United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Southwestern Region
Regional Office
333 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
FAX (505) 842-3800
V/TTY (505) 842-3292
File Code:
Date:
5700
June 10, 2012
Major Daniel Purcell
New Mexico National Guard
7001 Huey Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Dear Major Purcell,
The USDA Forest Service, Southwest Region, has approved the following pilots and aircraft for use in transportation of Forest Service personnel, cargo, and medevac missions. Forest Service
Helicopter Inspector Pilot, John Bussell has assisted in training the following pilots in Special-
Use Water Bucket Operations. Your pilots are now approved for both: Designated and Non-
Designated missions. These approvals are in accordance with Forest Service Manual 5700 and the Military Use Handbook.
APPROVED AIRCRAFT – UH-60
85-24402 80-23427 79-23283 83-23684
88-26061 84-23949 80-23449 79-23296
85-24427 85-24464 85-24684
APPROVED UH-60 PILOTS (1500 HOURS OR EQUIVALENT)
CW5 David Burrell 3,100 Hrs PIC
LTC John Fishburn
CW3 Shawn Cobb
(IP) 2,500 Hrs PIC
2,000 Hrs PIC
MAJ Daniel Purcell (IP) 1,600 Hrs PIC
For fire assignments used in support of Forest Service incidents, an Incident Command System qualified Helicopter Manager will be assigned to the flight crew to assist in coordination and communication with the Incident Command Team. The Helicopter Manager will be experienced in fire operations and will conduct a comprehensive briefing prior to commencing work. The briefing will cover such areas as mission objectives, other aircraft on the incident, assigned frequencies, and safety priorities.
Caring for the Land and Serving People
Printed on Recycled Paper

Major Purcell 2
Aligned with the Forest Service’s Safety Management Systems and policy documents, pilots must participate in accident prevention through reporting in the SAFECOM system hazards, conditions, maintenance deficiencies, acts and circumstances, which have the potential to cause an aviation-related mishap. Reports should be submitted on-line at www.safecom.gov
. The
SAFECOM system is not intended to be used punitively, rather as a tool to identify and correct safety related concerns. A positive reporting culture has been shown to enhance awareness and increase safety.
This letter of approval expires on March 13, 2013. If you have questions or need further information, you may contact Kristine Damsgaard, Regional Aviation Officer, at
(505) 842-3359, or John Bussell, Regional Helicopter Inspector Pilot, at (505) 842-3358. Please keep a copy of this letter in all aircraft used on National Forest System lands. We appreciate your valuable assistance in interagency firefighting efforts.
Sincerely,
/s/ Kristine Damsgaard
KRISTINE DAMSGAARD
Asst Director, Aviation Officer cc: Bob Leaverton
Robert R Madill
Bob Skeen
Kenan R Jaycox
Jami Anzalone
John W Bussell
John Selkirk
Dave Underwood
Donald Griego
Kristine Damsgaard