Commander, Naval Safety Center conducted a familiarization visit to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, May 27.

Rear Adm. Arthur Johnson, commander, Naval Safety Center, was treated to tours of NAS Whidbey Island’s Bird Air Strike Hazard (BASH) and Avian Radar capabilities, Hangar 5 and EA-18G Growler simulator facilities, and the motorcycle safety course during his visit.

With the large push in recent years for motorcycle safety and education throughout the Navy, the programs are constantly being evaluated and reviewed. One highlight in this regard for the NAS Whidbey Island visit was the fact that Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, the “Zappers”, have met 100 percent of their training criteria and qualifications for riders.

“It appeared to me to be a very successful visit.  Admiral Johnson seemed pleased with the status of our program regionwide,” said Bill Higgins, NAS Whidbey Island safety manager. “He was very impressed with VAQ 130’s response for motorcycle training.”

“I think we will continue to be successful as we train away the untrained riders,” said Johnson. “Kudos to VAQ-130 for being on-point.”

The tour was followed by an all-khaki admiral’s call, where Johnson presented information and statistics to show where the Navy is seeing concerns and improvements in regards to safety.

Some of the focal points of the presentation were personal motor vehicle safety, flight mishaps, summer safety, fire safety in Navy Housing and controlling fatigue.

Johnson put the khaki leadership to task by posing the question, “What are you going to do to help your personnel succeed?”

“The summer safety season has started in earnest. It starts on a somber note with Memorial Day as a time of reflection,” said Johnson. “This summer I’m concentrating on protecting myself and my command so we don’t create any more impromptu memorials.”

Johnson visited with Whidbey Island’s airfield managers to look at their bird-strike hazard successes.

“We talked about the BASH program in general, where the avian radar is today and where it’s going to be tomorrow and what you can get out of it,” said Bill MacMillan, NAS Whidbey Island airfield manager. “We also put emphasis on the fact that nothing really replaces the man in the loop; BASH is one of those programs where you’re going to have to have a wildlife biologist in the field. The bird radar, and stuff like that, can help him do his job.”

“I was very impressed with (Johnson), he’s very smart and he understands what the issues are perfectly. He really gets it, I was really impressed with his ability to recognize the right way to target problems,” added MacMillan. “For us (as air stations), there are bases out there who don’t have biologists on board that need to start with that, don’t stick a radar out there without somebody to look at it. He was good and recognized the problem.”