Aviation Communication

Aviation operations are complex and communicating with air resources is vital for wildland firefighters’ safety. Below are considerations to discuss as a group and share what has worked well for communicating with different aviation resources.

Radio Frequency Management:

• Aircraft prioritize radio communication to maintain safe flights, provide appropriate airspace with other aircraft, and conduct incident operations. Aircraft will talk to other aircraft/air traffic controllers first, followed by ground resources, and then dispatch.
• Establish a primary air-to-ground frequency on the fire and ensure fire personnel are monitoring the channel.
• If the frequency gets congested, request another frequency, (e.g. “air-to-ground secondary”).
• Ensure that fire personnel have a clear delineation of what operations will occur on which air-to-ground frequency.
• Air Guard can be used to communicate emergency traffic. All aircraft are monitoring this frequency. Ground personnel should also monitor Air Guard for aircraft emergencies.

Aviation Communication Best Practices:

• The ABCs of communicating with aviation resources are to be “Accurate, Brief, and Clear.”
• Communication to aircraft should occur when they are a few miles out. Provide them with what you want them to accomplish, your location, and any aerial hazards such as powerlines, wind, other aircraft, etc.
• It is also best to communicate with the aircraft when they are off the dip site, following a water or retardant drop, or when they are performing a recon. Do not communicate during critical phases of flight (e.g. using the dip site, executing a drop, or when they are taking off or landing).
• When communicating directions, always give them from the pilot’s perspective.
  • Use easily understandable directions, such as: north, east, 2 o’clock low, 9 o’clock mid-slope, etc.
  • Use standard fire characteristics and common vernacular to describe the target to the pilot such as: “we would like the bucket drop on the large snag at the heel of the fire.”
  • Before a water or retardant drop occurs, ensure all ground personnel are cleared from the line and communicate that to the pilot.
• If using latitude and longitude coordinates, use WGS 84 datum and provide the coordinates in degrees, decimal minutes (DDM).

Discussion Questions:

• Who is responsible for communicating with ground resources to notify them of the incoming aircraft and intended mission?
• Discuss any past experiences where there was miscommunication with aviation. What did it impact? How could that miscommunication have been improved?