EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/20/2013
DURATION: This amendment iseffective until superseded or removed. / 5700_zero_code
Page 1 of 20
FSM 5700 - aviation management
Chapter - zero code
/ Forest Service Manual
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FSM 5700 - AVIATION MANAGEMENT
chapteR - ZERO CODE
Amendment No.: 5700-2013-1
Effective Date: November 20, 2013
Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: VICTORIA C. CHRISTIANSENAssociate Deputy Chief, S&PF / Date Approved: 11/18/2013
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last amendment to this title was
5700-2009-4 to FSM 5700_contents.
Superseded Document(s) by Issuance Number and Effective Date / 5700_zero_code
(Amendment 5700-2009-1, 04/10/2009) / 15 Pages
Digest:
Zero Code-Revises chapter in its entirety.
Table of Contents
5701 - AUTHORITY
5702 - OBJECTIVES
5703 - POLICY
5703.1 - Pilot and Aircraft Approval
5703.2 - Contract Aviation Services Policy
5703.3 - All Flight Operations Policy
5703.31 - Flight Operations - Public Aircraft Policy
5703.32 - Flight Operations - Civil Aircraft Policy
5703.4 - Helicopter Operations Policy
5703.5 - Fixed-Wing Operations Policy
5703.6 - Safety Management System Policy
5703.7 - Manuals, Handbooks, and Guides
5704 - RESPONSIBILITY
5704.1 - Washington Office, Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry
5704.2 - Washington Office, Director, Fire and Aviation Management
5704.21 - Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation
5704.22 - Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Operations and Quality Assurance
5704.23 - Washington Office, Branch Chief, Airworthiness and Quality Assurance
5704.24 - Washington Office, Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization and Quality Assurance
5704.25 - Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Business Operations
5704.26 - Washington Office, Aviation Strategic Planner
5704.27 - Washington Office, Assistant Director, Risk Management
5704.28 - Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Safety Management Systems
5704.3 - Regional Foresters
5704.31 - Regional/ Area Aviation Officers
5704.32 - Regional/Area Aviation Safety Managers
5704.4 - Station Directors
5704.5 - Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Director
5704.51 - Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Aviation Officer
5704.52 - Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Aviation Safety Manager
5704.6 - Forest Supervisors
5704.61 - Forest Aviation Officers
5704.7 - Pilots
5704.8 - Aviation Maintenance Personnel
5704.9 - Forest Service Employees
5705 - DEFINITIONS
5706 - REFERENCES
5709 - HANDBOOKS
5709.16 - Flight Operations Handbook
Aviation management includes all activities associated with providing aircraft support services for natural resource protection and management functions of the Forest Service. Support services incorporate program leadership, supervision, cooperation, aviation expertise, training, and safety program management for agency fleet, contract,and cooperator aircraft operations.
5701 - AUTHORITY
1. The Air Commerce Act of 1926, as amended (49 U.S.C. 171-184), provides the authority for:
a. Forest Service aviation management functions and safety in the operation of public aircraft used exclusively by the Government; and
b. The rulemaking, enforcement, and investigative responsibilities governing civil aircraft operations.
2. The Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended; the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.); and the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) codified in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (FSM 5703-5703.32) provide authorization for functions such as aircraft and pilot approvals, operational standards, evaluations, and accident prevention and investigation
5702 - OBJECTIVES
Manage aviation functions and activities to achieve the following results:
1. Safe, cost-effective aviation services in support of the Forest Service mission, goals, and objectives.
2. Coordination of aviation activities and operations with those of other agencies and cooperators to meet mutually agreed upon standardized goals and objectives and to achieve program efficiencies.
5703 - POLICY
The policy of the Forest Service requires aviation managers to follow the direction in aviation manuals and handbooks and in the aviation guides listed in this chapter, section 5706.
5703.1 - Pilot and Aircraft Approval
All government employed and contracted pilots and agency-owned and -contracted aircraft must meet Forest Service standards listed in FSM 5710, specific aircraft contracts and must have specific approvals for Forest Service missions. Approval of pilots and aircraft from other agencies, military services, or cooperators are referenced in FSM 5712 and FSM 5713 respectively.
