Park Assistance
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 procedures to wildfire departs from SAR and LE protocol in that initial response during fire management operations involves an early evaluation for the necessity of aviation resources.
NPS uses aircraft from the fleet and private industry. Approximately 17,000 flight hours annually are recorded in support of NPS missions. Aviation personnel, pilots, and equipment are subject to frequent changes based on mission needs and management decisions.
Park Biologist preparing for a radio telemetry flight.
This map of temporary flight restrictions (TFR) is updated on a regular basis
There are numerous tools, websites and informational sources for the professional or unseasoned aviator.*
Government Pages & Groups
- BLM Aviation Management
- California Department of Forestry (CALFIRE)
- California Division of Aeronautics
- DOI Aviation Management
DOI Aviation Management National Business Center homepage
- Forest Service Aviation Management
- GSA Policy Page
U.S General Services Administration (GSA) homepage
- National Interagency Airspace Coordination
- National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)
- NPS Fire & Aviation
National Park Service Fire & Aviation Homepage
- Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (Aviation)
- Oregon Department of Aviation
Incident Support & Coordination Centers
- GACC—California North (ONCC)
Northern California Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) homepage
- GACC—California South (OSCC)
Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) homepage
- GACC—Eastern Great Basin (EGBCC)
Eastern Great Basin Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) homepage
- GeoMAC.gov
Geospatial Multi-Agency Coordination Group - Wildland Fire Support mapping
- National Interagency Support Cache Equipment Catalog
- National Interagency Support Caches
- National Situation Report
- NIFC Fire Contracting
Forest Service page.
- Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC)
Northwest Region Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) homepage
- NWS Aviation Weather Center
NOAA's National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center
- NWS HEMS Low Level Weather Information (Experimental)
- GACC —Western Great Basin
Western Great Basin Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) homepage
Groups & Organizations
- AHS International
American Helicopter Society International—Vertical Flight Society
- AirTanker.org
The Associated Aerial Firefighters
- FriendsOfYosar.org
Friends of Yosemite Search & Rescue
- Rotor.com
Helicopter Association International
- International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR)
- Landings
- Mountain Rescue Association
Information & News
- AirspaceCoordination.org
Interagency Airspace Coordination—TFRs, links
- AvStop.com (Legal Case Studies)
Aviation Online Magazine—Aviation Legal Case Studies
- Aviation-Safety.net
Aviation Safety Network
- AvWeb.com
Independent Aviation News Resource
- FAA Office of Accident Investigation
- FlightSafety.org
Flight Safety Foundation
- National Transportation Safety Board
- NTSB Publications
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Publications
Laws, Procedures & Manuals
- NPS Aircraft Use Laws 36 CFR 2.17 (.pdf)
NPS Aircraft Use Laws
- FAA Aeronautical Information Manual
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 Standards Regulatory Support Division
- Federal Aviation Regulations
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFRs)
- FM 1-514 Fundamentals of Rotor and Power Train Maintenance-Techniques and Procedures
- GSA Federal Aircraft Regulations and Guidance Overview
- National Mobilization Guide
- Notice to Airman (DOD/FAA NOTAMs)
- Notices to Airman (FAA Published NOTAMs)
- NWCG Product Management System
National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Product Management System
Online tools & databases
- Aero Planner.com
Online Flight Planning Service
- 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
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) database
- DOI Aircraft Source List
DOI National Business Center Aviation Management Aircraft Source List
- USDA Fire Systems Portal
USDA Account Login
- USDA Fire Systems Portal (Instructions)
USDA Account Login Instructions
- AFF.gov
Automated Flight Following
- Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)
Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)
- Current Time
Shows exact U.S. time in chosen time zone
- FAA Advisory Circulars
- FAA Pilot Web
- NTSB Aviation Accident Investigations
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Accident
- 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
- SEEandAVOID.org
Air National Guard Aviation Safety Division - Avoid midair collisions through proper flight planning and flight safety.
Training & Education
- Interagency Aviation Training
- Introduction to Aerodynamics
- Mountain Flying LLC
- National Air and Space Museum
- The Wright Brothers Story
National Air & Space Museum—Online Exhibit: The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age
- What is lift?
NASA.gov Aerospace lessons
Equipment & Gear
- Helitech.com
Helitech Industries Products (Grapples, etc.)
- SEI Industries
SEI Industries (Helicopter Buckets, etc.)
