The aircraft is “missing” when the fuel duration, as reported on the request for flight following, or as reported on the FAA flight plan, has been exceeded and the aircraft location is unknown. It can also be considered missing when it has been reported to the FAA as being “overdue” and the FAA has completed an administrative search for the aircraft without success.

An aircraft is considered “overdue” when it fails to arrive within 30 minutes past the estimated time of arrival (ETA) and cannot be located.

To transport one or more persons suspended on a fixed line (150’-250’) beneath a helicopter. The intent is to transport persons a short distance (short-haul), normally from a limited or inaccessible location to a safe landing area.

A cable winching device permanently mounted to the helicopter that is capable of lowering/raising persons attached to the cable.

The dead fuel moisture content corresponding to the various timelag fuel classes.

The rise or fall in terrain measured in feet per 100 feet of horizontal distance measurement, expressed as a percentage.

Boles, stems, or limbs of woody material; that portion of the dead wildland fuel which is roughly cylindrical in shape.

Non-decomposed material, living or dead, derived from herbaceous plants.

A grouping of fire weather stations that experience the same weather change or trend. Zones are developed by the National Weather Service to assist NWS production of fire weather forecasts or trends for similar stations. Fire weather forecast zones are best thought of as a list of similar-weather stations, rather than an area on a map.

A unique identifier for the dispatch center with responsibility at the point of origin.