CNATRA Training Squadron earns Grampaw Pettibone award for second year in a row

Jun 17, 2021, Headlines

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, UNITED STATES
04.29.2021
Courtesy Story
Chief of Naval Air Training
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The “Wildcats” of Training Squadron (VT) 10 based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, earned the 2020 Grampaw Pettibone award. Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN) presents this award annually to those organizations that promote safety culture through media and command publications. VT-10 also earned this award in 2019.

Through required reading, crew resource management (CRM) training and its internal newsletter, VT-10 develops innovative communications for the instructors and student Naval Flight Officers it trains, attesting that communicating safety is a priority.

“As the Navy’s only NFO primary training squadron, it is our job not only to teach these young aspiring aviators to navigate from point A to B, but also instill in them a safety culture early on in their aviation career,” Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jason Agostinelli said. “Our ultimate goal is provide the fleet with NFOs who embrace all aspects of the safety management system.”

VT-10 disseminates safety discussions through the “Scratching Post,” the squadron’s semi-annual internal publication full of lessons learned from activities on the ground and in the air. VT-10’s instructor pilots meet often to share positive and negative experiences, strengthening the squadron’s foundation around safe operations.

“Sharing the “There I was…” moments, whether in an article or in an open forum such as an All Officer Meeting, allows each of us to learn from one another,” Agostinelli said. “It’s an honor and testament to our instructors, staff and students at VT-10 to be recognized as this year’s Grampaw Pettibone award winner.”

“The original Grampaw Pettibone character wanted others to learn from his mishaps and near misses, and that’s exactly what our publication strives to accomplish,” Lt. Jed Hendershot, safety officer, said. “We try to impress on brand new student NFOs the idea that the only way we get better and as a result, safer, is by learning from each other’s experiences and mistakes.”

From day one, VT-10 students understand that safety comes first, on the ground and during flight training.

“We want them to see the benefit of non-retribution safety reporting and carry it with them to the fleet. VT-10’s goal is to train future safety leaders,” Hendershot said.

The Grampaw Pettibone awards are named for the cartoon character and curmudgeon from Naval Aviation News magazine. For more than 75 years, he has shared stories of miscues, mishaps, goofs, flubs and other airborne misadventures. Sharing lessons learned has long been a hallmark of professional aviators. Publishing these lessons learned, as well as other innovative ideas, keep countless aviators from learning the hard way. Grampaw Pettibone was the idea of the late Capt. Seth Warner (USN) and the late Robert Osborn, who was Pettibone’s illustrator.

The Grampaw Pettibone Award winners will receive a commemorative plaque from NAVSAFECEN.

Headquartered at NAS Corpus Christi, CNATRA comprises five training air wings in Florida, Mississippi, and Texas, which are home to 17 training squadrons. In addition, CNATRA oversees the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels and the training curriculum for all fleet replacement squadrons.