Interagency Aviation Information Bulletin 11-02 Aviation Operations Within Mutual Aid Zone USA/Mexico

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Overview

The Interagency Aviation Information Bulletin 11-02 Aviation Operations Within Mutual Aid Zone USA/Mexico () 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

Agreements between the U.S. Department of Interior, Department of Agriculture, and CONAFOR allow aerial firefighting resources to cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
The zone of mutual assistance extends up to 10 miles inside each country from the border for firefighting operations.
Aircraft must receive permission from CONAFOR and the appropriate Interagency Dispatch Center before entering Mexico's airspace.
All aircraft operations must comply with U.S. Forest Service, DOI Aviation Management Directorate, or agency contract regulations.
U.S. aircraft are not authorized to land outside the U.S. except for emergencies and must follow normal U.S. Customs re-entry procedures.

Frequently asked questions

What is the zone of mutual assistance?

The zone of mutual assistance is the area measured from the U.S.-Mexico border up to 10 miles inside each country designated for aerial firefighting operations.

What permissions are required for U.S. aircraft to enter Mexico's airspace?

U.S. aircraft must obtain permission from CONAFOR and the appropriate Interagency Dispatch Center before entering Mexico's airspace.

Can U.S. aircraft land in Mexico during firefighting operations?

U.S. aircraft are not authorized to land in Mexico except in emergencies or for logistical operations involving U.S. personnel.

What regulations must U.S. aircraft operations follow?

All aircraft operations must adhere to the regulations set forth by the U.S. Forest Service, DOI Aviation Management Directorate, or relevant agency contracts.

What is the role of the Leadplane/Aerial Supervision Module?

Airtankers must operate under the supervision of a qualified Leadplane/Aerial Supervision Module and/or Air Tactical Group Supervisor, as this is not considered an initial attack activity.

Document

Interagency Aviation

Information Bulletin

No. IA 2011-02 May 27, 2011 Page 1 of 2 Subject: Aviation Operations Within Mutual Aid Zone USA/Mexico Area of Concern: Air Operations along the USA/Mexico Border Distribution: Aviation Operations Discussion: Agreements between the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture of the United States of America and the United Mexican States (CONAFOR) establish guidance and proto- cols for aerial firefighting operations along the border. These agreements enable firefighting resources of one country to cross the United States-Mexico border to suppress wildfire.

The firefighting response area is termed the “zone of mutual assistance” and is measured from the border up to 10 miles (16 KM) inside of each country.

Any aircraft planning to enter Mexico’s airspace must satisfy various requirements established within the agreement by the appropriate Interagency Dispatch Center. Aircraft are NOT permitted to enter Mexico’s airspace without the permission from the Dispatch Center and concurrence of ae- rial supervision.

Considerations for the use of aircraft are:  Permission must be received from CONAFOR prior to airspace entry.

 Suppression aircraft may include restricted category aircraft.

 Airtankers will operate under the supervision of a qualified Leadplane/Aerial Supervision Module and/or Air Tactical Group Supervisor. This is not considered an initial attack activity.

 All aircraft operations will be conducted under appropriate Forest Service, DOI Aviation Manage- ment Directorate (AMD), or agency contract regulations.

 Airtankers identified by U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation and approved by CONAFOR will be allowed to support fires within the Zone of Mutual Assistance. This includes all the airtankers identified in the Schedule of Items.

 All U.S. contract or agency aircraft will operate from facilities within the United States. Landings outside the United States (with the exception of emergencies and logistical operations involving U.S. Sending Agency personnel) are not authorized within the Zone of Mutual Assistance.

 All aircraft will follow normal U.S. Customs re-entry procedures. The Pilot in Command is re- sponsible for ensuring these requirements are met.

 Aircraft investigation procedures will be coordinated with the appropriate Mexican agencies in- volved at the time of the incident/accident.

No. IA 2011-02 May 27, 2011 Page 2 of 2 References: 2011 National Interagency Mobilization Guide, Chapter 40 Cooperation, Amendment to the Wild- fire Protection Agreement Between the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America and the Secretariat of Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisher- ies of the United Mexican States for the Common Border, page 55 – 65.

2011 Southwest Area Mobilization Guide, Chapter 40 Cooperation, International Agreement with Mexico, page 40-1 2011 Emergency Mutual Assistance Operating Plan Between Southeast Arizona Zone, U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, and Mexican National Forest Commission (CONAFOR) /s/ Keith C. Raley /s/ Ron Hanks /s/ Keith C. Raley /s/ Ron Hanks Keith C. Raley Ron Hanks Keith C. Raley Ron Hanks Chief, Aviation Safety and Chief, Aviation Safety Chief, Aviation Safety and Chief, Aviation Safety Program Evaluation Management Systems Program Evaluation Management Systems