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NEWS | May 7, 2025

Colorado National Guard high-altitude training site awarded for safety record

By By Sgt. 1st Class Joseph K. VonNida

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Colorado National Guard’s High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Gypsum, Colorado, has been awarded the Order of the Daedalians, Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army Flight Safety Award.

This recognition is awarded annually to the Army aviation training unit with the most effective aircraft accident prevention program as determined by the commanding general, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

“HAATS receiving the safety award from TRADOC is a strong indication of how Colorado leads the way in training at the edge of the envelope,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nicholas Tucker, COARNG director of aviation and safety, said.   

U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, former adjutant general of Colorado, presented the award April 9, 2025, at HAATS.

“Throughout fiscal year 2024, HAATS has upheld a flawless safety record with zero Class A, Class B, or Class C mishaps, highlighting its proactive safety culture built on continuous training, transparency, and open communication,” U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Patrick Cavanaugh, HAATS aviation safety officer, said. “This commitment to safety was further validated in July when HAATS achieved an impressive 98% score on the ARMS (Aviation Resource Management Survey) inspection, demonstrating its strict adherence to safety protocols and dedication to aviation safety excellence.”

HAATS employs an innovative Power Management training methodology, ensuring pilots develop a deep understanding of aircraft power requirements in all flight regimes. HAATS is the only Department of Defense aviation school offering this realistic, high-altitude, and rough terrain training. The training site is a critical resource for rotary-wing military pilots worldwide.

This mission-focused approach prepares aviators for complex operations by challenging them in real-world mountainous terrain, including in multi-ship formations and high-altitude flight. Over the years, the facility has trained pilots from Slovenia, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Republic of Georgia, enhancing global aviation capabilities.

“The unit employs robust risk mitigation strategies, including weekly and monthly safety briefs to analyze near misses, enhance awareness, and implement preventive measures,” Cavanaugh said. “Soldiers at all levels throughout the organization have attended and plan to attend Human Factors Analysis and Classification System training. This increases safety awareness at the HAATS.”

An example of HAATS’ safety culture occurred during a recent training exercise where maintainers identified a critical issue involving loose idlers on a CH-47F Chinook helicopter’s tunnel flight controls. Their prompt corrective action prevented potential aircraft damage and averted a significant flight safety hazard.

“This improves readiness by keeping aircraft operational and safe for the students that attend training at HAATS weekly. One of the key tenets that is taught is to increase your situational awareness as a crew. This directly translates to a safe and aware mindset,” Cavanaugh said. “This award says that we are at the forefront of training safely, providing unparalleled training resulting in a high level of readiness for the current and future fight.”

HAATS crews support on average 20 high-altitude rescues a year in Colorado and are credited with saving 541 lives which has previously earned them a TAG (The Adjutant General) unit citation.

“HAATS mitigates the risk exceptionally well with well trained staff and thorough risk analysis of every flight,” Tucker said. 

This leads to enhanced war fighting capabilities amongst all DoD rotary wing aviators, enabling combat aviation to deliver lethal effects on the battlefield.

HAATS is also actively engaged with NASA, contributing to a training program that prepares pilots for future lunar travel and landings. NASA’s goal in partnering with HAATS is to build a program that will give every astronaut a shared base of knowledge that covers some of the challenges associated with landing on the moon. This further demonstrates its global reach and innovation in aviation training.

 

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