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Interagency Helicopter Screening and Evaluation Subcommittee

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IHSES header graphic. Photo of a helicopter with a water bucket flying over mountains. Inset photos of a helicopter with a cable strung out in front of it, and another photo with a helicopter ground crew checking equipment in the helicopter. Decorative.
Mission Statement

Mission Statement

When requested the Interagency Helicopter Screening and Evaluation Subcommittee (IHSES) evaluates helicopters and related accessories for potential use in interagency fleet or contract helicopter operations.

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Primary Objectives

Photo of El Capitan with a temporary helibase located in foreground. Decorative.

  • Evaluation of aircraft and accessories which have no historic precedence in natural resource flight operations.
  • Develop guidance for nomination of potential aircraft and or accessories.
  • Establish, document and implement a standardized helicopter evaluation process.
  • Establish, document and implement a standardized accessory evaluation process.

IHSES Standard Operating Procedures

Once an aircraft or accessory nomination has been approved by NIAC, the IHSES will

  • Develop an individual testing and evaluation plan for nominated aircraft and/or accessories tailored to the requesting agency or mission needs.  Plans will address, at minimum, the following 9 elements:  safety, performance, support requirements, field evaluation results, cost, advantages/disadvantages, policy, agreements and guides, recommended action (approve/disapprove).
  • Establish agreements for funding, contracting language, policy acceptations and any other required documentation to ensure testing can be completed.
  • Provide regular updates on IHSES activities, testing progression and accomplishments to NIAC.
  • Present test plan results to NIAC for approval.
  • Document NIAC's decision and maintain list of approved aircraft and accessories.

The IHSES will consist of three members to provide support during the development of the nomination and evaluation process.  Once an aircraft or accessory has been nominated and approved, the IHSES composition will be dictated by the scope of work.  Composition of the IHSES will depend extensively on the mission requirements of the nomination and the complexity of the test plan.

 

Chair: Sloan, Bill

NWCG Coordinator: Schultz, Dave

Parent Committee: National Interagency Aviation Committee

Meeting Schedule:

TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NEW! S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) Available Now

Date: Aug 15, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fuels Management Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that the S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended) training is now available on the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. S-290 (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components that support individuals working towards any Single Resource Boss or Fire Effects Monitor incident qualifications.

This second course in the series collectively serves to develop fire behavior prediction knowledge and skills, and provides more detailed information on fuels, weather, and topography that affect wildland fire behavior for safety purposes.

Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended).

References:

S-290, Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

NEW! S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) Now Available

Date: Aug 14, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

The S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) is now available. Developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, this training supports individuals working towards Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) incident qualifications. 

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended) training combines online training and instructor-led training components. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of the HECM position, as described in the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22.

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:

S-271, Helicopter Crewmember (Blended)

NWCG Helicopter Crewmember (HECM) Position Page

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for FBAN and LTAN

Date: Aug 13, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Fire Behavior Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Fire Behavior Analyst (FBAN) and Long Term Fire Analyst (LTAN).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) 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 Fire Behavior Analyst Position Page

NWCG Long Term Fire Analyst Page

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