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Properly Refusing Risk – Turning Down an Aviation Assignment

Turn Downs

A turn down is a situation where an individual has determined he or she cannot safely complete an assignment as given and is unable to negotiate an alternative solution. Every individual has the right and obligation to report circumstances, conditions, or actions that could jeopardize firefighter or public safety. When an individual feels an assignment is unsafe, they also have the option to identify safe alternatives for completing that assignment. Turning down an assignment is one possible outcome of managing risk. 

There are many conditions in which an Airtanker Pilot or Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) may turn down an assignment. A turn down must be based on a thoughtful and thorough risk assessment. 

Individuals may turn down an assignment when: 

  • There is a violation of established safe aviation practices.
    • e.g., aircraft mechanical malfunctions, mixed aircraft are over fire and aerial supervision requirements are not met, time of day in relation to pumpkin time, active military training airspace with no deconfliction
  • Environmental conditions make the work unsafe.
    • e.g., heavy winds, thunderstorms, untenable terrain, time of day, unsafe runway conditions, airport operations incidents
  • Personnel lack the necessary qualifications or experience.
    • e.g., An unaccompanied, non-IA carded pilot has been requested for an assignment.

Once a turn down occurs, the Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM) or Single Engine Airtanker Manager (SEMG) is responsible for:

  • Notifying the Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) or unit aviation leadership immediately.
  • In the case that other resources are requested to perform the assignment, the ATBM or dispatch must inform any new resources that the assignment has been turned down, and the reason why.
  • The safety hazard should be documented by the submission of a SAFENET or SAFECOM.
  • Agency Reporting Systems must be used by all firefighters according to their agency specific accident and incident reporting direction. SAFENET augments these systems, it does not replace them.  

Discussion Questions:

  • When an Airtanker Pilot turns down an assignment, should other bases be notified?
  • If a pilot decides he or she wants to delay accepting the mission to monitor the weather for more favorable conditions, when should the turn down be documented?
  • If conditions do not feel safe on the ramp, can ramp personnel turn down an assignment?
  • In what instances may ramp personnel be involved with a pilot turning down an assignment?
     

References:

Category
Airtankers

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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page