BMP Unit Aviation Plan / 2013

BMP Unit Aviation Plan / 2013

Blue Mt Province

Unit Aviation Plan

Malheur National Forest

Umatilla National Forest

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Submitted By

______Miles Hancock______6/15/2013

Miles HancockDate

Blue Mt Province, Unit Aviation Officer

Reviewed By

/s/ Aaron Schoolcraft______6.28.2013

Aaron SchoolcraftDate

PNW/AK Regional Aviation Officer

Approved By

______

Teresa RaafDate

Malheur National Forest, Forest Supervisor

Approved By

______

Kevin MartinDate

Umatilla National Forest, Forest Supervisor

Approved By

______

John LaurenceDate

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Forest Supervisor

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0AVIATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

2.0 PNW ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING

3.0 ADMINISTRATION

4.0 AVIATION SAFETY MANAGEMENT

5.0 OPERATIONS

6.0 AVIATION TRAINING

7.0 AIRSPACE COORDINATION

8.0 AVIATION SECURITY

9.0 AVIATION FACILITIES

10.0 APPENDICES

(Appendices located in BMP Aviation Library:

O:\NFS\Umatilla\Program\AviationMgmt-5700\Admin_Policy\BMP Unit Aviation Plan)

Appendix 1 –Unit Aviation Mishap Response Plans

Appendix 2 – Malheur Airbase Operations Plan

Appendix 3 – Blue Mt Rappel Base Operations Plan

Appendix 4 – Sled Springs Rappel Base Operations Plan

Appendix 5 – Umatilla NF SEAT Base Operations Plan

Appendix 6 - La Grande Airtanker Base Operations Plan

Appendix 7 - BMIFC Ramp Management Guide

Appendix 8–BMP Aerial Detection Guide

Appendix 9 – BMP Air Attack Operations Guide

Appendix 10 – BMP Pilot and Aircrew Briefing Packet

Appendix 11 – Pre-Approved Aviation Missions –Programmatic Risk Assessments

Common acronyms found in this plan.

BMP - Blue Mt ProvinceIAT -Interagency Aviation Training Program

UAO- Unit Aviation OfficerAMD - Aviation Management Directorate (DOI)

JDIDC- John Day Interagency Dispatch CenterSORO – State Office/Regional Office (Portland)

BMIDC - Blue Mt Interagency Dispatch CenterRAO- Regional Aviation Officer

NAMP- National Aviation Mgmt PlanRASM- Regional Aviation Safety Officer

PNWAMP- Pacific Northwest Aviation Mgmt PlanIASG- Interagency Aerial Supervision Guide

PPASP - Programmatic Project Aviation Safety Plan

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Chapter 1.0 - AVIATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

1.1Purpose

This unit plan supplementsthe National Aviation Safety and Management Plan (NASMP) and Pacific Northwest/ Alaska Aviation Safety and Management Plan(PNWAMP) to derive a comprehensive unit aviation planning document. It’s tiered directly to the NASMP by chapter and sub-chapter, with the goal of aligningthe Blue Mt Provinceaviation program with the policy, standards, and best practices established and documented athigher levels.

A tiered approach to aviation plans minimizesduplication and redundancy of information in regard to aviation policy and programmatic guidance, and allowsunit level plans to focus more specifically on local conditions,local capacity, and the coordinatedlocal execution of safe flight operations.

1.6Authority

Line Officer’s (Forest Supervisor/District Ranger) have the primary responsibility for aviation planning (FSM 5711.04), and specific aviation planning approval authority (FSM 5704.6 (5)).

The Blue Mt Province Aviation Program, as described in this plan, is within the Line Officers delegation of authority to the Unit Aviation Officer (UAO) to provide aviation program administrative and technical oversight.

Consolidated (sub-geographic) Unit Aviation Officer - Position Agreement

An agreementhas been established between the Fire and Aviation Programsof the Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla, and Malheur National Forests for a consolidated Unit Aviation Officer position. The agreementis maintained and reviewed by the three Forest Fire Staff Officerswith concurrence approval by the Forest Supervisors.

Note:A Position Agreement supplement, temporarily transferring UAO duties for the Malheur NF to Jeff Meyerholtz during 2012 – 2013 is currently in effect.

Line Officer Delegation of Authority Letter

A Delegation of Authority, as specified in FSM 5704.6 (4)has been consolidated into a single tri-forest delegation letter with sign offfrom the three Forest Supervisors.The delegation is routed for current signatures any time there is a Forest Supervisor position vacancyfilled, and is electronically filed along withthe sub geographic UAO position agreement documents in the BMP aviation library on the “O”- drive.

