PNWCG Aviation Working Team (AWT)
Nov. 2, 2010 Meeting Notes
Attendees:
Dennis Carlson-WA DNR
Neale Laugle-ODF
Doug Grafe-ODF
Jon Rollens-USFS R6 RAO
Gary Sterling-USFS R6 RASM
Kurt Kleiner-BLM OR/WA Aviation Manager
Conference Call Attendees:
Gary Kunz-DOI-AMD-West Region
Brett Fay-USFWS
Scott Dewitz-R6 Redmond Air Center
Kurt Kleiner reviewed the Minutes from previous meeting, April 1, 2010. There were no
incomplete task orders from PNWCG and no outstanding issues to discuss/resolve.
Gary Kunz gave an update on SMS from the AMD perspective. There are no recent
developments and no immediate effort underway for full implementation. More to come.
Gary Sterling defined SMS for the group, summarized its origin and history, and
described the direction that federal land management agencies intend to go with
implementing SMS.
Agency reports for FWS and AMD were given by Brett Faye and Gary Kunz who could
not remain on the call for very long. Other agency reports to follow later in the meeting.
FWS: Brett mentioned the success of having a FWS SEAT in Lakeview that operated
from the BLM base with a BLM SEMG. Brett described the success of using the Aero
Commander 47TT to capture real-time infrared images and transmit them via Sat-phone
downloads to ground personnel on the Oak Flat Fire. Also utilized the Cobra helicopter
that comes with a GIS support trailer and real-time video downlink capability.
AMD: No additional updates to add.
PNWCG Tasking: AWT is asked to provide data for Trends in Aviation Incidents in the
PNW over the past ten years. Gary Sterling will gather data and provide to Ken Snell to
take to PNWCG. Jennifer Wees at AMD is providing the data for all DOI agencies.
Dennis and Doug/neale should send data to Gary from any non-SAFECOM reporting
systems used by State agencies.
The AWT does not know the true intent of PNWCG’s request (if any) beyond statistical
trend analysis and accident prevention/intervention purposes. Survey will identify where
we have gaps in our reporting systems.
UAO Workshop update: Kurt discussed the upcoming Feb. 1-2 meeting in Hood
River for the small group of UAOs that complete annual projects including the frequency
guide, hazard map, PASP standards, etc. The dates for the large UAO group
meeting/workshop normally held in April have not been announced or finalized. A
questionnaire regarding 300-level IAT training that is needed by all the units in the PNW
was met with very little response. It is hoped that the UAO’s step up and take ownership
in coordinating their UAO workshop in 2011.
NIAC update: Since Jim Ziobro retired, the AWT does not have an inside source for
what is currently going on in NIAC. We have not received any information lately.
Air to Ground Frequency update: Scott Dewitz gave an update on the phone on the
need for retaining the same number of frequencies and the ability to share frequencies
between zones that we finally achieved in 2009 and 2010. There is no date
commitment for the issuance of DOI frequencies and they are needed by Feb. so the
Techs can program radios and so the frequency guide can be sent to the printer shop
for duplication. We hope to retain the Alpha-numeric identification system that we
recently implemented. It seems to work well for pilots, air crews, and field users. WADNR frequencies are published but lists have not always been readily available for other
agencies. In the past the DNR V-Tac frequency has been available to use as an A-G.
There is a frequency meeting in Boise Dec. 6-8 that Scott Dewitz and Greg Loper will
attend to ensure the needs of the PNW are heard and addressed.
Aviation Dispatch Working Group: Kurt gave a briefing on this newly formed group
which will function as an Ad-hoc Task Group under the Center Manager’s Advisory
Council (PNWCG). The Group has a lot of motivation to help the Centers reduce the
frequency of errors made by Aircraft Dispatchers. Center Managers were briefed last
week at their meeting and they expressed support for the efforts underway. Immediate
goals are to standardize some of the processes and forms (i.e. the Aircraft Dispatch
form that is provided to pilots), and provide training, mentoring, and guidance on how to
improve efficiency and performance among those tasked with dispatching aircraft. Few
Centers have a dedicated aircraft dispatcher. In most Centers the IA dispatcher
mobilizes aircraft along with engines, supplies, etc. There is a need for additional
specialized knowledge and skill that IA dispatchers are not receiving. (Not all IADPs
complete the 23 IAT modules or have the opportunity to attend D-312 training.) The
one-day training that will be developed by the Working group and presented at each
Center is designed to fill in some of these gaps in knowledge in hopes of improving this
situation. Larger-scale efforts are needed in subsequent years that include establishing
dedicated aircraft positions (i.e. PDs at the GS-9 level) that might provide another
career path to Center Manager positions.
