Forest
Service
File Code:
Route To:
Subject:
To:
Rocky
Mountain
Regional Office
740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401-4702
Voice: 303-275-5350
TDD: 303-275-5367
Date: June 18, 2012
5700
Kansas Army National Guard Aircraft and Pilot Approval for Emergency
Operations
Forest Supervisor, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests,
Forest Supervisor, Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin
National Grassland, Forest Supervisor, Rio Grande National Forest, Forest
Supervisor, Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National
Grassland, Forest Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron
and Comanche National Grasslands, Forest Supervisor, San Juan National Forest,
Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, has approved the Kansas Army National Guard
pilots and aircraft for use on Emergency Life Saving missions and/or Wildland Fire Fight
activities as specified in the Kansas Interagency Cooperative Fire Management Agreement for
the period of June 2012 through June 2013. This approval is in accordance with Forest Service
Manual 5712.34. The pilots have completed all training specified as “Designated and NonDesignated Military Missions.” The training has been conducted as a joint effort between the
Kansas Army National Guard and the U.S. Forest Service and included Basic Fire Behavior,
Reconnaissance Techniques, and Water Bucket Operations to ensure safe and effective
operations.
To promote safe and effective helicopter operations, the Interagency Helicopter Operations
Guide (IHOG) and appropriate National Guard Field Manuals and Guides will be complied with
during all wildland firefighting operations. ALL aircraft used in support of multi-agency
incidents will require radio communications sufficient to communicate with other aircraft on
VHF-AM frequencies and fire line personnel on VHF-FM frequencies.
For fire assignments on multi-agency incidents, a qualified Helicopter Manager or Helicopter
Coordinator may be assigned to assist the flight crew to work with the Incident Management
Team. The Helicopter Manager or Coordinator will be experienced in fire behavior and aerial
firefighting tactics. A comprehensive briefing will include mission objectives, aircraft safety
features and aircraft performance.
Pilot(s)-In-Command for the Kansas Army National Guard, performing wildland firefighting
missions will have 1500hrs in type, design, and series aircraft for the mission being flown.
The following names have been verified by the Unit Commander as having the flight time
requirements stipulated in this letter of approval:
It’s Cool to Be Safe
Printed on Recycled Paper
UH-60 Aircraft Commanders
CW4 Stephen Hood
Approved Aircraft
79-23300
Contact Jim Lawson Regional Helicopter Operations Specialist at 303-439-2351 or
jlawson01@fs.fed.us if you have questions or need assistance in the future.
Please keep a copy of this letter in the Kansas National Guard Aircraft listed above. This will
ensure continuous ability to cooperate on interagency firefighting missions.
This letter of approval will expire on June 30, 2013.
Thank you for your assistance during this interagency firefighting effort.
/s/ Sandra T. Lafarr
SANDRA T. LAFARR
Regional Aviation Officer
cc: Jeff Vanis
Scott Fisher
Jim A Fletcher
Debbie K Bozarth
John K Hamilton
Jim Lawson
Geoff Bell
Jay W Miller
Lary Floyd