Aircrewmen’s Quest to Eliminate TFOAs

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AIRCREWMEN’S QUEST TO ELIMINATE TFOAS

By AWSCS (NAC/AW/SW) Wade Hove

Cabin management is key to eliminating Things Falling Off of Aircraft (TFOA). TFOAs involving the cabin can be avoided if flight crews follow the instructions governing the storage of equipment and wear of flight gear.

For the most part, looking at the data from past TFOA hazards reports (HAZREPs), we have successfully secured things like go bags, 10/10 kits, Search and Rescue (SAR) bags and most other mission gear. However, when it comes to small items like lazer eye protection (LEP), flashlights, ammo cans, Helicopter Aircrew Breathing Device (HABD) bottle, we continue to fall short of expectations, due to a lack of attention to detail and failure to follow prescribed procedures.

From day one at boot camp, attention to detail was drummed into us; whether it’s making your rack, aligning the clothes in your locker or any number of lessons. All those seemingly insignificant details were impressed upon us for one reason. To teach us to worry about the small details. One such detail we come across as aircrewmen is checking for and securing loose items in the aircraft or on our flight equipment. We must do this before, during and after each flight. In an attempt to do this, most of us use personally purchased karabiners, etched with our bureau numbers (BuNos), of course, to secure our gear in the cabin. The standard is to hook them forward of the gunner’s seat or attach them to the cargo strap that secures the raft and litter against the aux tank. Each location has its ups and downs. We are expected to use risk management (RM) to decide which location is best for each mission. Our goal in doing this is to prevent TFOAs, the loss of equipment while operating.

I recently reviewed several HAZREPs related to flights that incurred TFOA incidents or risks. In part, these were due to crewmen disregarding (in one case never taught) the proper use of retaining systems or simply ignoring community best practices. One preventable TFOA involved the loss of LEP during a night Gunnery Exercise (GUNEX). While manipulating the weapon, the crewmen knocked his Night Vision Devices (NVDs) from his helmet. They did not fall from the aircraft; he followed the pubs and wore the safety lanyard. By doing so, he prevented this incident from being a much costlier one. The inadvertent detachment of the NVDs allowed the LEP to be blown from his face. You would think the LEP retaining strap should have prevented this. It probably would have if he had worn it. Why wasn’t the strap worn?

The majority of aircrewmen will respond with: “it’s too uncomfortable to wear the retaining strap under a helmet. “ Understandable. However, there are many other “uncomfortable” things we muscle through while in the aircraft. If it is so uncomfortable that you can’t continue the mission or it degrades your effectiveness, an Aviation Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) needs to be written and maybe even a HAZREP.

Tell your leadership the issues you’re having with your current equipment. These are the avenues we have to effect gear improvements. Use them! Regardless of the why, we have set guidelines that our leadership expects us to follow. We gain a great deal of inherent trust from our leaders just by earning our Wings of Gold.

We must hold ourselves and each other to the standards 24/7. Our actions represent ALL AIRCREWMEN! Do the right thing, ALWAYS!