Note:A MAF Delegation letter, related to the temporary transfer of UAO duties to Jeff Meyerholtz, has been executed and on file in the BMP aviation library.

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Chapter 2.0 - AVIATION ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.4 Forest Aviation Staff

Forest Supervisor: The respective Forest Supervisor(s) are responsible for all aviation activities on the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. Responsibilities outlined in FSM 5704.6 have been delegated to the Unit Aviation Officer(s).

Blue Mt Province (BMP) Aviation Officer: The BMP Aviation Officer is designated by each Forest Supervisor, and is responsible for general oversight and guidance for all aviation operations being conducted on forest lands. This includes support to the fire program, resource programs (non-fire), and all administrative uses of aircraft.

In the event that the BMP UAO is not available, the following will serve as designated alternates for the unit listed. The BMP UAOis responsible toinform and brief designated alternates when handing offUAO responsibilities.

Roy Walker, Malheur NF, Fire Staff Officer

Brian Goff, Umatilla NF, Fire Staff Officer

Noel Livingston, W/W NF, Asst. Fire Staff Officer

Some of the primary duties and responsibilities of the UAO position are the following:

1. Responsibility, and delegated authority, to stop any aviation activities that are unsafe, or are not being carried out within established agency policyand/or operating standards.

1. Delegated review authority of Low and Moderate complexity Project Aviation Safety Plans (PASP’s). See: Figure 4: PASP Review/Approval Criteria Ch 5.0.

1. Is primary contact for Regional Aviation Staffregarding aviation operations.Participates in annual aviation related workshops / meetings, and participates in local/regional conference calls, as scheduled.

1. Reviews unit SAFECOMS (form FS 5700-12), and coordinates with the Regional Aviation Safety Manager in determining appropriate follow up actions, and participates in Incident/Accident investigations, as requested.

1. Maintains coordination with other government agencies (National Guard, FAA), and cooperators (ODF, DOI) on aviation related operations that affect the unit(s).

1. Coordinates directly with forest dispatch offices on flight planning, air support, and planning needs that develop.

1. Provides unit in-briefing information, and is primary contact for IMT Air Operations Branch personnel when mobilized on forest incidents.

District Rangers: Several aviation related authorities reside solely with the District Ranger (sub-unit Line Officers), they include:

1. Approval authority (Signature) of unit Project Aviation Safety Plans (PASP’s), as necessary.

1. Approval authority (signature) for transportation of non-federal passengers on agency controlled flights. (Required form 5700-12 Day Trip Authorization);

1. Approval authority for non-agency employee Search & Rescue requests (Assistance to Co Sheriff’s);

1. Specific authorizations for the use of mechanized equipment within designated wilderness areas,if so delegated (i.e. aircraft landing approvals).

District Aviation Officers (DAO): The District Ranger will designate a District Aviation Officer (DAO) who will function as the primary aviation contact on the unit. The DAO is recognized as the District Fire Management Officer (FMO), unless otherwise formally designated. The following responsibilities are expected of District Aviation Officer's:

1. Is the initial contact on the unit for aviation related questions, and assists unit level staff area’s and personnel with flight operation planning.

1. Assigns qualified unit personnel to aviation related projects, and Identifies shortage aviation positions needing forest levelemphasis. Coordinates unit aviation training needs with the BMP UAO.

1. Provides a communication link from the unit level to the BMP UAO, and likewise, from the BMP UAO to district personnel for the dissemination of aviation technical and safety related information, policy and program updates, etc.

1. May officially supervise exclusive use contract personnel, or be designated as COR on aviation contracts, if qualified.

Dispatch Center Coordinators: The Dispatch Coordinator will have a thorough knowledge of aviation operations, and shall insure that dispatch operations involving the use of aircraft are staffed and supervised at appropriate levels. See: Chapter 3.14Dispatching, and Chapter 6.1 Aviation Training.

The following roles and responsibilities are assigned to the Dispatch Coordinator positions at Blue Mt Interagency Dispatch Center (BMIDC), and John Day Interagency Dispatch Center (JDIDC):

Dispatch Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Maintain a file of all locally approved aircraft and pilots available to the forest, and assures agency ordering procedures, flight tracking/flight following, and mishap response standards are being met.

1. Participate in the briefing and debriefing process with aircrews on forest aviation missions, and maintains operational coordination with other government agencies, and neighboring units on subjects involving aviation operations.