Representatives from State agencies (Albert Kassell, Doug Grafe, and Neale Laugle)
will be included on emails and invited to join the Working Group’s conference calls.
Aviation Safety & Risk Management: Gary Sterling gave a briefing on the GAR
model of performing rapid risk assessment that is in use by the rappel community and is
widely used in NPS operations.
Canadian border aviation operations: Dennis and Jon a request by Jeff Berry (British
Columbia) to have a spring meeting with pilots, aviation managers, ATGS’, etc. to
review border procedures. Dennis will contact the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Jeff to set
up the meeting during the week of the traditional annual “hands across the border”
meeting.
AWT website: Dennis has contacted Jim Edmonds at the FS Regional Office about
updating the AWT portion of the website. Kurt will follow-up with Jim to be sure he has
the current material including these meeting notes and the current charter that Dennis
will acquire from Pat Kelly.
IHOPS update: Buttermilk pancakes are on the grill at IHOP. Dennis updated the
group on the proposal to increase the maximum number of helicopters that an HEB2
can manage from 3 to 5. AWT feels that numbers do not always equate to complexity,
and that they alone should not always drive the decision to utilize an HEB1. Assessing
incident complexity is not always easy to quantify or find time to do in the heat of battle
and the decision is often experience and intuition-based.
Agency updates:
USFS:
Jon gave updates on the Strategic Risk Assessments being conducted for different
aspects of the FS Aviation Program. Rappel assessment was completed a year ago
and the Airtanker and Aerial Supervision programs will be assessed next.
The Quality Assurance program for airworthiness and aircraft maintenance is underway
with several of the 11 QA (maintenance inspector) positions now filled.
There is likely to be a night operations aviation program developed and implemented in
the coming year(s). Standby for further developments.
A waiver was developed for the 100 hrs./year flight currency requirement since many
otherwise-very-proficient pilots are not able to maintain that hours-requirement on slow
fire years. The new updated 5700 policy manual will hopefully be out by Spring and will
contain some amended language that addresses this requirement. Proficiencycompliance/assurance can be viewed from a performance-based perspective.
PNW will probably have 6 rappel bases again in 2011 and we hope to have 8 Type 2
ships in the Region.
There are only 18 or 19 large airtankers still on national contracts and no long term
strategy for replacing the aging fleet.
WA-DNR:
1 SAFECOM was filed in 2010 when a red-tailed hawk hit and blew out a helicopter
windshield.
This was the third year of the same consistent group of agency pilots.
The King Air 200 was sold and a Partenavia 68 was equipped and utilized as a Type 1
air Attack platform.
A Cessna 337 was assigned to Deer Park, and staffed with a USFS detailer ATGS. It
was paired up with the BIA Fire Boss (SEAT) for effective IA.
A joint legislative audit examined the DNR Aviation program. Numbers were provided
that showed the cost of contracting the same numbers and types of aircraft would be
more than double the current expenditures and clearly not cost-effective. Conclusive
results from the audit have not yet been released.
BLM: 770 hours were flown by BLM contract aircraft in Oregon in 2010. The three
Variable-Term SEATS flew over 120 of those hours, and the Ontario Air attack flew 260
hours. The three helicopters flew the remaining total of 390 hours with the majority
flown by the Lakeview contract that was assigned to Alaska for about 5 weeks in JuneJuly.
BLM had 6 SAFECOMs filed. Two were Incidents-With-Potential (IWPs). Those were
the helicopter that released the bucket and long line just before the line was going to
strike powerlines, and the other was a fuel starvation incident with an Air Attack C-337
that landed at Madras uneventfully on one remaining operational engine.
Biggest challenge currently faced by BLM is the transition to the electronic vendor
payment system called the Aviation Management System (AMS).
ODF:
About 90 hours were flown by the Medford helicopter this year (very slow year) and 3040 flown by the airtankers (mostly on the Oak Flat and Rooster fires). Only two
SAFECOMs filed this year (communications issues).
Neale’s detail is nearing its end. Aviation Manager will be advertised in another month
and filled permanently which will provide oversight for three divisions; State Forests,
Private Forests, and Fire (18 total aircraft). Reorganization will result in better teamwork
between divisions in the organization.
Future of Medford Airtanker Base management is under discussion with USFS.
ODF uses an Alaska ASM for a Leadplane late in the season if and when it becomes
available. We may look at a partnership with the USFS within Region for increasing
reliability and efficiency. Discussions to follow this winter.
NEXT AWT MEETING IS ON JAN. 11, 2011 at the USFS - Gifford Pinchot NF
Supervisors Office in Vancouver, WA at 0900.
Tentative Spring meeting date is March 8 (subject to change).