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Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) – Beyond Visual Line of Sight

Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)

Look Up, Look Down, and Look Around is an integral method for gathering situational awareness when responding to fire assignments. The increased use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the public domain and on the fireline has significantly impacted the “Look Up” portion of the equation. It is critical to be aware of your surroundings on the ground and in the air.

Non-agency, non-cooperator UAS can operate under a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) meaning a UAS operator can operate their UAS/drone outside of their line of sight. This can create potential airspace conflicts with aircraft on an emerging or established wildland fire. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a procedure to help mitigate conflicts between firefighting operations and BVLOS TFRs. To learn more about the BVLOS TFR, please review the Interagency Aviation Information Bulletin, No. IA IB 23-06, at https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/iaib-2023-06.pdf.

Ask yourself: What is a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in UAS operations and how might it affect me?

  • Firefighting aircraft may not be able to enter into the TFR. How does this impact your:
    • Strategy?
    • Tactics?
    • Hazard assessments?
    • Emergency medical response?
  • There may be an authorized or unauthorized UAS or drone working directly above you, what do you need to be aware of?
  • Do you know when TFRs will be active and are you aware of their duration?
  • If your fire doesn’t require the use of aviation, but there is a BVLOS TFR in place and drone operators have the authority to work above you within their established TFR, do you have any concerns? If so, what are they?

Consider the following actions if you are an Incident Commander (IC) or IC trainee:

  • Communicate aviation delay information to all resources and base tactics on delayed aviation.
  • Brief all resources about UAS operations over personnel and equipment that may be in close proximity and /or low altitude legally.
  • Inform dispatch if an unknown UAS is in close proximity and/or low altitude during wildland fires.
  • Continue to employ Look Up, Look Down, and Look Around.
Category
Aviation

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Leadership Committee IAP Flyer Now Available

Date:  May 8, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee promotes and enables leadership development across the wildland fire service. The committee provides education, training opportunities, and support for leadership innovation and best practices throughout the community.

A new IAP flyer is now available on the committee website, offering an overview of the products, curriculum, and learning opportunities the Leadership Committee develops. This resource is ideal for posting in your office, sharing with new employees, or distributing through your incident management teams to engage new voices in the leadership journey and reinforce a culture of self‑reflection, development, and growth.

References:

Leadership Committee 2026 IAP Flyer

Incident Operations Subcommittee Updates the Next Generation Position Task Book for FFT1

Date:  May 7, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

The NWCG Incident Operations Subcommittee (IOSC) has updated the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14. The FFT1 Position Task Book transitioned to the Next Generation (Next Gen PTB) format in June 2025 through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. Since then, IOSC has received feedback from the wildland fire community regarding coding for one of the tasks. Task #13 has been updated to include the option of evaluation in a simulation.

See IOSC Memorandum 26‑01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Position Task Book for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) (FFT1), PMS 311‑14 for more information.

References:

IOSC Memorandum 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementation of Updates to the NWCG Postion Task Book for Firefighter Type 1

NWCG Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss Position Page 

NEW! S-212, Intermediate Faller (Online) Course Available Now 

Date:  April 23, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

NWCG is pleased to announce that the new S‑212, Intermediate Faller (Online), course is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). This second course in the series provides students with the knowledge and skills required to perform the duties of an Intermediate Faller (FAL2), as described in the FAL2 Incident Position Description. This course is intended for individuals seeking to advance from Basic Faller (FAL3) to FAL2.

S‑212, Intermediate Faller is a fully online, self‑paced training program consisting of 13 units. Learners will engage with interactive, scenario‑based content designed to progressively build foundational skills and knowledge essential for the FAL2 role.

Students must be qualified as a Basic Faller (FAL3) prior to enrolling in S‑212, Intermediate Faller course.

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 2027.

References:

S-212 Intermediate Faller (Online)

RMC Memo 26-01: Transition Plan for Implementing Updates to Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Qualifications

Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

New Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

Date:  April 17, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: National Coordination System Committee

A new publication from the National Coordination System Committee (NCSC) is now available. The NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249, will be used for aviation crews and dispatch to share flight information that is needed for resource tracking, and if needed, for emergency procedures.

For further details, please contact your NCSC representative. 

References:

NCSC Memo 26-01: Implementation of NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249

NWCG Aircraft Flight Schedule Form, PMS 249