1. Initiates actions to order appropriate Aerial Supervision for complex aviation operations.(Ref: Aerial Supervision Matrix, NW Mob Guide Pg 71, orIASG Ch 4(1)(d))

1. Initiates aviation mishap response actions as outlined in the unit Aviation Mishap Response Guide (AMRG). Ensures that seasonal updates to the unit AMRG are made and copies distributed to all permanent and temporary aviation bases.

1. Schedule all administrative flights on the forest and coordinates with the Northwest Coordination Center (NWCC) for the use of regional agency aircraft. Identifies/assigns a qualified Flight Managers for all fixed- wing missions

1. May serve as the acting UAO when specifically designated, or when the designated forest alternate is un-available.

Aviation Project Managers: A Project Manager will be designated for all aviation projects on the forest. Project Managers are responsible to see that a PASP (non-pre-approved missions) or Mission Planning Sheet (pre-approved missions) are prepared for plannedflight activities (see: Ch 5.0 Figure 4). The Project Manager is also expected to provide either direct supervision ofproject operations, if qualified, orprovide oversight (assurance) that on-site supervision and staffing meets or exceeds agency policy.

Additional responsibilities include:

1. Ensure safety and project operational briefings are provided to all personnel involved with the project, including the pilot(s).

1. Ensure that project aviation activities are conducted in accordance with all applicable agency policy, regulations, and contract specifications.

1. Keep the UAO, DAO, or Contracting Officer briefed on daily project progress orrecord keeping, as specified, for flight activities pertaining to project work.

1. Insure Aviation Mishap Response plans are in place, and briefed to project support personnel assigned, and report aircraft accidents/incidents within required timeframes.

2.4 Forest Aviation Staff Continued:

John Day Airbase Manager: The John Day Airbase Managers’ primary assignment is the safety, management, and coordination/oversight of all agency exclusive use and temporary aviation resources based/assigned at John Day airport. The Airbase Manager is COR for the bases Exclusive Use aircraft, and directly supervises airbase personnel. The Airbase Manager is supervised by the forest Asst Fire Staff Officer on the MAF.

Rappel Program (Base) Managers: [John Day Airbase (MAF), Blue Mt Rappel Base (UMF),Sled Springs Rappel Base (WWF)]The Rappel Base Managers’ primary assignment is for safety, management, and direct supervision of rappel program personnel, and for assigned Regional, National, or CWN helicopters temporarily assigned to primary bases. Rappel Managers are Contract COR’s and are directly supervised under aForest or District level Fire Management Staff organization.

National (Large Fire Support) Type I and II Managers:The National Large Fire Support Managers’ primary assignment is safety, contract administration, and direct supervision of helicopter activity during nation-wide mobilization.Supervision is provided by the John Day Airbase Manager (MAF),andSled Springs Rappel Manager (WWF) for the two helicopters hosted locally (John Day & La Grande).

La Grande Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM): The Airtanker Base Managers primary assignment is the safety, management, and supervision of the La Grande Airtanker Base and associated personnel. The position may be assigned to alternate or temporary bases, as needed and is a designated COR, supervised by the BMIDC Center Manager.

Single Engine Air Tanker Manager (SEMG): The Single Engine Air Tanker Base Managers’ primary assignment is the safety, management, and supervision of the SEAT Base and associated personnel (Locations: John Day and Pendleton). The John Day position is supervised by the Airbase Manager, and the Pendleton Position by the UMF

Deputy Fire Staff.

Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS): A qualified ATGS is stationed in La Grande to staff an Exclusive Use Regional Air Attack Platform hosted by the Wallowa-Whitman NF. The La Grande ATGS’ primary assignment is for sub-geographic (Blue Mt Province), aerial supervision support for initial attack and extended attack incidents, and is supervised by the PNW Light Fixed- Wing Program Manager.

Leadplane Pilot: A Leadplane Pilot may be temporarily pre-positioned to the La Grande airtanker base when aviation activity dictates the need. These pilots are officially assigned to the Deschutes National Forest (Redmond Air Group-RAG), with all administrative functions performed by RAG.

