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N-9065 National Interagency Leadplane Pilot Training Course

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General Information

Forms

Course Materials

Click the individual links to download material or download all materials in one zip file (not yet available).

Unit/Topic Presentations Materials
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Helicopter dropping retardant

Unit:  Introduction
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SEAT flying in over a group of firefighters looking on.

Unit 1:  Safety​​
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Firefighter taking a photo of a SEAT dropping water.

Unit 2:  Communications Verbal Skills and Brevity
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Overview of mountains with smoke hanging in the valleys.

Unit 3:  Mountain Flying and Weather
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Water scooper dropping water.

Unit 4:  Checklists and Single Pilot Resource Management
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Large airtanker dropping retardant.

Unit 5:  In Route and Time Management
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Wildfire burning down the mountains.

Unit 6: FTA and High Low Recon
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Firefight stands on road and watches SEAT dropping water over burning hillside.

Unit 7:  Leadplane Profile Exit Maneuver and Exit Route
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SEAT flying in over a range land fire and dropping water.

Unit 8:  Situational Awareness and Judgement
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Large military airtanker sitting on the tarmac with wildfire smoke in background.

Unit 9:  Responsibility for Separation and Join Ups
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Large fire in heavy timber putting up dark, black smoke.

Unit 10:  Strategy and Tactics
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mountain scene with green forest in foreground and blue skies.

Unit 11:  Post Flight and Non-Mission Topics
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SEAT dropping retardant.

Unit 12:  Phase 2 and 3 and Sign Offs
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Large helicopter siphoning water from a lake.

Unit 13:  Flight Training
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SEAT dropping a load of water.

Unit 14:  Course Review

 

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions

Date: April 9, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
RMC Member Eric Fransted

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) serves as the position steward for all Safety Officer incident positions and continues to improve position standards, training, and naming conventions. The implementation of Complex Incident Management (CIM) required changes to position titles. RMC collaborated with the NWCG Incident Position Standards Committee (IPSC) to propose and implement these updates. 

References:

RMC Memo 25-01: Summary of Updates to Safety Officer Positions 

NWCG Position Catalog