Knock off for safety

Volume 49, No. 5, April 6, 2006

By WOB Trevor Stecum

In a move embraced by all ADF Aviation Force Element Groups, every flying unit in the ADF has participated in a staggered stand-down for a day to conduct safety briefings focused on aircraft maintenance and to launch the Knock it Off maintenance program.

The Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, as the ADF Airworthiness authority, declared the week commencing August 28 as ADF Aviation Maintenance Safety Week. A one-day safety stand-down was held during the week to focus maintenance personnel on their roles and responsibilities in ensuring the safety of ADF aircraft. The week provided recognition from the highest levels of the importance that aircraft maintenance plays in achieving safe and effective aviation operations and training.

Whilst unit safety stand downs are not a new initiative, mandating that every aviation unit in the ADF cease flying for one day to focus on maintenance safety was unprecedented. The Safety Week was instigated as part of the ADF’s Aircraft Maintenance Improvement Project (AMIP). AMIP was initiated under a CAF directive, and the AMIP team was given a charter to make incremental, sustainable and enduring improvements to maintenance practices throughout the ADF aircraft maintenance workforce.

The Knock it Off maintenance program, developed by the AMIP team, is the latest initiative that highlights the ongoing commitment from the highest levels of Defence to improving the awareness of aviation safety and maintenance issues. With endorsement by CAF and the ADF’s senior leaders, Knock it Off represents an empowering program that will serve to enhance and strengthen the professionalism already shown by the ADF’s aircraft technicians.

The Knock it Off Program gives all maintenance personnel, at all rank and experience levels, the tools and support they need to call a halt to any maintenance task that is potentially unsafe. It reinforces to technicians, supervisors, maintenance managers and engineers that they have personal responsibility for the quality of their work, and that they are empowered to call a halt to any activity that is potentially unsafe. by their commanders if they need to slow down to ensure a maintenance task is performed safely.

For more AMIP information, check out the AMIP intranet site at: http://sorweb.sor.defence.gov.au/dgta/.

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