Figure 1: BMP Unit Aviation Organization - Contacts

Name / Title / Unit / Office Phone
Miles Hancock / BMP Unit Aviation Officer / UMF/WWF/MAF / 541-975-5418
Roy Walker / Forest Fire Staff Officer / MAF / 541-575-3103
Vacant / Assistant Fire Staff Officer / MAF / 541-575-3102
Bret Ruby / Forest Fire Staff Officer / WWF / 541-523-1415
Noel Livingston / Assistant Fire Staff Officer / WWF / 541-523-1470
Brian Goff / Forest Fire Staff Officer / UMF / 541-278-3748
Chris Johnson / Assistant Fire Staff Officer / UMF / 541-278-3704
Teresa Youmans / Dispatch Coordinator (JDIDC) / MAF / 541-575-3101
RenaeCrippen / Dispatch Coordinator (BMIDC) / WWF/UMF / 541-975-5402
Jeff Meyerholz / Airbase Manager/UAO (John Day) / MAF / 541-575-3370
Brandon Culley / Airbase Operations Mgr (John Day) / MAF / 541-575-3373
Eric Bush / Airbase Training Mgr (John Day) / MAF / 541-575-3371
XXXXXX / Airbase Equipment Mgr (John Day) / MAF / 541-575-3375
JD Connell / Rappel Base Manager (LaGrande) / UMF / 541-427-5393
Griff Williams / Rappel Base Manager (Sled Springs) / WWF / 541-426-5525
Caleb Schreiber / National Type I Manager (BMIFC) / WWF / 541-263-0880
Russ Hurst / Airtanker Base Manager (BMIFC) / WWF / 541-975-5725
Steve Cross / FMO/District Aviation Officer / MAF/BMRD / 541-575-3302
Brian Bishop / FMO/District Aviation Officer / MAF/PCRD / 541-820-3802
Dale Boyd / FMO/District Aviation Officer / UMF/HRD / 541-676-2137
Kelly Hedgepeth / FMO/District Aviation Officer / UMF/NFRD / 541-427-5357
Chad Pickering / FMO/District Aviation Officer / UMF/PRD / 509-843-4630
Brett Thomas / FMO/District Aviation Officer / UMF/WWRD / 509-522-6284
Willy Crippen / FMO/District Aviation Officer / WWF/BPFZ / 541-523-1906
Mike Johnson / FMO/District Aviation Officer / WWF/GRFZ / 541-962-8516
Nathan Goodrich / FMO/District Aviation Officer / WWF/WVFZ / 541-426-5583

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Chapter 3.0 - ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTION

3.1 General

All Forest Personnel: It is imperative that when employees consider the use of aircraft that they become familiar with federal/agency aviation policyand best practice guidelinesfor insuring safe efficient aircraft utilization. Personnel should solicit assistance from local unit aviation specialists when planning and carrying outflight activities when questions arise. Forest level primary contacts include:UAO, DAO’s, Aircraft Base Managers or Dispatch Coordinator’s.

Employee Pilots - Forest employees that are licensed pilots may use privately owned, leased, or rented aircraft as transportation to and from official meetings and training, if specifically approved. Employee Pilot minimum requirements can be referenced in FSM 5712.35.

Aviation Library - Electronic Documents / Records - “O drive”Filing Area

Electronic storing of Aviation Program files are located at the following O drive location:O:\NFS\Umatilla\Program\AviationMgmt-5700

This filing area will serve as the designated aviation electronic library for the Blue Mt Province aviation program as a single point for storing documents specific to the BMP aviation program, including related policy letters, unit level plans, accident prevention information, and training references.

The BMP UAO will build the filing structure (folder naming convention) and be responsible for electronic filing and content. Future suggestions on filing area content, file creation or naming, and ways to enhance the use of the library should be directed to the BMP UAO.

3.3 Aviation Plans

Forest Supervisors retain approval authority (signature) for the BMP Unit Aviation Plan and individual Base Plans listed as appendices.

The BMP Unit Aviation Plan is revised annually by the BMP Aviation Officerwith a copy forwarded to the Regional Aviation Officer for review and inclusion into the SORO library. A forest level master copy of the plan will reside in the BMP aviation library filed on the O-drive, with copies also filed with individual forest Fire Management Plans as required appendices.

Formal regional level review will take place anytime significant unit level policy changes are necessary, or on a triennial basis at a minimum.

Forest Line Officer approval signatures will be gatheredanytime a Line Officer position is vacated and re-filled by new permanent hire, or on a triennial basis at a minimum.

Aviation Base Operating plansare required to be annually revised by Base Managers, then submitted to the BMP UAO for his/her review/signature before obtaining Forest Supervisor final approval/signature.

BMP UAO will coordinate review/signature gathering, and all finalized base plans will be filed in the aviation library(O-drive), as Unit Aviation Plan appendices, and a copy delivered to Fire Management Staff in charge of the Fire Management Plan library.

3.4 Aircrew Orientation Briefing Package

See:UAP Appendix 10 – BMP Pilot Briefing Packet

3.7 Contracting

Forest Contracting Officer (CO): Forest level aviation contracts can only be initiated and approved by the Forest Contracting Officer. Note: All “Aviation Services” contracts require an approved PASP. “End Product” aviation contracts do not require a PASP. (See also: 3.10 End Product Contracts below).