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PMS 530-1

PMS 530-1

PMS 530-1

NWCG Standards for Aviation Risk Management, PMS 530

NWCG Aviation Risk Management Workbook, PMS 530-1

How to Use Workbook

IMPORTANT: How To Use Workbook

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Fixed Wing Risk Assessments

Helicopter Risk Assessments

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Risk Assessments

Other Risk Assessments

 

Operations

Aerial Supervision Risk Assessments

Aircraft | Operations | Maintenance | Personnel

SYSTEM:  Aerial Supervision, Operations

Sub-System Hazards Pre-Mitigation Mitigation Post-Mitigation

Probability

Severity

Risk Level

Probability

Severity

Risk Level
Mission Poor visibility (smoke) especially in low level environment

Almost Certain

Catastrophic

Extremely High

Limit exposure. 

A) Determine effectiveness of the operation (risk vs. benefit) and discontinue if warranted.

B) Limit number of aircraft in operating area.

C) Increase vertical/horizontal separation of aircraft.

Possible

Critical

High
Wake turbulence in Leadplane and ASM platforms due to close proximity of airtankers

Almost Certain

Critical

Extremely High

A) Situational awareness assists prevention.

B) Communication helps to avoid wake turbulence areas.

C) Wake turbulence avoidance procedures (altitude, time, distance).

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Weather (turbulence/wind/thunderstorms)

Almost Certain

Critical

Extremely High

A) Adjust tactics or shut down air ops.

B) Increase vertical/horizontal separation of aircraft.

C) Utilize human aided technology (weather radar, etc.).

D) Encourage dispatch to obtain/ communicate weather information.

E) Utilize and share pilot reports of severe weather.

Possible

Critical

High
Poor fuel management

Possible

Critical

High

A) Monitor fuel quantities.

B) Follow fuel transfer procedures.

Unlikely

Critical

High
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) due to low level Leadplane and ASM operations

Almost Certain

Catastrophic

Extremely High

A) Ensure high level recon is completed prior to commencing low level flight.

B) Manage radio communication.

C) Proper aircraft configuration.

D) Reduce exposure time in low level.

E) Consult sectional chart/hazard map, consult ground personnel and other aircraft.

F) Obtain unit inbrief and utilize local knowledge.

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Airtanker overruns the Leadplane/ASM

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High

A) Brief the exit route.

B) Airspeed control.

C) Communicate the event.

D) Maneuver to avoid collision.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
ATGS/ASM aircraft emergency (engine out, fire, bird strike, mechanical failure, etc.)

Possible

Catastrophic

Extremely High

 Crew cross training and familiarization with aircraft systems and emergency procedure checklists (pinch hitter/simulator training).

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Aircraft emergency occurs in low level lead operation with Leadplane

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High

A) Preplan escape routes.

B) Train for emergency procedures.

C) Fly the aircraft.

D) Communicate and maintain situational awareness (SA).

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Leadplane/ASM operating in close proximity to other aircraft (mid-air potential)

Almost Certain

Catastrophic

Extremely High

A) Communication established with all aircraft. 

B) Situational awareness.

C) TCAS.

D) Establish clear and concise directions for simultaneous operations, (virtual fence, geographic separation, altitude separation, holding/timing, establish Initial point, ingress/egress route).

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Reliance on technology causes distraction, low situational awareness, division of attention in the cockpit

Almost Certain

Catastrophic

Extremely High

A) Maintain situational awareness.

B) Maintain see and avoid techniques.

C) Prioritize mission/ cockpit workload.

D) Utilize CRM practices.

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Aircraft emergency during ASM/ATGS operations (engine out, fire, bird strike, mechanical failure, etc)

Possible

Catastrophic

Extremely High

 Crew cross training and familiarization with aircraft systems and emergency procedure checklists (pinch hitter/simulator training).

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
ASM/ATGS operations exceed span of control

Possible

Critical

High

A) Ensure roles and responsibilities are assigned and understood within aerial supervision crew.

B) Assign aircraft to common functions and tasks with a single point of contact.

C) Hold aircraft at base to limit the number of assigned aircraft over the incident.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Unclear objectives/tactics

Almost Certain

Critical

Extremely High

A) Ensure strategy and tactics are clear and understood.

B) Use common terminology, solicit/utilize feedback.

Possible

Critical

High
ASM/ATGS performance results in hazardous operation

Possible

Critical

High

A) Shut down the operation, deconflict the area and return to base to rebrief the mission.

B) Mentor, proficiency check-ride, retrain / recertify.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
ASM/ATGS unnecessary exposure due to inefficient operational use of tactical aircraft

Likely

Critical

Extremely High

A) SOPs for all tactical aircraft types.

B) Right tool for job.

C) Training, feedback, brief/debrief.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Airspace FTA: aircraft not complying with procedures

Likely

Catastrophic

Extremely High

 Aerial supervision enforces FTA procedures.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Multiple initial attack incidents in same area cause confusion, near miss hazard

Likely

Critical

Extremely High

A) Coordinate with dispatch and other aircraft.  

B) Ensure fire names, frequencies, locations, and aircraft assignments are communicated to all flight crews.

Possible

Critical

Medium
Special use airspace: Aircraft not having authorization to enter the SUA, not coordinating with controlling agency

Likely

Critical

Extremely High

A) See and avoid.

B) Know SUA areas.

C) Establish communication with controlling agency.

D) Thorough briefings.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
Non-incident aircraft intrusion in TFR

Likely

Catastrophic

Extremely High

A) See and avoid, Inform other aircraft on scene. 

B) Reevaluate TFR promotion.

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Fires in proximity to airport/airstrip. Potential for mid-air collision or intrusion in FTA

Possible

Catastrophic

Extremely High

A) Implement/validate TFR as incident expands, deconflict SUA, establish commo with controlling agency, notify other aircraft.

B) Provide TFR transition corridors for non-incident aircraft on large incidents.

C) Increase awareness of GA operators and other agency flight crews not assigned to incident.

Unlikely

Catastrophic

High
Communications Radio frequency congestion

Almost Certain

Critical

Extremely High

 Exercise radio discipline and/or order additional frequencies as needed.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium
State/county/rural resources on different bandwidth

Likely

Critical

Extremely High

 Coordinate with cooperators to find a way to communicate with one another.

Unlikely

Critical

Medium

Hazardous air operations resulting from inaccurate information disseminated through the dispatch system

Almost Certain

Critical

Extremely High

A) Verify information at time of dispatch.

B) Flight crews will brief/debrief with dispatchers.

C) Provide aviation training for dispatchers.

D) Maintain qualified dispatcher on the aircraft desk.

Possible

Critical

High

 

Download the Word version (docx) of this information and the Risk Assessment Matrix (pdf) to use with the Risk Assessment Worksheet (docx).

 

 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

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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

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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 

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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)

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Intermediate Faller (FAL2) Position Page

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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