National Rappel Operations Guide
Errata Sheet
Date: April 2014
The following changes proposed by the Forest Service National Rappel Operations Sub-Committee and
National Rappel Working Team have been incorporated into the National Rappel Operations Guide.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES:
Page
Page 1-1
Page 1-2
Page 3-2
Page 3-3
Page 3-8
Page 4-4
Page 4-4
Page 4-11
Page 4-12
Page 4-16
Page 4-16
Section
IV. Authority, first sentence:
Delete “National Rappel Steering Committee (NRSC)”
Replace with “National Aerial Delivered Firefighter Steering Committee (NADFSC)”
VI. Review and Revision, third sentence:
Delete “NRSC”
Replace with “NADFSC”
D. Pilot Proficiency change to pilot currency
D. Delete current paragraph and add: “To maintain currency, each pilot
must fly at least one error-free helicopter rappel sequence within the
preceding 21 days. If currency is lost, an error free mockup and
helicopter rappel sequence flight must be completed prior to any
operational rappel. If a total of 28 days pass, the spotter with the
concurrence of the Helicopter Inspector Pilot will ensure the pilot is
capable of deploying rappellers through the use of mockups and
currency rappel flights.”
G. Rappeller Lapsed Annual Certification – Recertification Requirements:
Delete last paragraph.
G. Required Minimum Rappeller Initial Attack Cargo Equipment List, 1. :
Delete “a single approved container (box)”, add “approved container(s) (box)”
G. Required Minimum Rappeller Initial Attack Cargo Equipment List, 2. :
Delete “a single approved container (box)”
Replace with “approved container(s) (box)”
D. Rope Use;
Delete statement #2. It is a repeat of #4 in C. Rope Care
E. Rope Inspection, 5. Inspection/Retirement Criteria:
This section broken into two criteria. Letters a-c into a 5. Inspection Criteria and letters dl into a 6. Retirement Criteria. Renumber #6 to #7.
B. Knife/Knife Sheaths, first paragraph:
Delete sentence “Spotter may elect to remove lanyards from their knives to allow greater
range of movement.”
B. Knife/Knife Sheaths, 3. Inspection, d. :
Add “The spotter and rappeller will independently verify the work performed and
document their inspection by signing off in the harness log.
Page 417/18
F. Rappel Anchors, third paragraph:
Delete entire paragraph
Replace with “The anchor shall be visually inspected and documented daily. Inspection
criteria includes:
• loose hardware
• unusual wear patterns
• corrosion or damage
The helicopter mechanic shall be notified if any of these conditions are discovered.
Page 4-20
D. Cargo Containers and Box Harnesses, 1. , a. :
Delete “(side opening, non-tabbed, box with” and “manufactured by Boise Cascade
Corp.)”
D. Cargo Containers and Box Harnesses, 1. , a. :
Delete current sentence
Add “Standard 5-gallon cubitainer (NFES 0048) box for delivery of potable water and
other small items.”
D. Cargo Containers and Box Harnesses, third paragraph, 1st sentence:
Delete word “should”,
Replace with the word “shall”.
NOTE box:
Delete “Brett Terning, ”
D. Rigging Rappel Anchor, b. :
Add letter “e” to the word rout.
3. Rappel Gloves, a. :
Delete “with no loose ends,”. Fix letter sequence
J. Preparing for Flight, 1. , c. :
Delete “Confirm action entered into GPS if applicable”
Replace with “Confirm coordinates are entered into GPS if applicable.”
Page 4-20
Page 4-20
Page 5-4
Page 5-4
Page 5-6
Page 5-10
Page 5-10
Page 5-11
Page 5-13
Page 5-14
Page 5-15
Page 5-15
V. In-Flight Procedures, A. Pre-Rappel Sequence, first paragraph:
Delete “Before deploying personnel, the spotter shall brief the rappellers on the site
selection and fire safety.”
Replace with “Fire behavior and safety shall also be considered prior to deploying
Rappellers when selecting the site.”
A. Pre-Rappel Sequence:
Combine Statement #5 and #6. Correct number sequence.
C. Rigging Ropes in Flight, sentence 4:
Delete “step II”
Replace with “step V.” (In flight procedures 5-10)
Add appropriate #
VII. Cargo Deployment Procedures, A. Cargo Deployment Procedures, sentence 3:
Delete “part I above.”
Replace with part IV, Section J above.”(5-10, J.)
D. Pre-Cargo Delivery Sequence:
Combine Statement #5 and #6. Correct number sequence.
C. 5. – Sequence out of order,
Replace with: “boards aircraft, connects tether, fastens seatbelt and plugs into avionics”.
Page A-1
Page A-25
Page B-3
Page B-9
Page B-10
Page C-10
Page C-10
thru C17
Page C-13,
Page C-15C-16
Page D-2
Page E-1
Page G-4
Page H-2
Page H-4
Page H-7
Page H-7
Page L-1
III. Training Aids:
Delete word “optional” from sentence.
Add Section H, number 1-9 starting on page 5-8 to Lesson Plan 8 as Section C. Fix letter
sequence.
Lesson 1, A. Policy, 1. :
Delete “Interagency Helicopter-Rappel Guide”
Replace with “National Rappel Operations Guide”.
B. Pilot and Spotter Communications, first sentence:
Delete “rappeller”
Replace with “pilot”.
2. Procedural Communications:
Add complete Pilot/ Spotter Communications Script from page 5-11 through 5-13
Statement in Row 4 should be in Bold “If there is a deficiency in one of the areas below,
it should be marked unsatisfactory (u) in the appropriate box and a comment made.”
First bullet statement in Comments Box should be in bold “If no boxes are marked
unsatisfactory, place an “x” in the no errors box.”
Row 3:
Delete “Interagency Helicopter Rappel Guide”
Replace with National Rappel Operations Guide”.
B. Rappel Operations Subcommittee, second paragraph, second sentence:
Delete “an or”
Replace with “and/or”.
2.:
Add “and/or MTDC Rappel Project Leader” after “(ROS) representatives”.
At bottom of form
Delete “This GAR model should be completed daily during morning operational Briefing”
D. Arrival on scene, 5.
Delete “from page 7” from sentence.
II. Deployment, A. Decision Point 2, 1., g. :
Delete word “than”
Replace with “that”.
III. Post Deployment and Pre-Engagement, A. Actions, 3. and a.:
Delete the word “radio”.
III. Post Deployment and Pre-Engagement, A. Actions, 4. :
Delete “Incident Pocket Response Guide”,
Replace with “Incident Response Pocket Guide”.
Acronyms:
Add NADFSC- National Aerial Delivered Firefighter Steering Committee.