. The aviation safety officer is responsible for

rehearsing and reviewing the unit pre–accident plan with the operations officer (minimum

quarterly). The airfield operations officer is responsible for preparing, disseminating, and testing the

pre–accident plan. (Appendix C discusses emergency plans and overdue aircraft procedures.)

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6BB3. CONTINGENCY PLANS

a. Emergency Plans. The emergency plans should provide enough guidance to ensure the

immediate issue of vital information to personnel who have responsibilities during an emergency.

(Appendix C discusses emergency plans in detail.)

b. Hurricane and High Wind Plan. During a hurricane evacuation, Army commanders of

airfields and flight activities will—at their discretion—evacuate assigned aircraft and impose

temporary restrictions on the use of flight facilities under their control. A detailed plan should be

outlined in the local SOP and implemented when a hurricane or high wind warning is received. The

plan should include but not be limited to—

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! The evacuation, storage, or tiedown of aircraft. (The tiedown instructions in the aircraft

operator's manual must be followed.)

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! The removal of loose objects from parking areas; for example, chocks, fire extinguisher,

boarding ramps, toolboxes, foreign object damage (FOD) containers, and work platforms.

!

! The protection of window glass and interiors by using prefabricated window covers. (To

allow for pressure equalization, the building should not be made airtight.)

!

! The conduct of checks on backup power sources to ensure efficient operation and

availability of required fuel and oil.

c. Disaster Relief Operations. AR 500–60 authorizes disaster relief operations. According to

AR 95–1, Army aircraft will be used for official purposes only. Determination of whether a use is

official is a command decision. MACOMs are responsible for formulating disaster plans for their

areas. Operations officers should know how airfields interface with those plans.

6–4. AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

a. A successful aircraft accident investigation requires proper planning and organization, a vital

part of which is the pre–accident plan. Well–laid plans before the accident occurs ensures that

personnel and equipment are effectively used. On the other hand, if a good plan is not in place, the

accident scene can quickly become one of complete confusion. DA Pamphlet 385–40 is the reference

for the conduct of an aircraft accident investigation.

b. Commanders ensure that all Army accidents that result in injury, occupational illness, or

property damage are investigated, analyzed, reported, and recorded according to AR 385–40.

6–5. OPERATIONAL HAZARD REPORT

An operational hazard is any condition or act that affects or may affect the safety of Army aircraft or

associated personnel and equipment. AR 385–95 contains information on preventing accidents

caused by operational hazards.

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a. Operational hazards include inadequacies, deficiencies, or unsafe practices in—

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! Air traffic control (ATC).

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!

Airways and navigational aids (NAVAIDs).

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! Controller procedures and techniques.

!

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Near midair collisions (NMACs) between aircraft or near collisions between aircraft and

other objects in the air or on the ground.

!

!

Aircraft operations.

!

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Aircraft maintenance or inspection.

!

!

Weather services.

!

!

Airfields and heliports, facilities, or services.

!

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Flight or maintenance training and education.

!

!

Regulations, directives, and publications issued by DOD agencies, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and host

nations.

b. An OHR is not submitted when corrective action has already been taken. Also, it is not

submitted on material failure of aircraft components and ground support equipment. See DA Pam

738–751 for these occurrences.

c. Commanders will establish procedures for reporting operational hazards and ensure that all

such reports are investigated and that hazardous conditions are corrected. All commands will use

DA Form 2696–R (Operational Hazard Report) for reporting operational hazards.

d. An OHR will be submitted to the ASO or Army flight operations office at the unit or the

installation where the hazard was observed. If this is not possible, either the home airfield or the

next airfield at which the reporting individual lands should receive the report. The ASO will

immediately forward the OHR to the installation concerned. The ASO will thoroughly investigate

the report and submit recommendations to the commander. When corrective action cannot be taken

at unit level, the report will be forwarded through channels to the command level at which

appropriate corrective action can be taken.

e. The commander will ensure that procedures are established to manage the OHR system. This

includes signing and returning completed OHR to the ASO within 10 working days of the date the

report was received. The completed action will be returned to the originator within 20 working days

from the date the report was received.

f. Any reports that have worldwide application will be forwarded to Commander, US Army

Safety Center, Fort Rucker, AL 36362–5363. Information copies of all OHRs not correctable at or

below MACOM level and reports that indicate the possible involvement or deficiency of FAA

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personnel or facilities also should be forwarded to the US Army Safety Center. Copies of OHRs

about Army ATC procedures will be forwarded to Commander, US Army Aviation Center, ATTN:

ATZQ–ATCBMO, Fort Rucker, AL 36362–5265.

6–6. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

Hazardous material is defined as any material that is flammable, corrosive, explosive, toxic,

radioactive, nuclear, unduly magnetic, or biologically infective or that acts as an oxidizing agent. It

also includes any other material that may endanger human life or property because of its quantity,

properties, or packaging.

a. Transport. Flight operations personnel must comply with special procedures governing the

transport of hazardous materials by aircraft. AR 95–27 outlines the operational procedures for

aircraft transporting hazardous materials. AR 200–1 and AR 420–90, FM 55–9, and TM 38–250

contain additional information on the transport of hazardous materials.

b. Safety Regulations.

(1) When necessary, the supported unit briefs the air crew in charge of transporting the

cargo on the special handling requirements before takeoff.

(2) When an aircraft loaded with ammunition or fuel as cargo takes off or lands at an

airport, the pilot notifies the ATC facility of that airport about the—

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! Quantity and type of load.

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! Classification of the load.

NOTE: If the contents of the aircraft are classified, the pilot informs the ATC tower that he is

unable to divulge the aircraft's contents because of their sensitive nature. The procedures for

handling these aircraft are the same as for any other aircraft carrying hazardous material.

6–7. AIRCRAFT FIREFIGHTING AND CRASH AND RESCUE SERVICES

a. Aircraft firefighting and rescue services may be provided by the installation engineers.

Personnel and equipment also may be assigned under the supervision of the airfield operations

division. In either case, these critical functions must be closely coordinated with the branches of the

operations division. AR 420–90 establishes basic procedures and responsibilities for crash and

rescue operations at airfields under DA jurisdiction. Primarily, these procedures apply to airfields

that have a sustained daily average of 40 or more flight activities (takeoffs and landings). To the

extent possible, they also apply to airfields with less than 40 daily flight activities and to other

airfields with authorized rescue and firefighting facilities.

b. The installation commander having jurisdiction over an airfield is responsible for

maintaining an effective organization of trained personnel and adequate and reliable equipment.

The commander ensures that the airfield provides emergency protective services for flight activities

and the types of aircraft operating at that airfield. These services include publishing detailed

emergency firefighting and rescue procedures and procedures that govern hazardous cargo and

defueling operations as outlined in AR 420–90. These procedures should be posted at each location

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where emergency calls are received; each person must be familiar with them. (Appendix C contains

information on emergency plans and personnel responsibilities.)