5703.2 - Contract Aviation Services Policy
For definition of terms see FSM 5705. Obtain and utilize contract aviation services only from contractors certified under 14 CFR for the type of operation to be conducted. If passengers are to be carried, the contractor shall be certified under requirements found in 14 CFR part 135.
The Assistant Director, Aviationshall be the Program/Project Manager for all nationally managed and administered aviation contract Source Selection Plans and Acquisition Strategy’s.
5703.3 - All Flight Operations Policy
All Forest Service flight operations, whether contract or in-service, must comply with:
1. The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) applicable to the missions as defined in FAR 1.1 as "Public Aircraft" or "Civil Aircraft"; and
2. The direction in this manual; FSH 5709.16; the Interagency Smokejumper Operations Guide; the Interagency Smokejumper Pilots Operations Guide; and the other interagency operations guides referenced in FSM 5706.
5703.31 - Flight Operations - Public Aircraft Policy
Forest Service flight operations as defined in Public Law 103-411 (FAR 1.1) must comply with the FARs applicable to public aircraft (FSM 5701), except for flight operations conducted under the grants of exemption from specific FARs (FSM 5714) and for other flight operations exceptions as authorized in this manual and in FSH 5709.16.
5703.32 - Flight Operations - Civil Aircraft Policy
Conduct all Forest Service flight operations defined in FAR 1.1 as "Civil Aircraft" operations unrelated to Public Law 103-411, such as passenger carrying point-to-point, in accordance with the following FARs:
1. FAR 39 - Airworthiness Directives (14 CFR part 39).
2. FAR 43 - Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration
(14 CFR part 43).
3. FAR 61 - Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors (14 CFR part 61).
4. FAR 65 - Certification: Airmen other than Flight Crewmembers (14 CFR part 65).
5. FAR 91 - General Operating and Flight Rules for "mission" activities
(14 CFR part 91).
6. FAR 119 -Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators (14 CFR part 119).
7. FAR 121, 125, and 135 of Subpart B, Operating Requirements (14 CFR parts 121, 125, and 135).
8. FAR 133 - Rotorcraft External-Load Operations (14 CFR part 133).
9. FAR 137 - Agricultural Aircraft Operations (14 CFR part 137).
5703.4 - Helicopter Operations Policy
Forest Service helicopter operations must comply with the following interagency guides (ordering information is in FSM 5706):
1. Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG),
2. Interagency Aerial Ignition Guide,
3. Interagency Helicopter Rappel Guide,
4. Forest Service National Night Air Operations Plan.
5. Forest Service National Rappel Operations Guide (NROG).
6. National Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) Short-Haul and Hoist (S-H/H) Guide, and
7. Interagency Helicopter Pilot Practical Test Standards.
All helicopter related Incident Command System (ICS) position qualifications are governed by FSH 5709.16, FSH 5109.17, the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Qualifications Guide and the Interagency Aviation Training Guide.
5703.5 - Fixed-Wing Operations Policy
Forest Service fixed-wing operations must comply with the following interagency guides (ordering information is in FSM 5706):
1. Interagency Aerial Supervision Guide (IASG),
2. Interagency Airplane Pilot Practical Test Standards,
3. Interagency Single Engine Airtanker Guide (ISOG), and
4. Interagency Smokejumper Pilots Operations Guide (ISPOG).
All fixed-wing related Incident Command System (ICS) position qualifications are governed by FSH 5709.16, FSH 5109.17, the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Qualifications Guide and the Interagency Aviation Training Guide.
5703.6 - Safety Management System Policy
Forest Service aviation planning and operations must utilize the Safety Management System (SMS) approach to controlling risk. SMS is founded in the International Civil Aviation Organization System Management Manual Doc 9859. Forest Service aviation SMS is defined in the Forest Service Aviation Safety Management System Guide. The four components of SMSpolicy, risk management, assurance, and promotion are essential pieces of a comprehensive safety-oriented management system.
