Unit 2Personnel

Qualifications and Responsibilities

Objectives

Become familiar with:– Initial Training/Certification and

Currency – Prescribed and Wildfire Organization

structure– Qualifications & Responsibilities– Annual re-certification requirements

Training RequirementsOrganization and communication

Special safety procedures and concerns

Dealing with hazardous materials

Equipment testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance

Briefing and checklist requirements

Training RequirementsOperational procedures and requirements

Live-run exercise to consist of:

–Briefing burn boss and all personnel

–Mixing

–Torch test procedures

–Dropping gel

–(dropping gel can be on training exercise or actual burn project)

Helitorch (HTMG, HTMM, HTPT)

Training Recommendation and Experience Record

Trainee Unit District Date of classroom & bench test training Training location Instructor Instructor’s training recommendations and comments: (to fully qualify trainee as Parking Tender, Mixmaster, or Helitorch Manager)

Experience record live firing helitorch operation Minimum (T) assignments: HTPT-1, HTMM-3, HTMG- qualified HEMG& HEB2

Date Flight Hours Evaluator Name Acres Burned

Comments

Recommended by: Date Reviewed by: Date Approved and certified by: Date

Re-certification is the delegated responsibility of the applicable Regional Helicopter Operations Specialist or designee. For DOI Bureaus, this is accomplished through Bureau/Agency authority at the State or Area office level or as otherwise established by the individual bureau/agency.

Re-Certified annually:Helitorch ManagerHelitorch MixmasterHelitorch Parking Tender

RE-CERTIFICATION 1.      Each helitorch module member

shall review the applicable sections of the Interagency Aerial Ignition Guide, as well as agency-specific guidance and direction; and

2.      A re-certification training session consisting of items 1-6 in Chapter II.IV.A.

3.      Must be documented on the Interagency Helitorch Module Annual Re-currency Training form identified in the IAIG.

Currency Requirements

Must perform in the position at least once every three years to maintain currency and remain eligible for re-certification training

If individual does not meet the currency requirement, must complete the initial certification and training.

Prescribed Fire and Wildfire Helitorch Organization

Chart

Reference Interagency Aerial Ignition Guide – Appendix B

Qualifications and

Responsibilities

Training and experience = qualified

Helitorch Positions

Helitorch Parking Tender

Helitorch Mixmaster

Pilot

Burn Boss/Ignition Specialist & Helitorch Mgr

Helitorch Mixing Crew

Pilot - Carding Criteria

Both pilot and aircraft must be carded by Agency Helicopter Inspector for Helitorch Operations.

Pilot’s Qualifications Card

Pilot

Basic knowledge of wildland & prescribed fire operations

Communication and Coordination with Burn Boss & Parking Tender

Knows limitation section of flight manual

Helitorch operation & installation

Pilot – Responsibilities

Maintain constant airspeed & elevation

Maintains reserve power Explains how winds and

topography effect flight patterns Pilot is responsible for all

helicopter operations and flight safety

Pilot – Responsibilities (cont’)

Burn Boss

Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Received helicopter safety

training Knowledgeable of ICS

organization and concepts and is familiar with aerial ignition operations

Can interpret weather & fire behavior

Burn Boss– Qualifications

Complete authority for & directs firing operation, develops firing plan

Performs the initial briefing and covers assignments

Instructs pilot as to the plan & firing sequence

Keeps pilot informed throughout entire operation

May be in another aircraft or at other vantage point.

Cannot conduct operations from the Helitorch Helicopter

Burn Boss– Responsibilities

Ignition Specialist

Qualified as Ignition Specialist

Received helicopter safety training

Knowledgeable of ICS organization and concepts and is familiar with aerial ignition operations

Ignition Specialist– Qualifications

As requested by Burn Boss, directs the aerial firing operation

Instructs the pilot & Helitorch Mgr... to the plan & firing sequence

Keeps pilot informed throughout the operation.

Cannot conduct operations from the Helitorch Helicopter

Ignition Specialist Responsibilities

Helitorch Manager

Helicopter Manager (Exclusive-use fire,CWN, or Project), HTMM qualified, and Aerial Ignition Annual Re-certification

Minimum HEB2(T)

Helitorch Manager Qualifications

On operations utilizing only one helitorch helicopter, the Helitorch Manager may have collateral duties as the Helicopter Manager as well as either (not both) the HTMM or HTPT. On operations utilizing more than one helitorch helicopter, the Helitorch Manager may have collateral duties as the Helibase Manager providing that they do not assume duties as the HTMM or HTPT.

