JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas. –
Kelly Airfield and the 502nd Operational Support Squadron ceased usual activities May 21, to conduct an operational safety review directed by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein.
Goldfein shared a video highlighting the importance of aviation safety and directed Air Force wide operational safety reviews as a result of recent incidents.
Demonstrating how important safety is to Joint Base San Antonio leadership as well, Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, spoke at the event, highlighting airfield safety comes down to group effort.
“What I really want everybody to understand is that this is not just a 502nd OSS issue,” Pringle said. “This is a JBSA issue that doesn’t belong to just one unit.”
Pringle also emphasized the importance of understanding that while some factors are outside of human control, human factors still play a significant role in minimizing risk.
“Dangerous outside factors are going to happen,” Pringle said. “But maybe we can lessen the impact of these factors and mitigate risks by coming together today and identifying ways to be safer. We really want to keep this a zero-incident airfield.”
Reiterating the team aspect of airfield safety, Lt. Col. Patrick K.F. McClintock, 502nd OSS commander, pointed out the unique aspects of Kelly Airfield.
“We have civil partners along with large military units that use the airfield, so teamwork is especially important here,” McClintock said. “It was great today to be able to get everybody in the same room to discuss procedures, marry up our after-action reports and find out where we can get better as a team so that we’re more prepared to prevent and respond to emergencies.”