2014 FALT Aviation Update Stevenson, WA November 2014 Dave Glose USFS AK/PNW Helicopter Program Manager Office: Cell:

Aaron Schoolcraft AK/PNW Assistant Fire Director, Aviation Office: Cell: Kurt Kleiner BLM OR/WA State Aviation Manager Acting AK/PNW Regional Aviation Safety Manager Office: Cell: Dave Glose AK/PNW Helicopter Program Manager Office: Cell:

USFS & BLM Aviation Safety FY first accident free year in 50 years Fourth consecutive year without a reportable Forest Service accident Current accident rates indicates a significant decrease in the 10-year trend for FS & BLM Why have we experienced such success? – Training – Safety Management Programs – Added Oversight (Airworthiness, Pilot Inspectors) – QA

BLM Aviation 10-YR Accident Rate

USFS Aviation 10-YR Accident Rate

PNW Helicopter Flt. Hours – 5 Yrs.

PNW FW Flt. Hours – 5 Yrs.

AK Heli & FW Flt. Hours – 5 Yrs.

AK/PNW FS & PNW BLM SAFECOMs

ODF & WADNR SAFECOMs

Smokejumper Program USFS C-23B+ Sherpas Up to 15 Aircraft will be Transferred from the DoD Smokejumper Mission Personnel Transport GOMO - Govt. Owned/ Mixed Operated FOR and Flight Rate Unknown

Helicopter Program Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul)

Helicopter Program Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul) The Forest Service is working to activate two programs in 2015 – One each in R6 and R4 PNW and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest are working towards activating the R6 program If successful, there are plans to expand to other Forests in the future

Helicopter Program Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul) Current recommendation is to have 10-person modules with at least 3 EMTB’s per crew Will utilize high performance Type 3 helicopters Aircraft and crews’ primary mission will continue to be IA

Helicopter Program Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul) Progress to Date: First Edition of the an Operations Guide has been completed Equipment systems have been modified to address initial issues– further evaluation of equipment is occurring this week Pilot evaluation standards have been refined Training dates and venues have been established for 2015

Helicopter Program Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul) What is Left to Complete: Finalizing a few equipment components Developing medical qualification capacity Developing a reporting and status tool to facilitate ordering and responsiveness

Cooperator Aviation Assets

FS/DOI Policy: Use Government Aircraft (federally owned, contracted, leased, etc.) to accomplish aviation mission flights Promote maximum utilization of FS/DOI aircraft as the first source of aviation services, when available and cost effective Cooperator Aircraft may be used on federal incidents if approved by letter and when FS/DOI or other Government Aircraft are not readily available

Cooperator Aviation Assets Cooperator Aircraft (FEPP or contracted) offered for use on Federal incident are subject to the same standards as FS owned and contracted aircraft – verified thru equipment inspections and pilot evaluations in accordance with NASF Cooperator Fire Standards Cooperator Aircraft that have Federal Contracts and are carded to those contract requirements need no further inspections – Approval Letter is still necessary in order to provide services on federal incidents

Cooperator Aviation Assets Operational Requirements: Many standards and policies regarding the use of aircraft are similar between Agencies and States – when differences exist, the policy standards of the agency receiving the services (agency that ordered and pays) apply: – FSM 5700/DOI DM – All aspect of the IHOG – Other Operational Guides and direction as applicable – Aviation Personnel must meet minimum qualification standards for the positions (PMS 310-1)

Cooperator Aviation Assets National Guard Aircraft and Pilots: National Guard pilots receive annual orientation and safety briefing from USFS or DOI Helicopter Inspector Pilots Pilots must meet minimum readiness level and training standards in order to perform fire missions Aircraft Inspections are waived at this time but must meet minimum equipment standards in accordance with agreements with States Operational standards are defined in State Agreements (e.g., OPlan Smokey) Cooperator Letter of Approval issued for NG aircraft and pilots

Cooperator Aviation Assets Approval Process: Requests for approval of aircraft made to the Asst. Fire Director, Aviation Requests will be considered but only accepted based upon local interagency value Target a 30-day time period to accomplish inspections and issue an Approval Letter Letters are jointly issued by FS and OAS/DOI

Cooperator Aviation Assets National Guard Aircraft and Pilots: Are activated by the States’ Governors May be approved for: Cargo Transport and Bucket Work for fire suppression operations Emergency Medivac (Hoist or passenger transport)

Cooperator Aviation Assets National Guard Aircraft and Pilots: National Guard Aviation Units, such as the OR NG Unit in Salem, which has hoist equipped aircraft may be ordered from the Emergency Helicopter Extraction Source List for emergency medevac without an approval letter (via a 911 call from Dispatch, separate from the fire suppression ordering process.)

Questions?