Charter

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1. Background

   The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) was formed in January 1974, to expand operational cooperation and coordination between various public agencies having jurisdictional responsibility for wildland fire management.

   In 2007, NWCG was re-chartered, expanding its responsibility and adding new partners. The committee chartered herein is one of a number of support groups established by the NWCG to provide stewardship for specific business segment areas in fire management.
   Historically, most of the functional business areas to be addressed by this committee were the responsibility of the former National Interagency Aviation Council (NIAC).

2. Name

   The name of this committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee, is the National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC) of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.

3. Authority

   The Committee is established pursuant to the authorities granted in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Charter, October 11, 2007.

   The deliberations of this Committee are exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act under section 204 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

   The Committee Chair is authorized to convene meetings and schedule agenda items. The Chair is also authorized to make contacts, negotiate work assignments, and make commitments on behalf of the Committee.

4. Purpose

   The Committee is established to serve as a body of aviation experts, assisting NWCG with realizing opportunities to enhance safety, effectiveness, and efficiency in aviation related operations, procedures, programs and coordination.

5. Membership

   Committee membership will reflect a mix of people who are knowledgeable in the subject area of the Committee and who are from NWCG member agencies and organizations. With NWCG Executive Board approval, other agencies or organizations that are not NWCG members may be selected for Committee membership.

   The National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board will approve the Committee Chair. The term of the Chair appointment will be 2 years and may be extended at the discretion of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.

   The National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board will approve the Committee Vice-Chair. The term of the Vice-Chair appointment will be 2 years and may be extended at the discretion of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.

   The primary Committee member roster will be approved by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board. The terms of each primary member will be indefinite and may be extended at the discretion of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board. Technical advisors may be added as associate members with Chair approval.

6. Organization

   The Committee is under the direction of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board.

   The Committee may create subcommittees, units, and task teams with the concurrence of the Equipment and Technology Branch Coordinator.

7. Cooperation and Coordination

   The Committee will work through the respective Branch Coordinator to ensure appropriate coordination, collaboration, and information sharing with other groups and organizations for the subject matter and specific tasks of the Committee.

8. Responsibility

   The Committee is primarily responsible for providing interagency guidance to wildland fire. The Committee has additional responsibilities according to aviation governance to provide interagency guidance for law enforcement, search and rescue, and resource management aviation for the US Forest Service (USFS) and Department of Interior (DOI).

   The Committee is responsible to ensure prompt concurrence and routing of proposed aviation policy to DOI, USFS, and States for approval and implementation.
   Authorities for aviation policy approval reside with the DOI, USFS, and States.

9. Charter Amendments

   Changes to, or revocation of, this charter must follow the process outlined in the NWCG Operating Principles and Guidelines.

10. Charter Approval

    This charter is effective as of the date of approval by the Chair of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group Executive Board and shall remain in effect until revised or revoked.

Approved:

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