2015 Aviation UpdateHood River, OR

April 2015

Dave GloseUSFS AK/PNW Helicopter Program ManagerOffice: 541.504.7274Cell: 541.408.7276

AK/PNW Helicopter ProgramDave Glose – Helicopter Program Mgr.– 541-504-7274/ cell 541-408-7276

Kris Schmidt – Helicopter Operations Specialist– 541-504-7265/ cell 541-993-4999

Eric Scholl – Asst. Helicopter Operations Specialist– 541-504-7379/ cell 971-322-5307

Jim Lucas – Helicopter Inspector Pilot– 541-504-7268/ cell 541-280-1789

Gil Howell – Helicopter Inspector Pilot– 541-504-7378/ cell 503-505-2370

AK/PNW Helicopter ProgramCurrent Program Emphasis:• Helicopter Contract TEB & Awards – EU/CWN• Short-Haul Program Activation• Rappel Training/Certifications/Oversight• Cooperator Aircraft Approvals – States/Nat’l Guard• Pilot Evaluations/Carding - EU/CWN/Cooperators• Helicopter Insp./Carding – EU/CWN/Cooperators• NE OR Base Consolidation• Helicopter Fleet – Futuring/Needs

AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

2015 AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

• R6 PNW - Exclusive Use– 5 T1 Nat’l LFS Helicopters– 6 T2 Rappel Helicopters– 4 T3 Helicopters (1 Short Haul)

• R6 PNW - CWN T3– Recently Awarded – Approx. 46 aircraft

• R10 Alaska - Exclusive Use– 1 T3 Helicopter with Vessel – AFSL - FIA

• R10 Alaska CWN T3 – Recently Awarded – Approx. 58 aircraft

2015 AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

• BLM – Exclusive Use– 1 T2 Standard Helicopter (Lakeview)– 1 T2 Restricted Helicopters (Burns)– 2 T3 Helicopters (Vale and Burns)

• NPS – Exclusive Use–1 T3 Helicopter – Mt. Rainier NP• Short Haul Capable

2015 AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

• WA Dept. Of Natural Resources (WADNR)– 8 UH-1H T2 Aircraft• 5 staffed at a minimum • Potential to have 7 total in service and staffed if the

need arises

– Additional Program News• A request through Legislation to staff 6 aircraft full

time has been proposed • Proposal has been made to increase the number of

Helitack personnel

2015 AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

• Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)– Tanker 66 – Not Renewed

• Replaced with two T2 Helicopters, three SEATS

– Total EU/Owned Aircraft – Twenty Nine (29) • 7 Severity T2 Helicopters• 3 District T2 Helicopters• 1 Severity T3 Helicopters• 3 District T3 Helicopters• 2 District ATGS/Detection Platforms• 2 Severity ATGS/Detection Platforms • 5 SEATs• 1 Severity LAT• 5 State/Association Owned ATGS/Detection

– CWN Aircraft - Numerous

2015 AK/PNW Helicopter Assets

2015 Nat’l Helicopter Assets

Program Number of EXU

Number ofCWN2014

Total Number of Aircraft

Type 1 (Helicopters) 34 18 52 T1 Helicopters

Type 2 (Helicopters) 32 41 73 T2 Helicopters

Type 2 Std. (Helicopter Night Flying) 1 0 1 T2 Night Helicopter

Total 67 EXU 59 CWN 126 Total Helicopters

2015 Rappel Ops

Rappel Training Schedule• Veteran Recertification #1 – John Day, April 20-24• Veteran Recertification #2 – Salmon, ID, May 11-15• Initial Rappeller Training – Salmon, ID, June 1-8

2015 Rappel Aircraft Availability

Wenatchee: May 14 – Sept 10John Day: May 15 – Sept 11La Grande: May 22 – Sept 18Sled Springs: June 3 – Sept 30Prineville: June 4 – Oct 1Siskiyou: June 4 – Oct 1

Cooperator Aviation Assets – National Guard –

Cooperator Aviation Assets – National Guard –

Oregon Army National Guard:• Pendleton Chinook Unit – CH-47’s – likely only 1 available

for Firefighting in 2015• Salem Blackhawk Unit – UH-60’s – will have 2-3 available in

2015

Washington Army National Guard:• JBLM Chinook Unit – CH-47’s – likely none available in 2015• JBLM Blackhawk Unit – UH-60’s – likely 2 available, maybe

more

NE OR Rappel Base ConsolidationDecisions:• May 30, 2014 – From the Value Analysis Team

recommendation, the RF and two Forest Supervisors supported the consolidation of the two crews to La Grande

• March 19, 2015 – RF decided the Wallowa-Whitman NF will have administrative oversight of the consolidated crew

NE OR Rappel Base ConsolidationConsolidation Efforts:• Both Forests, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman will

continue to work towards a successful consolidation• Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA) – ongoing, led by WWF• Current facility lease in La Grande runs thru March 2016• Lease/Construction for new facility – Procurement Phase

– Developing plan to mitigate lease expiration impacts

• Will hire a GS-11 Airbase Mgr. Fall 2015– Both Sled and Blue Mtn. supervised by Airbase Mgr. starting in

CY 2016

• Goal – Crews to consolidate into one crew in La Grande - Fall 2016

Questions?