An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 23, 2015

ANG safety adopts airlines' best practices

By Lt. Col. David Paulsgrove Air National Guard Safety Office

FORT WORTH, Texas - Air National Guard safety officials recently visited the American Airlines flight training center to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most effective air safety programs in the industry.

Beside several visits to the National Transportation Safety Board training academy in Virginia, this trip completed a year-long ANG effort to better integrate commercial safety practices into military safety programs.

Col. Ed Vaughan, director of ANG safety,and Dan Polanosky, the associate director, met with representatives from the Allied Pilots Association, aircraft maintenance, corporate management, and Federal Aviation Administration regulators.

The meetings were facilitated by Col. Tod Wall, 172nd Airlift Wing Commander and veteran American Airlines pilot.

"It's no secret that many ANG pilots also fly for commercial airlines." Col. Vaughan said. "What is not so well known is how valuable that civilian-military connection is to enhancing Air Force flight safety and spurring innovation."

ANG Safety has adopted three proactive flight safety programs endorsed and sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration: Aviation Safety Action Program, Flight Operations Quality Assurance and Line Operations Safety Audit.

"We're especially enthusiastic about ASAP. Getting to the root causes of errors is the key here," says Polanosky. "Spending a day participating in American Airlines' ASAP review process showed us one great approach to this. I think their concept of 'Just Culture' is something we'll definitely incorporate into our programs."

ASAP is designed to prevent accidents and incidents by encouraging voluntary reports of safety issues. Under ASAP, pilots and airline employees can openly identify and discuss errors or hazards without the threat of punishment. This information is analyzed in order to identify potential hazards before serious incidents occur.

"The ANG safety office is fortunate to have Lt. Col. Dave Paulsgrove on staff as the ANG Flight Safety leader and long-time United Airlines pilot," said Vaughan. "He is very familiar with the proactive safety programs."

Look for more information on ANG integration of these programs in the near future.

 

 

Related Articles
Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, discusses briefing details with Col. Augusto Villalaz, director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard, during the annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2025. The drill helps synchronize plans and strengthen coordination across LANG’s senior leadership ahead of hurricane season.
Louisiana Guard Rehearses Emergency Plans for Hurricane Season
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, | May 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard conducted its annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge May 21, uniting key personnel across multiple commands to refine...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, sling load a reduced range practice rocket to a Moroccan CH-47 Chinook during a multinational sling load operation at African Lion 2025 (AL25), May 17, 2025, in TanTan, Morocco. AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF,) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations - preparing forces to deploy, fight, and win.
New Hampshire Guard Teams with Morocco for Sling Load Training at African Lion 2025
By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Forester, | May 28, 2025
TAN TAN, Morocco – Soldiers assigned to the 744th Forward Support Company (744TH FSC), 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard partnered with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), for...

From left, Sgt. Edward Acda, Lt. Col. Vern Perez, Sgt. 1st Class Celine Taitano, Capt. Ryan Arellano, Staff Sgt. Jovencio Mortera, and Sgt. Avery Tyquiengco of the Guam National Guard participate in Balikatan Cyber Defense Exercise, Manila, April 27, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. (Courtesy asset)
Guam Guard Participates in Balikatan 2025 Cyber Defense Exercise
By Mark Scott, | May 28, 2025
MANILA, Philippines – A team of cyber professionals and an intelligence analyst from the Guam National Guard attended Balikatan 2025, participating in the three-week Cyber Defense Exercise alongside teams from various...