February/March 2012 - Navy
By Ron Kuzlik
Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class
Commander Fleet Logistics Support Wing Public Affairs
Class A mishaps are defined as those which involve
deaths or serious injuries, total destruction of the
aircraft or damage to the aircraft and/or property
exceeding $1 million.
Mr. Steve McMullin, Contract Logistics Support (CLS)
program manager for Boeing Global Transport and
Executive Systems (GTES) for the C-40A Clipper program
represented Boeing at the ceremony.
“Boeing takes great pride in acknowledging this achievement
and wants to share in it with the Navy, who is not just
a customer, but a partner as well,” said VR-59 Commanding
Officer CDR Scott Eargle, who accepted the award.
“One-hundred and fifty thousand hours is a significant
milestone. If you check the annals of Naval aviation, you
will see very few squadrons that have reached that level of
achievement.
“It requires commitment to doing things right while
focusing on safety of the airplanes and the people that fly
them.”
The milestone was reached Nov. 16 inflight during
mission Convoy 4487, as a VR-59 C-40A Clipper transport
aircraft flew on a mission from Naval Air Station Joint
Reserve Base Fort Worth to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve
Base New Orleans and on to Ernesto Cortissoz International
Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Aircraft 165831 was set in “combi rig” and flew a mixed
configuration with about two dozen passengers and almost
two tons of cargo.
The crew consisted of Lt. Cmdr. Billy Koone (pilot), Lt.
Cmdr. Robert Adair (co-pilot), Naval Aircrewman 1st Class
Patrick Calhoon (crew chief), Chief Naval Aircrewman
Robert Barnard (loadmaster), Naval Aircrewman 2nd Class
Vincente Arambula (2nd loadmaster), Naval Aircrewman
2nd Class Gustavo Ariza (second loadmaster). They were
accompanied by Chief Naval Aircrewman Robert Danner
(instructor), Chief Naval Aircrewman Jack Chester (instructor),
Chief Naval Aircrewman Jeff Barnhill (loadmaster),
Naval Aircrewman David Adams (crew chief trainee), and
Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Anthony Pettit (second loadmaster).
“Anytime a squadron can fly 30 years mishap-free is definitely
an accomplishment,” said Barnhill. “I am happy that I
could be a part this accomplishment.”
Rear Adm. Brian C. Prindle, Commander Naval Safety
Center, congratulated VR-59 on reaching this safety
milestone.
“The Sailors of VR-59 have demonstrated, since their
establishment in 1981, that outstanding safety outcomes
are the result of an all-hands commitment to ‘doing it right
the first time, every time,’ which leads to enhanced mission
readiness,” Prindle said.
“Everyone in the squadron, pilots, air crew, maintainers,
and support staff, from the CO to the most junior Sailor,
displayed teamwork and professionalism that sets a high
bar for others to follow.
“Every member of the VR-59 Lone Star Express should
be extremely proud of the accomplishment. I challenge
you to evaluate ways to constantly improve safety program
execution and the safety climate in your command.
Congratulations on this very important accomplishment.”
Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons operate on a worldwide
basis to provide responsive, flexible, and rapid
deployable air logistics support required to sustain combat
operations at sea. During peacetime, squadrons provide
air logistics support for all Navy commands as well as
provide continuous quality training for mobilization
readiness.