Document
OAS - 28 A ( 5/15 )
Interagency Aviation
Information Bulletin
No. IA IB 2 4 - 0 4 Date: June 6, 2024 Page 1 of 1 Subject: Name Change: Fire Boss to Single Engine Scooper Area of Concern: Aviation Operations Distribution: All Aviation Personnel Discussion : Up until recently, Single Engine Scoopers have been attributed to the brand name of “ Fire Boss ” since this type 4 resource was first introduced . This is primarily due to its association with the Air Tractor AT - 802 airframe which was adapted from agricultural spray plane s and equipped with amphibious floats.
In the very near future, other amphibious scooping float systems and aircraft platforms are expected to be offered.
The National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC) has determined that this resource now requires a more standardized title, similar to those used on other platforms for aerial firefighting missions.
For now, the Automated Flight Following (AFF) aircraft tab will still display the make (Air Tractor Inc.) and model (AT-802), as well as the owner in the details tab for assistance on identification.
As for this season, the naming convention will remain as “ Fire Boss ” and will continue to be used in AFF and in the Fire Traffic Area (FTA) throughout 2024, except for S-234, which is a single engine scooper on the newly designed amphibious scooping system from another contractor. In 2025, the new S (scooper) identification and will be implemented using a separate numbering system that’s different from the 200 series currently being utilized by the multi-engine scoopers in both the U.S. and Canada.
For questions, contact: Kristina Curtis, BLM National SEAT Program Manager; 208-387-5441 (office) 208-850- 2780 (cell), or kcurtis@blm.gov .
/s/ Keith Raley /s/ Lori Clark Keith Raley Lori Clark Chief, Aviation Safety, Program Evaluation, Branch Chief - Aviation Safety and Quality Management Management Systems DOI, Office of Aviation Services USDA, Forest Service