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Air Operations Map

Note: The Situation Map has been deprecated as a map standard. The Operations map should be used as an acceptable substitute for task book purposes.

Product Description

The Air Operations Map provides air operations with enough detail to aid in locating key features on an incident.  A secondary Air Operations map, the Pilot Map, may be created for pilots.

Target Audience

Air Operations Branch, pilots 

Guidelines

  • Standard Incident Command System (ICS) symbology.
  • Simplified base map without elevation contours to enable air navigation.
  • A table that includes the latitude and longitude coordinates in Degrees, Decimal Minutes for relevant point features.
  • Pilot map is typically for easy lap reading in the aircraft.
  • Air Operations map is typically an Arch E (36” x 48”); Pilot map is typically Tabloid (11” x 17”) size.

Standard Elements

All map products produced should include the STANDL-SGD cartographic elements.  Scale bar must be in nautical miles rather than statute miles.

Data

  • Wildfire Daily Fire Perimeter (Polygon) with Contained and Uncontained Perimeter Lines.
  • Limited / relevant Event Lines (including, but not limited to: Aviation Route, Aerial Hazard such as Transmission Lines, Completed lines, Temporary Flight Restriction).
  • Limited / relevant Event Points (including, but not limited to: Aerial Hazard, Airstrip or Airport, Aviation Check Point, Dip Site, Helibase, Helispot, Incident Command Post, Mobile Retardant Base, Repeater, Restricted Water Source, Sling Site, UAS Launch and Recovery, and Unimproved Landing Area).
  • Assignment (Division, Branch, Zone) breaks and labels.
  • Mountain peaks with elevation labels.
  • Major Roads and key landmarks.
  • Hydrography (e.g., rivers, lakes).
  • Elevation shaded relief.
  • Other Situation Unit Leader (SITL)-requested data such as Drop Points or Federal Aviation Administration sectionals. 

Examples

These are examples from actual incidents and may include non-standard elements.

Also note that examples use the standard symbols at the time of their creation and may not reflect the current GeoOps symbology. Map elements, incident features, and composition remain consistent across these visual changes.

Air Operations

Pilot

Last Modified / Reviewed:

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NWCG Latest Announcements

2026 Week of Remembrance

Date:  June 30, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: 6 Minutes for Safety Subcommittee

As we approach the 2026 Week of Remembrance (WOR), June 30–July 6, we dedicate this time to reflect on past incidents from 2016 and honor the fallen through learning. Since its inception in 2014, WOR has honored wildland firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while encouraging critical discussions that reinforce lessons learned.

Throughout the week, we encourage thoughtful and generative conversations that promote a culture of continuous learning and safety.

References:

2026 Week of Remembrance: Letter to Leadership

Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center

RMC Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNetX Launch

Date:  June 25, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Risk Management Committee

The Risk Management Committee (RMC) is pleased to announce the launch of SafeNetX, the modernized safety reporting system now available to the wildland fire community. Effective June 15, 2026, SafeNetX enables reporting of unsafe, unhealthy, near-miss, and high-risk operations across wildland fire, all-hazard incidents, training, and related work environments.

SafeNetX is the result of a multi-agency modernization effort led by RMC, which began evaluating improvements to the legacy SAFENET system in 2021. To learn more, read the full RMC memorandum in the links provided.

References:

SafeNetX

RMC Safety Memorandum 26-02: SAFENET Modernization and SafeNet X Launch

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Emergency Medical Committee

The NWCG Emergency Medical Committee (EMC) announces the recipients of the 2025 Wildland Fire Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Awards. EMC annually recognizes individuals and groups who have demonstrated outstanding actions or accomplishments that are above and beyond the expectation of one’s normal mission or job duties.

Congratulations to all the awardees and nominees. Through leadership and initiative, they have made significant contributions to the safety of the wildland fire community. These awards are well deserved.

References:

2025 Wildland Fire EMS Awards

Emergency Medical Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book Now Available for RAMP

Date:  June 12, 2026
Questions? 
Please contact: Airtanker Base Operations Unit

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Ramp Manager (RAMP).

The Performance Support Package for this position was 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 release in January 2027.

References:

NWCG Ramp Manager Position Page

National Interagency Aviation Committee