55th Electronic Combat Group wins Air Force safety award Published June 3, 2009 By Jennifer Vollmer Editor, Desert Lightning News DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 55th Electronic Combat Group here was recently selected as one of the safest groups in Air Force. The group won one of the Air Force's coveted Flight Safety Plaques last month. The award recognizes Air Force organizations below numbered Air Force level for outstanding achievement in or contribution to flight safety. All flying wings and groups without a class "A" or "B" mishap are eligible. Winners are selected based upon a set of criteria including unit achievements and contributions to flight safety, unit flight education/mishap prevention programs, the complexity and types of aircraft and operations supporting the mission, Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) program efforts, midair Collision Avoidance (MACA) program, the incorporation and integration of ORM principles and techniques, unusual hazards or environmental working conditions (including ops-tempo deployments, exercises, and inspections), higher headquarters inspections, and submission of material, technical data, or flight manual deficiencies. In addition to achieving all selection criteria last year, the 55th ECG also deployed to three separate AORs and completed 10,000 flying hours. "This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to the dedication of our individual aircrews, maintainers and support troops who lean forward every day to ensure we safely return after each combat and home-station sortie," said Col. Mark Haskins, 55th ECG Commander. "This recognition is the culmination of the 55th ECG's exemplary safety record dating back many years. Our record is impressive when you realize that we have been deployed for 62 consecutive months and have accumulated more than 3,500 combat sorties and 30,000 combat hours," said Colonel Haskins. "I congratulate our Airmen and their families for this well-deserved accolade because they've made so many sacrifices during that time."