Interagency Aviation Accident Prevention Bulletin 09-05 Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) for ATGS and Fire Reconnaissance Operations

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Overview

The Interagency Aviation Accident Prevention Bulletin 09-05 Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) for ATGS and Fire Reconnaissance Operations () is a public-domain DOI Office of Aviation Services aviation safety document, republished here as a free chaptered HTML edition with a linked table of contents and the official PDF.

Publisher: DOI Office of Aviation Services
Document
Pages: 2

Key points

Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) is mandatory for Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) and fire reconnaissance operations.
PPE requirements include leather shoes or boots, natural fiber shirts, and full-length cotton or fire-resistant pants or flight suits.
The use of synthetic materials in clothing is discouraged due to the risk of severe burns in the event of a fire.
Both BLM and USFS agencies require compliance with PPE standards as outlined in the 2009 Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations Guide.
Contract pilots must also adhere to the specified PPE requirements, which include wearing full-length trousers made of appropriate materials.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of this bulletin?

The bulletin addresses the specific problem of non-use of PPE in ATGS and fire reconnaissance operations.

What materials are recommended for PPE?

Recommended materials for PPE include fire-resistant polyamide or aramid material, natural fibers for shirts, and full-length cotton or Nomex pants or flight suits.

Are contractors required to follow the same PPE standards?

Yes, both federal employees and contractor employees are required to comply with the specified PPE standards.

What are the consequences of not wearing PPE?

Not wearing PPE increases the risk of severe burns in the event of a crash and subsequent fire.

Where can I find the specific PPE requirements?

The specific PPE requirements can be found in the 2009 Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations Guide, specifically on pages 15 and 18 of chapter 16.

Document

Interagency Aviation Interagency Aviation

Accident Prevention Bulletin Accident Prevention Bulletin

No. IA 09-05 May 27, 2009 Page 1 of 2 Subject: Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) for ATGS and Fire Reconnaissance Operations Area of Concern: Air Tactical Operations Distribution: All Air Tactical Fire and Aviation Personnel & Air Tactical Contractors Discussion: Interagency Accident Prevention Bulletin 09-02, Personnel Protective Equipment , was generic in nature and addressed the benefits and proper use of PPE. This APB addresses a specific problem relating to the use, or rather the non-use, of PPE in Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) and fire reconnaissance operations.

The photo on the left is reported to be one of the first flights for fire reconnaissance operations. As you can see, they took PPE very seriously; and rightfully so. The accident rate back then was very high and they knew the dangers associated with flying with clothing made of synthetic materials.

They knew that if they crashed and a fire resulted, the synthetic material could melt and adhere to their skin, causing severe burns.

Over the years, as aircraft have become more reliable and comfortable, some aircrews have become complacent when it comes to wearing PPE. Rather than wearing clothing made from fire-resistant polyamide or aramid material, a few have substituted non-natural fiber shirts, shorts, and tennis shoes; like the aviators in the photo on the right.

By policy, BLM and USFS agency ATGS and fire reconnaissance personnel are required to comply with the PPE requirements identified in the 2009 Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations Guide (also known as the Red Book). ATGS requirements are listed on page 15 of chapter 16. Fire reconnaissance PPE requirements are new for 2009 and can be found on page 18 of chapter 16.

Both requirements include leather shoes or boots, natural fiber shirts, and full length cotton or nomex pants or flight suits.

Although there are slight differences in contract language between USFS and BLM, both agencies require contract pilots (exclusive use, on-call, and call-when-needed) to adhere to required PPE standards. For example, one contract states that “Contractor pilots shall wear full length trousers made of cotton or fire- resistant polyamide or aramid material or equal (a flight suit is considered equal). Contractor personnel shall wear boots or shoes made of all-leather uppers.” Whether you’re a federal employee or a contractor employee, the requirements for PPE are quite specific: