PMS 530-1

The NWCG Aviation Risk Management Workbook was developed as an inventory of hazards and identified mitigations associated with those hazards.

Facilities

Helicopter Operations Risk Assessments

Aircraft | Facilities | Operations | Personnel Contractors | Personnel Government | Technology

SYSTEM: Helicopter Operations, Facilities (permanent and temporary)

Sub-System	Hazards	Pre-Mitigation			Mitigation	Post-Mitigation
Sub-System	Hazards	Probability	Severity	Risk Level	Mitigation	Probability	Severity	Risk Level
Communication	Lack of adequate base station VHF and FM radios-Not able to adequately communicate to helicopters out working missions/projects with handheld radios	Possible	Critical	High	Provide all Ex Use crews with mounted FM and AM radios on chase trucks (NOT just handhelds). Utilize Ex Use crews more often on incidents because they have the support equipment. Helibase Commo trailers should be on a National Contract instead of Geographic Area in order to lower cost.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
Communication	Lack of adequate computers-not able to access necessary flight planning, ABS, and weather documents prior to missions	Almost Certain	Critical	Extremely High	Have Cache computers available for Incident/Unit personnel to check out that are Intranet accessible. These computers should be able to access Internet as well for weather updates, TFR information, filing of flight plans, completing electronic payment forms, etc. Ensure all Ex Use bases have Internet as well as Intranet access in order to access critical WX, TFR and Flight Planning information.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
Environment	Haz Mat concerns/spills-Lack of adequate spill prevention/mitigation equipment on site and the knowledge to utilize it	Almost Certain	Moderate	High	Provide permanent as well as temporary helibases with approved Haz Mat storage facilities/equipment. Solicit for National Contracts to provide portable hazmat storage facilities for Incidents.	Unlikely	Moderate	Medium
Inspection / Evaluation	Lack of Accountability/Follow Up on Annual/Triennial Helibase Reviews	Likely	Moderate	High	Hold Management accountable to conduct follow up and remedy critical issues found in reviews and adhere to interagency and OSHA standards.	Unlikely	Negligible	Low
Utilization	Span of Control/Collateral Duties. Personnel are often tasked with multiple duties especially during the emergence of an incident. Focused on Task at hand and not able to provide adequate oversight	Likely	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Ensure existing staffing, supervision and management policies and procedures are met. Place aviation resource needs at higher priority level in the resource ordering process. Need to ensure situation is recognized and ensure additional resources/supervision is ordered. Limit collateral duties in key supervisory positions. If unable to fill key positions operations will be shut down or limit use of aircraft until span of control issues are resolved.	Unlikely	Catastrophic	High
Policy	Operational and mission goals during all-hazard assignments may be unstated or unclear and may conflict with interagency standards and policy	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Adequate in-brief and dissemination of Commander's intent. Clarification of scope of authority and policy in place. Adhere to interagency policy, procedures and guidelines (e.g., NSHO). If unable to perform duties utilizing interagency policy, perform a separate risk assessment with appropriate approval sign off. Ensure personnel are working within the scope of their employment. Implementation of Aviation Doctrine may further mitigate conflicts between direction and policy.	Possible	Critical	High
Training	Unable to bring seasonals on early enough to provide all the required training prior to sending on incidents	Almost Certain	Critical	Extremely High	Ensure line officers are committed to providing adequate time and funding to develop personnel as necessary.	Possible	Critical	High
Training	Lack of CRM	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Provide adequate time for training and provide time for Modules to develop CRM prior to field season. Provide training in CRM for Modules annually. Brief/debrief, maintain positive attitude.	Possible	Critical	High
Human Factors	Fatigue/burnout due to incident duration as well as year-round All Risk incident support	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Adhere to work/rest guidelines. Monitor fatigue levels of crews. Rotate personnel and helicopter programs to manage fatigue and burnout. Manage number and duration of assignments. Ensure adequate time off and provide quality R and R while on assignments.	Possible	Critical	High
	Acceptance of high-risk missions as normal	Likely	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Review risk assessment and existing policy/procedures, brief/debrief with all personnel and utilize risk management tools to include Go-No-Go Checklists. Educate personnel on the hazards of normalization of risk and complacency. Mission decision made at appropriate level. Must have better communication and collaboration between Operations and Aviation.	Possible	Critical	High
	High workload for Maintenance Inspectors may compromise their ability to perform thorough inspections. Standard inspections criteria not followed consistently among agencies or regions	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Increase amount of personnel available to perform the duties of Maintenance Inspector in proportion with span of control. Ensure inspection standards are developed and maintained by agencies.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
	Conflicting personalities resulting in hazardous attitudes	Possible	Critical	Extremely High	If individuals cannot professionally resolve differences, managers and supervisors must intervene immediately. Brief/debrief, employ CRM, provide honest and objective feedback, maintain positive attitude. Maintain professionalism and mission focus at all times.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium

Download the Word version (docx) of this information and the Risk Assessment Matrix (pdf) to use with the Risk Assessment Worksheet (docx).

Modified / Reviewed: April 29, 2024

NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606.

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations.

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505