Wildland fire management, search and rescue (SAR), and law enforcement (LE) operations all have a common characteristic: a demand for expediency. Operations are initiated quickly and often escalate rapidly in complexity. Response protocol procedures to wildfires, SAR and LE requires an early evaluation of the necessity for aviation resources. Government fleet and contracted commercial aircraft are used to meet these emergency responses.
Approximately 12,000 flight hours are flown annually in support of NPS missions.
There are numerous aviation tools, websites, and information sources.
Government Pages & Groups
- BLM Aviation Management
- California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE)
- DOI Office of Aviation Services
- Forest Service Aviation Management
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
- NPS Fire & Aviation Management
- Aviation Program
Incident Support & Coordination Centers
- Geographic Area Coordination Centers (GACCs)
- GeoMAC.gov - Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group - Wildland Fire Support mapping
- National Situation Report
- US Forest Service Fire Contracting
- NWS Aviation Weather Center - NOAA's National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center
Groups & Organizations
- AHS International - American Helicopter Society International—Vertical Flight Society
- AirTanker.org - The Associated Aerial Firefighters
- Friends of Yosemite Search & Rescue
- Rotor.com - Helicopter Association International
- International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR)
- Landings
- Mountain Rescue Association
Information & News
- Aviation Online Magazine—Aviation Legal Case Studies
- Aviation Safety Network
- AvWeb.com - Independent Aviation News Resource
- FAA - Accident & Incident Data
- Flight Safety Foundation
- National Transportation Safety Board
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Publications
Laws, Procedures & Manuals
- NPS Aircraft Use Laws 36 CFR 2.17
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual - Official Guide to Basic Flight Information and ATC Procedures
- FAA Aviation System Standards - Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs), aeronautical charts, etc.
- FAA Flight Regulatory Support Division
- Federal Aviation Regulations
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- GSA Federal Aircraft Regulations and Guidance Overview
- National Mobilization Guide
- Notices to Airmen (DOD/FAA NOTAMs)
- Notices to Airman (FAA Published NOTAMs)
- NWCG Publications
Online tools & databases
- AirNav.com - Airport Information Search
- Airport IQ 5010 - Airport Master Records and Reports
- ASIResource.com - Air Safety Investigation resources, maps, data, calculators
- FAA Airworthiness Directives database
- DOI Aircraft Source List
- Automated Flight Following
- Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)
- FAA Advisory Circulars
- FAA Pilot Web - Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs)
- Interagency SAFECOM System - The Aviation Safety Communique (SAFECOM) database fulfills the Aviation Mishap Information System (AMIS) requirements for DOI and USDA
- SkyVector.com - Aeronautical Charts
Training & Education
- Interagency Aviation Training
- NASA Beginner’s Guide to Aeronautics
- National Air and Space Museum
- The Wright Brothers Story - National Air & Space Museum—Online Exhibit: The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age
Last updated: January 5, 2017