A publication of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination PMS 520 May 2018 NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination MAY 2018 PMS 520 The NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination standardizes safe, consistent approaches to issues involving airspace and agency land management responsibilities. This is an educational process that will contribute to a clear understanding of flight and coordination within the complexities of the National Airspace System (NAS). Additionally, it promotes airspace coordination with respect to environmental issues. The objectives of the NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination are: Describe the components of the NAS, and define airspace coordination responsibilities among the various agencies and users of the NAS. Describe the processes and procedures that an agency should employ so that users may: o Coordinate, deconflict, and conduct flight missions safely within the NAS with respect to safety concerns and operational requirements. o Coordinate, deconflict, and respond to airspace issues relating to the environment. Provide educational material aimed at both agency and military aviation and airspace managers that will contribute to a clear understanding of the complex nature of the airspace in which we all share. Identify airspace coordination responsibilities for agency personnel. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local partners. NWCG operations standards are interagency by design; they are developed with the intent of universal adoption by the member agencies. However, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems. Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 Purpose ....................................................................................................................................................1 Background .............................................................................................................................................1 Participating Agencies ............................................................................................................................2 Chapter 2 – Agency Organizations, Roles and Responsibilities, and Airspace Committees ..............3 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................3 Federal Aviation Administration.............................................................................................................3 Department of Defense ...........................................................................................................................7 Land Management Agencies (USFS, DOI, and States) ..........................................................................9 Land Management Agencies Roles and Responsibilities .....................................................................11 Airspace Coordination Groups and Committees...................................................................................20 Chapter 3 – Airspace Basics....................................................................................................................23 The National Airspace System ..............................................................................................................23 Understanding VFR/IFR Flight Terms .................................................................................................23 Airspace Categories ..............................................................................................................................23 Overview of Airspace Designations of the United States .....................................................................24 Airspace Classifications ........................................................................................................................25 En Route Structures...............................................................................................................................32 Special Use Airspace (SUA) .................................................................................................................35 Military Operations Areas .....................................................................................................................39 Military Training Routes .......................................................................................................................43 Other Military Airspace Structures .......................................................................................................49 National Security Areas ........................................................................................................................53 Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) ..............................................................................................54 Special Conservation Areas ..................................................................................................................55 Federal Aviation Regulations of the 14 CFR ........................................................................................57 Chapter 4 – Airspace Hazards ................................................................................................................59 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................59 Airspace Hazards ..................................................................................................................................59 Bird and Animal Wildlife Strikes .........................................................................................................61 Patrol Aircraft........................................................................................................................................62 Military Chaff and Flares ......................................................................................................................62 Ground-Based Operations .....................................................................................................................62 Moored Balloon and Kites ....................................................................................................................63 Amateur Rockets ...................................................................................................................................63 Unmanned Free Balloons ......................................................................................................................64 Model Aircraft .......................................................................................................................................64 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) ........................................................................................................64 Lasers ..................................................................................................................................................64 Blasting .................................................................................................................................................65 Obstacles, Antenna Farms, and Power Lines ........................................................................................65 NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination i Chapter 5 – Airspace Tools and Skills ...................................................................................................67 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................67 Charts and Sectionals ............................................................................................................................67 Sectional Aeronautical Charts ...............................................................................................................68 Helicopter Route Charts ........................................................................................................................71 En Route Low Altitude Charts ..............................................................................................................71 En Route High Altitude Charts .............................................................................................................71 Digital Aeronautical Charts...................................................................................................................71 DoD Publications ..................................................................................................................................72 Other Publications .................................................................................................................................75 Technology ............................................................................................................................................76 Airspace Coordination Skills ................................................................................................................80 Compass Headings ................................................................................................................................81