MEETING MINUTES
PNWCG AVIATION WORKING TEAM
OCTOBER 21, 2003
O910-- Meeting called to order.
Members Present: Dave Doan Chairperson WADNR, Jon Rollens USFS, Jim Ziobro
ODF, Clay Hillin USFS, Bill Bulger USFS, Suzie Bates NPS, Steve Smith OAS, Greg
Haggerdorm USFWS. Ted Stevens, BIA.
Reviewed previous meeting notes.
Clay asked whether their needed to be more discussion on Incident response plan. Bill
Bulger said he would get out info on a couple plans out there. ( ed note Bill has done
that). It wasn’t an accident plan it was an incident response plan.
1. Agreed to an action item. Bill Bulger will head group to look into issues
surrounding response plan. Jim Ziobro and Suzie Bates will be part of team.
Agreed to research what role if any the aviation working team should have
(OEM or NWCG or who) Julie Stewart is working on a similar national
program.
Discussion of ATGS/ASM. Some confusion on what the status of ATGS and ASM
programs. Need to make contact with Steve Misikowski to find out what is going with the
two programs. Need to get info and program straightened out and then get info into mobe
guide and red book. This needs to be straightened out before next fire season.
Jim Ziobro led discussion of Master Agreement. The agreement is still being hashed out.
Jim had concerns about items 13 and 14. Looked at older agreement and it was agreed
that no-one really knew what status of agreement is.
2. Agreed to action item. Clay will find latest copy of agreement and find out
where it is in process. Barb Kennedy apparently is the authority and Clay will
talk with her. Suzie Bates will modify thru her agency representative. It was
also agreed that operating plan needed to be updated as well.
Jim Z reported that other than some minor glitches their Alaska air tanker program
worked quite well. They plan to do it again.
USFS reports that they plan to have a helitanker program for region 6 next year.
Seems to be an issue of the use of air to air between regions. Apparently region 5 does
not use air to air. This can be a problem and it is apparent that this issue should become
an action item for next meeting to resolve before fire season.
Clay indicated that he has new pilot guides available for anyone that wants them.
Suzie Bates says she is a representative to the training working team. This could be a real
benefit to our group. Need to tap this opportunity as Suzie gets situated.
Dave Doan asked whether something couldn’t be done about the use of airguard for chat
channel. Needs to be put in contracts of contract crews. May need to have this looked into
by the steering committee to make sure this gets done before next year.
Annual report of working team is due to steering committee in couple months. Dave
Doan will forward info to Jon Rollens who will report to them on our accomplishments
for year. The meeting is usually held at Ft Vancouver.
Helicopter manager workshop will be April 19,2004 in Eugene. Only one this year! Park
service will probably sponsor one. More info to come out.
Rotation of officers was messed up. Clay sent out rotation order and indicated FWS was
actually up next but I believe we are right that Jon Rollens is next since I took over for
BIA so we moved up a year. Based on that rotation FS is next for 2004. FWS is vice
chair.
NEXT MEETING IS JAN 20th 2004 (already) Good Luck Jon..
Dave D asked about splash fuel or hot fuel and if it isn’t in the contract it isn’t supposed
to be done!! Teams and AOBD need to understand this. This is not supposed to be an
incident option. Matrix is right.
Rash of e-mails in middle of summer over who does load calcs was really a non- issue.
Pilots fill them out!! Managers only check them.
I wish to thank everyone for their input during the past year. It is a pleasure to work with
people sincerely dedicated to trying to make a difference and to bring so much agency
diversity to a common goal. I truly believe we make a difference. Keep up the good
work!