2015 Aviation Update

Aviation Update 2015Aaron Schoolcraft

AK/PNW Assistant Fire Director, AviationOffice: 503.808.2359

Cell: 202.302.4518

Kurt KleinerBLM OR/WA State Aviation Manager

Office: 503.808.6593Cell: 971.338.3091

Aviation Update 2015Bob Roth

Acting, AK/PNW Assistant Fire Director, AviationOffice: 503.808.2359

Cell: 406.370.3376

Karl OlsonActing, AK/PNW Regional Aviation Safety Manager

Office: 541.504.7271Cell: 541.280-5875

Aviation Update

AK/PNW Flight Hours (Forest Service):• Annual Flight Hour Average (2010-2013): 8,000• 2014 Flight Hours (AK/PNW): 18,283• Alaska: 1,706– Fixed-Wing: 1,635– Helicopter: 71

• Pacific Northwest: 16,576– Fixed-Wing: 6,685– Helicopter: 8,645– Airtanker: 1,246

Aviation Update (Short-Haul)

Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul)• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will host a Type

3 helicopter that may have short-haul capabilities

• The crew will consist of seven to ten members with three to five qualified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

• The helicopter will be utilized regionally/nationally

Aviation Update (Short-Haul)

Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul)

• The Region will develop a letter outlining protocols and capabilities as soon as practical

• The Region will increase emergency extraction capabilities as activity increases. (i.e. NPS, National Guard)

Aviation Update (Short-Haul)

Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul)

• The primary goal is to manage risk so that short-haul missions are not needed

• Nationally, expansion and scale of the program will be predicated on need – anticipate two new bases each year thru 2017

Aviation Update (Short-Haul)

Emergency Helicopter Extraction (Short-Haul)

• What is left to complete:– Pilot Evaluations– Pilot and Crew Training– Final Approval by Deputy Chief

• A Lot of Work Completed…Thank You!– Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest– Eric Scholl, Assistant Helicopter Operations Specialist

Aviation Update (UAS)

Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft Systems

• UAS are “aircraft” by policy, regardless of size• Chief’s letter Early April – Executive Steering Committee• FAM follow up – additional guidance for this year• UAS Advisory group – Risk assessment, policy, cost of

ownership, etc. – Placer River bridge inspection– FHP?– Fire?

Aviation Update (UAS)

Forest Service Unmanned Aircraft Systems

• FAA notice for rule making – sUAS, could mean significant change.

• Missions for our work, missions others want on agency land, hobbyist use

• Poster and other material for responsible use • Internal and external websites: public site:

http://www.fs.fed.us/science-technology/fire/unmanned-aircraft-systems

Aviation Update (UAS)

BLM Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

• Numerous policy documents, memos, and BPs have been issued in the past few months. Spread the word.

• BLM national UAS implementation team formed to manage projects and evaluate effectiveness.

• OAS (Acquisition Services) evaluating makes models to procure for internal (fleet) use and for CWN contracts

• 3 certified UAS operators at State Office; one identified screener (Remote Sensing) for all projects.

DOI UAS platforms

Aviation Update (UAS)

BLM Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) concerns: “Threats” to natl. program and FAA-DOI agreement

• Employees procuring small UAS with govt. credit cards, or using personally owned UAS for government work.

• Supervisors/managers unfamiliar with UAS policy and/or have not completed required M3 aviation training.

• IMTs distracted by third party vendor demo requests.• Public hobbyists present in our incident airspace

Aviation Update (UAS)

Interagency Unmanned Aircraft Systems• Chartered UAS subcommittee under NWCG/NIAC• Demonstration projects• NMAC letter from last fire season (Redbook, Ch. 16)• Working with AK, OR, and WA State agencies and FAA

test sites. Would like to work closer.

Aviation Update

Unapproved Aircraft

1. Unapproved aircraft shall not be used on federal lands, when the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service has operational control, unless there is imminent threat to life.

2. Unapproved aircraft shall not be used when the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service is the protecting agency in a reciprocal or off-set agreement.

Aviation Update

Unapproved Aircraft

3. State cooperators may use unapproved aircraft on federal lands only when state lands are threatened, as long as the state is in operational control of the aircraft.

4. When in unified command, unapproved aircraft shall not be used on federal lands unless state lands are threatened, as long as the state is in operational control of the aircraft.

Aviation Update

Unapproved Aircraft

5. Unapproved aircraft may be used on BLM lands when ODF is under the Western Oregon Fire Suppression Contract.

6. Aircraft (approved or unapproved) shall not be used on unprotected lands.