Provides technical assistance to Burn Boss/Ignition Specialist

Supervises all Helitorch operations and assigns qualified personnel to positions

Assures all required equipment is on site and operational

Briefs pilots and Helibase Personnel Identifies hazards and safety requirements at

operations briefing

Helitorch Manager Responsibilities

Monitors overall helitorch operation Provides technical info on helibase

location and operation Ensures safety precautions have been

completed prior to mixing Assures Aerial Ignition Safety Plan

and go/no go Checklist is approved/posted & followed

Assures commo link between Helitorch base/Dispatch and/or Operations

Helitorch Manager Responsibilities (cont’)

Mixmaster

Helicopter Crewmember HTMM qualified, and Aerial

Ignition Annual Re-certification

Helitorch Mixmaster Qualifications

Reports to the Helitorch Manager, (may have collateral duties as HCWN/HTMG on single aircraft project burn)

Attends briefings Supervise mixing/filling operation,

manages time frames to maintain availability of gel

Places equipment and assures it is operational

Hook helitorch to helicopter

Helitorch Mixmaster Responsibilities

Helitorch Mixmaster Responsibilities (cont’)

Assure bonding procedures are followed

Perform preflight tests of helitorch with pilot

Conduct drills prior to operations to assure mixing and filling operations are coordinated between all personnel

Perform maintenance and cleaning of all helitorch equipment

Supervise helibase fire protection

Conduct drills and assure coordination prior to operation

Perform preventative maintenance

Insure all equipment cleaned and operational at end of each shift

Helitorch Mixmaster Responsibilities (cont’)

Parking Tender

Helitorch Parking Tender Qualifications

Helicopter Crewmember Aerial Ignition Annual Re-

certification

Reports to the Helitorch Manager (may also serve as HCWN)

Attend briefing Directs helicopter during take-off

and landings Directs all movements of

personnel and equipment around the helicopter

Must use a radio in conjunction with a headset/hardhat or flight helmet (sph 4/5)

Helitorch Parking Tender Duties

Has fire protection responsibility for the primary helitorch helipad (all fueling/filling operations and takeoff & landing)

Needs as minimum, 40-B:C dry-chemical fire extinguisher

Know and understand helicopter crash/rescue procedures

Attend to pilots’ needs at landing pad Ensure electrical switches are “on”

prior to takeoff, “off” after landing

Helitorch Parking Tender Duties (cont’)

Helitorch Parking Tender Duties (cont’)

Inspect discharge valve, propane pressure, cam lock, drum hardware and suspension cables prior to takeoff

Assure all personnel/equipment are clear of safety circle during takeoff/landing

Check hook-up of helitorch to helicopter Maintain commo with helicopter while

within the area of Helitorch base Turn communication over to burn boss

when helicopter departs Helitorch base area

Mixing Crew Member

Mixing Crew Qualifications

Initial Training and Re-currency to include :

– A-101 Aviation Safety– A-105 Aviation Life Support Equipment– A-106 Aviation Mishap Reporting– A-107 Aviation Policy and regulations– A-108 Preflight Briefing/Debriefing– A-109 Aviation Radio Use– A-113 Crash Survival– Or S-271– OJT Helitorch operation instruction

(Dry Run) must be performed annually or can be accomplished as part of live burn operation

Report to Mixmaster Attend briefings Assist mixmaster with

operation of mixing plant Assists with the filling of the

helitorch and fire protection Perform any other

miscellaneous tasks during helitorch operation

Mixing Crew Duties

For complex burns or on multiple aircraft helibase use qualified aircraft base radio operator (ABRO)

Helitorch Base Radio Operator Qualifications

Radio Operator Duties

Reports to Helitorch Manager Attends briefings Receive orders from burn

boss/Ignition Specialist and relays to helitorch manager

Maintain communication with appropriate aircraft

Provide communication between H/T Manager, Parking Tender, Helicopter Pilot, Burn Boss/Ignition Specialist and Dispatch and/or Operations

Maintain an Flight Following log

Reports to HTMM Attend briefings Staffed engine with Class B foam

capability, or a minimum of 2, 3 gallon class B portable Compressed Air Foam extinguishers on-site

Familiar with crash/rescue operations Familiar with fire extinguisher

operation Charge hoses and attend nozzles

during operations

Helitorch Fire Protection Personnel

Duties

Transfer System

Batchmixer

Helitorches

Isolair

Spec 2000

Simplex 5400