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Helicopter Manager, Single Resource Boss

Position Description

Duties

  • Administers the helicopter contract in the field, and manages the helicopter operations according to established interagency guidelines and procedures.
  • Identifies the differences between CWN and exclusive use contracts.
  • Gathers information necessary to assess incident assignment and determine immediate needs and actions.
  • Establishes agency contacts and identifies chain of command with Fire Management Officer and/or Aviation manager, dispatcher, procurement person, air support group supervisor or other contact on the incident.
  • Develops logistical lines of authority for ordering supplies, transportation, human services, etc.
  • Establishes lines of communication with local dispatch, incident dispatch, radio frequencies, and ordering authority flight following responsibility.
  • Conducts initial contractor inspection by validating cards *both pilot and aircraft), conduct pre-use inspections of aircraft and support/service equipment. Verifies pilot Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Initiates and completes Aircraft Contract Daily diary throughout assignment.
  • Confirms that air-to-air and air-to-ground communication procedures and frequencies are in place.
  • Establishes flight following procedures and air traffic control procedures.
  • Provides for the safety and welfare of assigned personnel during the entire assignment by recognizing potentially hazardous situations, informing all of the situations, ensures that special precautions are taken when extraordinary hazards exist, ensures adequate rest is provided to all unit personnel, develops/acquires and posts flight hazard map, identifies safety equipment needs and appropriate locations, discusses crash rescue procedures with support personnel.
  • Conducts pre and post-flight briefings with contactor for safety, operations, and communications, reviews work performance and provides feedback, and identifies and implements adjustments in operations.
  • Attends daily briefings with agency/incident personnel on mission priorities, operations, weather forecasts and communications.
  • Continuously monitors flight and or duty hours of pilots, mechanics and fuel truck drivers to ensure that hour limitations are not exceeded. Identifies need for relief pilot. Schedules and manages work to ensure limitations are not exceeded. Identifies sunrise and sunset time constraints.
  • Initiates and maintains administrative forms (OAS 23s, shift tickets, rental agreements, etc.)
  • Conducts closeout inspection of aircraft and all support equipment.
  • Ensures all procurement related records and documents are accurate and complete at demobilization. Turns in all documentation to agency authority.
  • Manages CWN helicopters and CWN modules on a temporary basis.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

  • S-372, Helicopter Manager Training
    AND
  • Biennial CWN Helicopter Manager Workshop
  • Qualified HELB, or CRWB, or ENGB
  • Qualified HECM
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely

NWCG Latest Announcements

WFSTAR 2025 Core Component Module Package and 2024 Fire Year in Review Now Available

Date: March 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Joe Schindel at mschindel@blm.gov
 

The 2025 Core Component Module Package for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) and the 2024 Fire Year in Review are now available on the NWCG website. The 2025 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

References:

2025 Core Component Module Package

2024 Fire Year in Review Module

NEW! NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053

Date: March 12, 2025
Contact: Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Committee

The NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 provides mitigation practitioners at all experience levels with recommendations on the most effective and efficient ways to accomplish mitigation work in communities at risk to wildfire damage or destruction. The content in this guide was written in coordination with the NWCG Standards for Mitigation in the Wildland Urban Interface, PMS 052.

References:

NWCG Wildland Urban Interface Mitigation Field Guide, PMS 053 

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514