Flight safety number one at Dover Published Sept. 28, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby 436th AW Public Affairs DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The Aero Club at Dover Air Force Base was honored with an Air Force-level safety award for 2008 for 1,000 hours of mishap-free flying. The Aero Club is hosted by the 436th Force Support Squadron and offers flight training and testing to Department of Defense ID card holders, their dependants and civilian contractors who wish to earn a pilot's license, or recreational flights for those with licenses. "Safety is our greatest priority here," said Joe Nickle, 436th FSS Aero Club manager. "Our safety program is a success because of our training programs, working with the Federal Aviation Administration and Air Force mandates, and having monthly safety meetings for all of our members." The Aero Club also uses preventative maintenance. When a part on one of their aircraft has worn down and is in danger of breaking, the Aero Club replaces it. "It may be a bit more expensive," said Mr. Nickle, "but in the long run, it is the safest way to operate our aircraft. The Aero Club has won the Aero Club Safety Certificate for the last 20 years; we had more than 1,000 mishap free flying hours in 2008 alone." The Aero Club safety program has strong support from its members as well. "The Aero Club's safety program is superb," said Senior Airman Moises DaSilva, 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron electrical environmental systems instructor. "I have been a member of the Aero Club for four years, and they have always been concerned with safety. They double and triple check everything before they let their members fly."