A Safety Management Systemmust comprehensively examine the functions of the Forest Service aviation operations to identify hazards and to analyze associated risks. The specific functional components include:
1. Safety management,
2. Organization and personnel,
3. Training and proficiency,
4. Flight operations,
5. International operations (when applicable),
6. Aircraft equipment requirements,
7. Aircraft maintenance,
8. Operations policies and procedures,
9. Emergency accident/incident response,
10. Environmental management,
11. Occupational health and safety, and
12. Security.
5703.7 - Manuals, Handbooks, and Guides
Aviation operations require regulations, manuals, guides, and checklists to execute and coordinate operations in a safe and effective manner. Where the terms “shall” and “must” are used in manuals, handbooks, or guides, compliance with those items is mandatory and not discretionary (FSM 1110.8 – Exhibit 01 Degree of Compliance or Restriction in Directives). These principles should guide employees; they are authoritative, but require employees to apply their judgment in order to solve problems.
5704 - RESPONSIBILITY
5704.1 -Washington Office, Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry
The Washington Office, Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry is responsible to the Chief. The Washington Office, Deputy Chief shall:
1. Provide direction, leader’s intent, and administration of Agency-wide aviation management programs, policies, and procedures.
2. Advise the Chief of currentaviation-related issues.
3. Formulate, coordinate, and implement broad policies for administration of the Agency aviation program.
4. Approve or disapprove aviation policies, aviation regulations, and deviations from policy in non-emergency situations proposed by the Director, Fire and Aviation Management.
5. Approve project aviation safety plans for national-sponsored fire, non-fire, testing, and equipment projects.
6. Approve or disapprove any newaviation programs.
7. Approve or disapprove any Forest Service aviation guides or interagency aviation guides and all addendums/changes to these plans.
8. Approve the acquisition of any agency-owned aircraft.
Fire and aviation management responsibilities may be delegated to the Director, Fire and Aviation Management.
5704.2 - Washington Office, Director, Fire and Aviation Management
The Washington Office, Director, Fire and Aviation Management is responsible to the Washington Office,Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry. The Washington Office,Director, Fire and Aviation Management shall:
1. Provide oversight to a national aviation program through leader’s intent and direction.
2. Provide liaison for aviation planning and program coordination with other Federal and State government agencies and non-government organizations, when required.
3. Ensure appropriate financial management and support for Agency aviation program and resources.
4. Approve all national safety and aviation management plans and addendums/ changes to these plans.
5. Approve or disapprove equipment and procedures prior to operational testing and operational use.
6. Initiate aviation activity reviews and follow-up (FSM 1410 and FSM 5719).
Responsibilities may be delegated to the Washington Office, Fire and Aviation Management Deputy Directors and/or the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation.
For further direction, see FSM 5719.04a and 5720.43.
5704.21 - Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation
The Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation, is responsible to the Washington Office, Director of Fire and Aviation Management. The Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation shall:
1. Serve as the Forest Service national aviation Program Manager.
2. Approve all national aviation operations plans and addendums/ changes to these plans.
3. Provide liaison for aviation planning and program coordination with other government entities, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, Department of the Interior, the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy, National Interagency Aviation Committee, and State Foresters.
4. Provide liaison with regional aviation programs through the Regional/ Area Aviation Officers.
5. Maintain a current National Aviation Safety and Management Plan.
6. Coordinate with the Washington Office Acquisition Management on all aircraft and aviation services contracts and procurement, including provide service-wide technical requirements and standards for aircraft services.
Responsibilities may be delegated to the Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Operations and Quality Assurance; Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Business Operations; Washington Office, Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization;(FSM 5704.22) and theWashington Office, Branch Chief, Airworthiness and Quality Assurance (FSM 5704.23) for leadership and management of the Forest Service aviation program, including coordination of aviation activities and aviation security policies and procedures with other staffs, agencies, and groups. For additional responsibilities, see FSM 5711.04b
5704.22 -Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Operations and Quality Assurance
TheWashington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Operations and Quality Assurance is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director,Aviation, for the management and supervision of aviation operations and quality assurance. The Washington Office,Branch Chief, Aviation Operations and Quality Assurance has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain an aviation operations and quality assurance program.
