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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

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