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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

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505