NEWSLETTER copy for IAP Worldwide Services's Leading Edge Newsletter

Transient Alert team takes on everything - Stealth fighters to the mammoth An-124
 

            If you’ve ever waited out on the runway for an earlier airplane to clear the gate, you know the value of those responsible for getting aircraft in and out quickly.

            IAP’s Transient Alert Services team works efficiently and safely to move military aircraft in and out of five airbases in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Qatar
and the United Arab Emirates.

The 57-member TA group is responsible for handling all aircraft not stationed at the Enduring Freedom theater bases, 30 or more different types including helicopters, Stealth fighters and cargo aircraft. One month the TA group at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, handled more than 1,000 aircraft.

            “Keeping a steady traffic flow avoids wasted time and fuel,” says Eugene C. Kearns, Jr., Senior Operations Manager for Readiness Management Support, LC, at IAP Global Operations and Logistics, which is based in Panama City, Fla.

            Midwest Air Traffic Control Service is the subcontractor on the contract awarded last September for AFCAP (Air Force Contract Augmentation Program) support for the U.S. Air Force. The contract value is about $9.2 million per year for a base year and two option years.

            To keep things flowing the group uses a “Follow Me” vehicle to lead transient aircraft to their parking spaces when necessary. They also assist in aircraft support functions such as maintenance and fueling.

            “Basically the team does whatever it takes to keep things running smoothly,” Eugene says.

            As the Enduring Freedom airbases have been upgraded, the team has taken on every bigger challenges. For example, now the runway at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, has been extended, TA has supported the landing of the Russian Antonov An-124, one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world.

            Successfully supporting such aircraft is vital to defense efforts. The An-124, for example, delivered mine-resistant ambush protected ambulances in January.

            “Team members know how critical their jobs are and do a great job operating under the daily pressures,” Eugene says. “They have handled Air Force One, aircraft carrying the Vice President, Secretary of State and many other senior administration personnel and distinguished visitors.”

CSI: new incentive program update

             IAP employees across the globe are coming up with helpful Continuous Safety Improvements as IAP’s new CSI Program continues to ramp up. The new program promises to help fulfill IAP’s Mission Zero safe workplace goals.

            As demonstrated in the successful CSI examples below, oftentimes CSIs provide cost savings through increased productivity as well as heightened safety.

            The Jacksonville RBOS contract division has put in an impressive early showing with more than 20 approved CSIs and the creation of a CSI-aware culture.

            Julie Kaiser, safety and health manager with the division, attributes her team’s CSI productivity both to their dedication and special incentives. The author of every CSI put in gets an insulated lunch pail with the IAP logo. Those with an approved CSI are eligible for the “fast fifty” monthly drawing for $50.

            “The program has been a morale booster as everyone likes the lunch pails and carries them with pride,” Kaiser says.

            One of Kaiser’s favorite employee CSI entries so far is the introduction of a specially designed cart that makes the twice-a-year maintenance of hundreds of base window air-conditioning units a safer procedure. The cart also saves money because the job now only requires one person instead of two people.

            A CSI generated at the NASA Ames Research Center is helping to insure that subcontractors that support IAP’s facility maintenance contract adopt the same safety standards and behaviors as IAP employees.

            “Subcontractors didn’t always buy in to our safety procedures or understand why they were important, so they didn’t always follow them,” said Dave Bonino, chief engineer on the contract.

            Now the IAP task manager and subcontractor for a job meet for a training session and to go over a pilot’s checklist of what ifs when the job could entail safety risks. Simple low-risk jobs, such as changing out a dock lock, don’t require a training session and subcontractor sign off.

            “The procedure takes a little more time on the front end, but it saves time during the process because everyone’s on the same page any time a safety issue comes up,” Bonino says.

            Safety at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., was improved by the simple addition of a $13 knife sharpener. The CSI advocated the use of the portable, hand-held AccuSharp sharpener to sharpen knives used to collect wetland soil samples. Dull knives are more apt to cause injuries when roots or rotting wood is encountered in a collecting a soil sample, said Lloyd French, project manager.

            “The sharpener quickly addresses the problem and is a better solution than carrying multiple knives to have enough on hand so that you always have blades sharp enough to do the job,” French says.

            Farther a field in the Middle East, a LFSI contract improvement is providing better safety for rotating valves in a ground sewer pumping station. The valve rotation previously required workers to enter a confined space entry exposing them to potential vapor hazards.

            The CSI submitted details the use of a new valve attachment being used. Now rather than a plumber entering the confined space of the station, the manhole cover can simply be lifted and an extension with the attachment used to rotate the valve.

            “This CSI not only reduces the risk but also save man hours,” Hicks says.

            Just to review details of the CSI program: Employees are encouraged to submit CSI suggestion cards detailing a continuous safety improvement. Qualifying CSIs must be proactive vs. reactive steps to improve an environmental, safety, or health practice, process, or procedure. They must have the potential to prevent injuries and/or incidents. Those who submit approved CSIs are eligible for the monthly drawing for a $500 award.

            “We’re pleased by the popularity of this new program and believe it’s going to result in a ever safer workplace,” says IAP Director of Global ES&H Jeff Treffinger.

            IAP’s goal is to produce 1,000 CSIs across the company in 2008.