Sikorsky Aircraft announced it has received the 2013 Maintenance Excellence Award from the Commander, Tactical Support Wing (CTSW) for support of the Composite Fighter Squadron VFC-111 based in Key West, Fla. The award marks the 12th that Sikorsky has received since the program’s start in 2001, and the second consecutive year the Key West team has won the prestigious honor. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.
“This recognition speaks to our outstanding support capabilities for Other Equipment Manufacturer fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Sikorsky’s comprehensive and integrated support portfolio serves not only multiple branches of the U.S. military, but also provides strategic maintenance offerings globally,” said George Mitchell, Sikorsky Vice President of Defense Systems & Services (DSS). “This award symbolizes the unwavering commitment of our employees to provide an essential and critical maintenance program that prepares U.S. Navy pilots for their missions.”
Known as the Golden Wrench Award, the honor for maintenance excellence goes to the squadron that has demonstrated superlative skills — leadership, professionalism and unrivaled effectiveness — to safely fly and operate aircraft involved in Navy Adversary Flight Operations. Sikorsky provides maintenance and logistics support for 14 F-5F/N aircraft in VFC-13 (Fallon, Nev.), 18 F-5 F/N aircraft in VFC-111 (Key West, Fla.), and 12 VMFT-401 aircraft (Yuma, Ariz.) used in the Navy Adversary Flight Operations program. Respectively, the squadrons fly an average of 3,400, 5,200 and 3,900 hours per year providing adversary training to nearly every Navy Carrier Air Wing and squadron that deploys to ships and bases throughout the world.
“The CTSW maintenance excellence award acknowledges the exceptional hard work, personal dedication and professionalism displayed by each of our air wing maintenance departments,” said Capt. Zachary Henry, CTSW. “This award exemplifies dynamic leadership, exceptional competence and unsurpassed management,”
In 2001-2003, 2005-2007 and 2009-2011, the Sikorsky maintenance component of VFC-13, based in Fallon, Nev., won the award. This is the fourth time since 2008 that the Key West support team has received it. Recipients of the Golden Wrench are permitted to paint the award icon on the side of squadron aircraft.