A publication of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision PMS 505 FEBRUARY 2020 NFES 002544 NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision February 2020 PMS 505 NFES 002544 The NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. These standards: • Promote safe, cost-efficient, and effective aviation services in support of agency and interagency goals and objectives. • Support standardization of Aerial Supervision operations, training, certification, and currency. • Standardize Aerial Supervision mission procedures to enhance safety, effectiveness, efficiency, and professionalism. • Provide guidance on aerial firefighting strategy, tactics, and risk management. • Provide or reference other performance support materials for aerial supervisors. Supplemental documents for the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505, are found at https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/505. These documents are separate to enable the use and editing of forms and logs as appropriate. 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 – Aerial Supervision Administration, Roles and Responsibilities ...................................... 1 Program Administration ......................................................................................................................... 1 National Regional, State, County, Cities, CAL FIRE, and Military Agency Program Managers ......... 1 GACC Aerial Supervision Representatives (GACC REPS) .................................................................. 2 GACC Representatives ..................................................................................................................... 2 Scope of Duties ................................................................................................................................. 2 Aerial Supervision Working Groups ...................................................................................................... 2 Chair/Co-chair: .................................................................................................................................. 2 Working Group Members: ................................................................................................................ 2 Aerial Supervision Resources ................................................................................................................ 3 Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) ................................................................................................. 3 Aerial Supervision Module (ASM) ........................................................................................................ 4 Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) ............................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 2 – Training, Certification, and Currency ............................................................................... 6 ATGS ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 ATGS Position Duties ....................................................................................................................... 6 ATGS Initial Training, Certification, and Currency ......................................................................... 6 ATGS Classroom Training ................................................................................................................ 6 ATGS Agency Approved Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training ....................................... 6 ATGS Mission Training Requirements ............................................................................................. 7 ATGS Candidate Evaluations ........................................................................................................... 7 ATGS Training Opportunities ........................................................................................................... 7 ATGS Certification Process .............................................................................................................. 7 ATGS Supplemental Training ........................................................................................................... 8 ATGS Currency Requirements ......................................................................................................... 8 Air Tactical Group Supervisor Refresher Training (RT-378) ........................................................... 9 ATGS Mission Evaluation .............................................................................................................. 10 ATGS Performance Deficiencies .................................................................................................... 10 ATGS Coach ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Position Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 10 Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................... 11 ATGS Evaluator ................................................................................................................................... 11 Position Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 11 Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................... 11 ATGS Evaluator Workshop ................................................................................................................. 11 Target Group ................................................................................................................................... 12 Workshop Instructor Requirement .................................................................................................. 12 Course Prerequisite ......................................................................................................................... 12 Course Level ................................................................................................................................... 12 Course Content: ............................................................................................................................... 12 ATGS Final Evaluator.......................................................................................................................... 12 ATGS Final Evaluator Duties ......................................................................................................... 12 Position Requirements ..................................................................................................................... 12 Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................... 13 ATGS Final Evaluator Workshop ........................................................................................................ 13 NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision i Objective ......................................................................................................................................... 13 Target Group ................................................................................................................................... 13 Instructor Requirement .................................................................................................................... 13 Course Prerequisite ......................................................................................................................... 13 Course Level ................................................................................................................................... 13 Course Content ................................................................................................................................ 13 Leadplane Pilot (LPIL) ........................................................................................................................ 14 LPIL Qualifications ......................................................................................................................... 14 LPIL Training .................................................................................................................................. 14 Operational Flight Instruction ......................................................................................................... 14 Documentation of Training ............................................................................................................. 15 Flight Training Records .................................................................................................................