The Air Force has nine bases participating in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program to improve worker safety through a change of workforce culture. Out of those nine, Air Force Materiel Command has five bases participating, with AFMC’s Tinker AFB, Okla., slated this month for a safety assessment by Concurrent Technologies Corp. Next up is Robins AFB, Ga., Hill AFB, Utah, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, and Hanscom AFB, Mass. The other four bases scheduled for VPP in 2006 are Altus AFB, Okla., Eielson AFB, Alaska, Holloman AFB, N.M., and Los Angeles AFB, Calif. It is no wonder that AFMC has its installations on the list, since Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski, AFMC Vice Commander, says that last year the AFMC had 11,397 lost days, which amounts to about $59.3 million in compensation costs.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.