Pilot’s Handbook Guide for the Safe Operations of Aircraft 2019 saskatchewan.ca/fire Introduction This handbook is dedicated to the flight crews and Ministry of Environment employees over the years that have endeavoured to ensure the safe operation of aircraft in service to the government and people of Saskatchewan. Pilot Handbook Page 2 Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 PREAMBLE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 OPERATIONS & SAFETY ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 PILOT RESPONSIBILIES ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 AIRCRAFT ON SPEC FOR WILDFIRE .................................................................................................................................................. 7 ALERT SYSTEM – ALERT STATUS ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 FLIGHT WATCH & FLIGHT FOLLOWING ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Communication Protocol .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Flight Following ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 DISPATCH SYSTEM ...................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Fire Centre Dispatch ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Forest Protection Base Dispatch ....................................................................................................................................... 10 LOADED PATROLS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Passenger & Load Manifests ............................................................................................................................................ 11 AIR TRAFFIC COORDINATION & FIRE AIRSPACE (NOTAMS) .............................................................................................................. 11 Fire Airspace and NOTAMS (Notice to Airmen) ................................................................................................................ 12 Requesting a NOTAM ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 COORDINATION OF AERIAL OPERATIONS ON FIRES ............................................................................................................................ 15 Initial Attack ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Incident Command Team (ICT) and Sustained Action Fires .............................................................................................. 17 Fire Airspace Coordination ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Inbound to Fire Airspace................................................................................................................................................... 17 Upon Radio Contact ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Inside Fire Airspace with No Airtankers ............................................................................................................................ 19 Air Corridors ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 RADIO/NAVIGATION PROCEDURES ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Air Attack Groups (Link Frequency) .................................................................................................................................. 20 Programming Air Attack Channels ................................................................................................................................... 20 Global Positioning Systems .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Transponders .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 PILOT FLIGHT HOURS & DUTY TIMES ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Flight Hours ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23 ACCOMMODATION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 REFUELING ............................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Refueling Rules ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Aviation Fuel Testing ........................................................................................................................................................ 25 SPECIALTY OPERATIONS............................................................................................................................................................... 26 Helicopter Hover Emplane/Deplane ................................................................................................................................. 26 Aerial Ignition ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 External Loads .................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Short Line Slinging ............................................................................................................................................................ 28 Long Line Slinging ............................................................................................................................................................. 28 Water Bucketing ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 Low Level Survey .............................................................................................................................................................. 29 Night Surveillance ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 Pilot Handbook Page 3 Crew Changes ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 SOUTHEND SETTLEMENT – LANDING & TAKEOFF RESTRICTIONS .......................................................................................................... 30 PRINCE ALBERT NATIONAL PARK ................................................................................................................................................... 31 RESTRICTED & ALERT AIRSPACE .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Primrose Air Weapons Range ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Operation Maple Flag ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Fire Suppression Activities Outside the Primrose Air Weapons Range ............................................................................. 34 General Safety Concerns 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