Interagency Aviation Information Bulletin 19-01 2019 Wildland Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Briefing for Aviation Personnel

OAS - 28A

THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN HAS BEEN

(5/15)

REPLACED BY IA IB 21-07

Interagency Aviation

Information Bulletin

IA IB 19 - 01 June 1 3 , 2019 Page 1 of 3 Subject: 2019 Wildland Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Briefing for Aviation Personnel Background: Agency and contractor provided Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are utilized on wildland fires to provide mapping, situational awareness, and aerial ignition services.

Distribution: All Fire Aviation Activities Discussion: Policy The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Operations (PMS 515) contains operational procedures for fire UAS missions. Federal personnel participating in fire UAS operations must attend NWCG training ( UAS Incident Operations, S-373 ) and complete a position task book prior to participating on federally managed incidents in a qualified UAS position. All UAS/Remote Pilots are requ i red to posses current OAS authorization cards.

Key Points  UAS personnel follow the Fire Traffic Area (FTA) protocol.

 All UAS are capable of maintaining an a ssigned altitude based on an altimeter setting.

 UAS do not have automated flight following (AFF).

 UAS operations originate within the FTA. Initial contact will be made with aerial supervision or on - scene aircraft prior to launch.

RESCINDED

 UAS personnel coordinate with dispatch/helibase prior to all fire missions.

 UAS radios (FM and AM) are ground based. Communication may be difficult in certain terrain.

There are two types of fire UAS operations; Fireline and Launch and Recovery Zone.

IA IB 19 - 01 June 1 3 , 2019 Page 2 of 3 Fireline Operations (typically small, <5lbs. multirotor)  Missions are flown on the fireline within line of sight of the remote pilot and up to 400’ above ground level (agl).

 Typically conducted by agency firefighters such as smokejumpers, hotshots, or single resource UAS Pil ots (UASP).

 UAS are launched from multiple locations on the fireline based on situational awareness or mapping requirements.

 Remote pilots will pre - brief with air and ground personnel and coordinate with on - scene aircraft.

 Systems are small (multirotor) carrying a video/mapping/aerial ignition payload.

 Communications are conducted on FM frequencies. Fireline personnel will not have AM radios and will not be monitoring the air to air (Victor) frequency. Handheld AM radios are not reliable on the fireline .

 Fireline UAS are not equipped with transponders.

Fireline Operations with 3DR Solo Quadcopter Launch and Recovery Zone Operations (typically large, >40 lbs. fixed wing)  Missions are flown from a fixed location away from the fireline, but within the T FR.

 UAS flights are beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and at least 3,500’ agl.

 Missions are typically conducted by contractors in conjunction with a federal UAS Manager (UASM) and UAS Data Specialist (UASD).

 UAS is launched from a Launch and Recovery Zo ne (LRZ) within the TFR. The LRZ is a pre-defined cylinder extending from the surface to the TFR ceiling and is designed to protect UAS during the takeoff and landing phases of flight.

RESCINDED

 The LRZ will be depicted on incident aviation maps when utilized.

 Th e UASM will pre - brief with air/ground personnel and coordinate with on - scene aircraft.

 The UASM will request clearance (prior to launch) from aerial supervision if on - scene.

 The UASM will notify aerial supervision/on scene aircraft and helibase when the LRZ is hot (active) and cold (inactive).

 Communications are conducted on AM and FM radios. The UASM utilizes/monitors the assigned air to air (Fixed Wing/TFR Victor) frequency and assigned FM frequencies .

 Contract UAS are equipped with transponders and will be transmitting on 1255.

IA IB 19 - 01 June 1 3 , 2019 Page 3 of 3 Example: UAS Launch and Recovery Zone (LRZ) Additional Information: Interagency Fire UAS Website: https://sites.google.com/a/firenet.gov/interagency - fire - uas/ Contacts: Dirk Giles, USFS UAS Program Manager: dirk.giles@usda.gov or 208 - 3 87 - 5625 Gil Dustin, BLM UAS Program Manager: gdustin@blm.gov or 208 - 387 - 5181 Brad Koeckeritz, OAS UAS Division Chief : bradley_koeckeritz@ios.doi.gov or 208 - 433 - 50 91

RESCINDED

/s/ Keith Raley /s/ Sean Aidukas Keith Raley Sean Aidukas Chief, Aviation Safety, Training, Program Acting Branch Chief, Aviation Evaluations and Quality Management Safety Management Systems DOI, Office of Aviation Services USDA Forest Service