Capt JM Weissenborn
3 CFFTS

Canada Wings Aviation Training Centre (CWATC) Flight Safety Awards.

The CWATC organization encompasses 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School and Allied Wings.  Together they deliver primary and basic flying training, as well as rotary wing and multi-engine advanced flying training, to the CF.

The CWATC FS Awards recognized both dedication and a significant contribution to the promotion of the Centre’s Flight Safety program.  Additionally, they are intended to appreciate those Flight Safety values that CWATC personnel embrace daily through their actions on and off the flight line.

Pictured Below: Site Manager Ken Carr, Instructor Sigmund Sort, and Comdt of 3CFFTS Col Paul Dittman.

After experiencing an in flight alternator belt failure the week prior, instructor Sigmund Sort , left, endeavoured to ensure that students fully understood the importance of a thorough pre- flight walk around. On June 29, 2009, while re-demonstrating the walk around, he discovered another aircraft with a damaged alternator belt.  The first occurrence was considered an isolated event, but the discovery of the second broken belt prompted a fleet wide inspection.

Given that the hazard of a broken belt is the possible entanglement with engine control linkages, written maintenance and aircrew checks now include the requirement to verify the condition of both alternator belts. His safety minded diligence likely averted a second in-flight alternator belt failure and prompted improved aircraft checks thereby effecting lasting safety for flight operations.

Site Manager Ken Carr, AME Brian Boyachek, Cmdt 3 CFFTS LCol Paul Dittmann

On June 2, 2009 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Brian Boyachek was conducting a phase check on a C90B King Air.

Even though an inspection of the flight controls was not required for this phase check, his professional diligence and work ethic dictated a cursory verification of flight control movement.  While doing so, he heard an unusual noise…which he eventually traced to the aft cabin area.

After isolating the noise, he removed the floor panels and discovered an extraneous cable guard pin rubbing against the elevator control cable.  It is suspected that the pin was inadvertently installed during aircraft manufacture.

As a result of his actions, the fleet was inspected and fasteners installed in the erroneous cable mount holes to prevent recurrence.  His professional attitude and attentiveness led to the detection of the fault and averted further wear of the elevator control cable.

Cmdt 3 CFFTS LCol Paul Dittmann, Capt Troy Clarke   Rotary Wing course 0903 Graduation

On Oct 7, 2009, while conducting a pre-flight check on a B412 helicopter, rotary wing student Capt Troy Clarke noted cracks on one of the main rotor blades. The cracks had previously not been detected, though they were approximately three inches in length.

Through further scrutiny he found several cracks on both the upper and lower blade surfaces in the vicinity of the blade root.  Capt Clarke’s attentiveness led to the early discovery of the aircraft fault, allowed corrective maintenance to be completed in a timely manner, and ensured the continued integrity of a critical helicopter flight component.