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Interagency Cooperator Aircraft and Pilot Standards Subcommittee

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Mission Statement

The Interagency Cooperator Aircraft and Pilot Standards Subcommittee (ICAPSS) provides national leadership in all areas of interagency cooperator aircraft and pilot standards. ICAPSS develops standards for firefighting aircraft, pilots, mechanics, aerial firefighting operations and related aviation support equipment across all Federal, State and Local cooperators that operate on federal lands.

The standards include but are not limited to, aircraft airworthiness and maintenance, avionics, performance; pilot and mechanic qualifications and evaluation and aerial firefighting operations. Aircraft include helicopters, airtankers, light fixed-wing and unmanned aircraft systems.

Primary Objectives

  • Serve NIAC as a group of firefighting aircraft pilots, mechanics and operations subject matter experts.
  • Develop standards that facilitate the utilization and mobilization of available federal, state andlocal government firefighting aircraft to maintain an effective national interagency response to wildland fire.
  • Identify cooperator aircraft and pilot standardization issues, develop solutions, and recommend corrective actions to the National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC).
  • Develop an NWCG recommended Interagency Cooperator Aircraft and Pilot Standards Guide.
  • Serve as a central source of cooperator standards information, guidance, and support for al lparticipating federal, state and local agencies.

 

Chair: Jim Nester

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: National Interagency Aviation Committee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Website Migration

Date: April 01, 2024
Contact: NWCG Webmaster

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group is thrilled to announce a significant upgrade to https://www.nwcg.gov, involving a comprehensive redesign of over 7,000 web pages. This enhancement is focused on improving user experience. The migration to the new NWCG website will commence on April 2, 2024, starting at noon EST and is expected to take a few hours. 

During the migration period, as the www.nwcg.gov domain-name-location updates across the Internet, you might encounter either the current or the new site depending on your location. We request your patience during this transition. If you are not redirected to the new site by April 3, 2024, we recommend clearing your browser’s cache and refreshing the page.

Please note that while navigating the revamped website, there may be instances of broken links or errors. Our dedicated web migration team has made significant efforts to minimize such issues prior to launch and will promptly address any that arise via use of analytic reports. We value your patience and understanding as we work towards enhancing your overall website experience.

WFSTAR 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Core Component Module Packages Available

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: Joe Schindel 

The 2023 Fire Year in Review module and 2024 Core Component Module Packages for RT-130, Wildland Fire Safety Training Annual Refresher (WFSTAR) are now available on the NWCG website. The 2024 Core Component Module Package provides all content needed to deliver RT-130.

 

References:

WFSTAR 2023 Fire Year in Review module

WFSTAR 2024 Core Component Module Packages

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

Date: March 6, 2024
Contact: NWCG

The NWCG Executive Board is privileged to share with you the 2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter. As we look into the future and navigate an incredibly complex and dynamic environment, we must remain focused on our mission while actively engaging in national conversations regarding numerous wildland fire initiatives. In 2024, we prioritize building upon our successes and committing to continuous improvement. Key priorities and considerations for this year include: 

  • Determining Core Workload
  • Ensuring Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) Success
  • Improving Efficiencies
  • Firefighter Health and Wellness
  • Engagement in National Conversations

Together we will continue to make significant strides in the challenging and vital work that lies ahead. 

 

References:

2024 NWCG Executive Board Annual Letter

NWCG Welcomes NASA

Date: February 22, 2024
Contact: NWCG

NWCG welcomes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an associate member.

“As wildfires become larger and more frequent, NASA is working to apply our scientific and technological knowledge toward this national challenge, and integral to our approach is forging collaborative partnerships,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. 

 

References:

NASA News Release

NWCG