2. Ensure program leadership, coordination, technical expertise, oversight,and support for national aviation operations programs and supervise the Program Managers and Aviation Technical Specialists.
3. Develop specific mission or aircraft operations plans to be reviewed and updated annually.
4. Coordinate interagency cooperation and leadership to ensure compatible and standardized aviation operations.
5704.23 -Washington Office, Branch Chief, Airworthiness and Quality Assurance
The Washington Office, Branch Chief, Airworthiness and Quality Assurance is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviationfor the management and supervision of airworthiness and quality assurance. The Washington Office,Branch Chief, Airworthiness and Quality Assurance has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain an airworthiness and quality assurance program.
2. Ensure national program leadership, coordination, technical expertise, oversight,and support for the national Aviation Airworthiness and Quality Assurance programs and directly supervise the Aviation Technical Specialists.
3. Assist the regions with technical support, coordination, and oversight to ensure standardization within the national aircraft fleet requirements.
4. Manage and coordinate the working capital fund for all agency-owned and -operated aircraft.
5. Coordinate interagency cooperation and leadership to ensure compatible and standardized aviation airworthiness and logistics.
5704.24 -Washington Office, Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization and Quality Assurance
The Washington Office, Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization and Quality Assurance is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation, for the management and supervision of pilot standardization and quality assurance. The Washington Office,Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization and Quality Assurance has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain a pilot standardization and quality assurance program.
2. Ensure program leadership, coordination, technical expertise, oversight,and support for national pilot standardization and supervise the fixed-wing and rotor-wing standardization pilots and aircraft inspector pilots.
3. Approve or rescind Forest Service employee pilot qualifications and/or designations for pilot, pilot instructor, check pilot or pilot inspector.
4. Assist the regions with technical support, coordination, and oversight to ensure standardization within pilot requirements.
5. Coordinate interagency cooperation and leadership to ensure compatible pilot standardization.
5704.25 -Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Business Operations
The Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Business Operations is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation, for the management and supervision of aviation business operations. The Washington Office,Branch Chief, Aviation Business Operations has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain an aviation business operations program, including planning, budget, and policy.
2. Ensure program management, coordination, oversight,and business operations support for the national aviation program and supervise the aviation technical specialists.
3. Provide leadership, technical expertise, and coordination for the national aviation program.
4. Coordinate interagency cooperation and leadership to ensure compatible and standardized aviation planning and operations.
5704.26 - Washington Office, Aviation Strategic Planner
The Washington Office, aviation strategic planner is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Aviation for aviation strategic planning. The Washington Office,Aviation Strategic Planner has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain an aviation strategic plan.
2. Provide leadership, technical expertise, and coordination for the national aviation program.
5704.27 - Washington Office, Assistant Director, Risk Management
The Washington Office, Assistant Director, Risk Management, is responsible to the Washington Office, Director of Fire and Aviation Management. The Washington Office, Assistant Director, Risk Management shall develop and administer a national aviation safety program.
5704.28- Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Safety Management Systems
The Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Safety Management Systems is responsible to the Washington Office, Assistant Director, Risk Management for the management and supervision of aviation safety management systems program. The Washington Office, Branch Chief, Aviation Safety Management Systems has the responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain an aviation safety management systems program.
2. Ensure program leadership, coordination, technical expertise, oversight, and support for the national aviation safety management system program and supervise the aviation safety specialist.
3. Coordinate interagency cooperation and leadership to ensure compatible and standardized aviation operations.
5704.3 - Regional Foresters
It is the responsibility of each Regional Forester to establish an aviation program responsive to regional and national needs that meets minimum standards set forth in Forest Service aviation policy and to:
1. Provide appropriate regional supplementation to the National Aviation Safety and Management Plan.