National Wildfire Coordinating Group

RT-378, Air Tactical Group Supervisor Refresher, N/A

RT-378 Decorative banner: Three photos of wildland fire aviation operations. A single engine airtanker drops retardant over a hillside. A situation unit leader wearing a helmet sits in back of helicopter reviewing data on a tablet. Four fire personnel listen to a firefighter who is standing at the open door of a helicopter.

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Description

The Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) refresher is designed to provide the participants with the following.

Current and relevant ATGS/Aerial Supervision program information, pertaining to:

  • Risk management
  • Fire and aviation weather
  • Aviation incidents/accidents from the preceding season
  • Contract and aircraft fleet updates
  • Issues and concerns from national and/or regional user groups (fire management, dispatch, hotshots, Incident Commanders, etc.)
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM)

Course Components and Hours to Complete

  • Radio programming
  • Map reading and navigation
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM)
  • Mission procedures
  • Fire Traffic Area (FTA) management

In addition to the course content above, all ATGS will demonstrate proficiency by completing a moderate complexity mission or flight/STEX exercise as defined/outlined in the Interagency Aerial Supervision Guide (IASG), PMS 505, Appendix C. Performance will be documented on a Mission Evaluation, reviewed with the participant, and forwarded to the Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) ATGS Cadre Member. Failure to pass the exercise will require the decertification process to be implemented.

Objectives

  • Review duties and responsibilities of the ATGS.
  • Review the risk management process to ensure the safety of aviation operations.
  • Review changes to aviation policy and how they apply to Aerial Supervision.
  • Refresh/practice ATGS skills.
  • Demonstrate proficiency by completing a moderate complexity mission or flight/Sand Table Exercise (STEX).

Target Group:

Qualified and trainee Air Tactical Group Supervisors (ATGS).

Prerequisite Qualifications and Training

Qualified or trainee Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS).

Session Offerings

Sessions of this course may be available in the NWCG Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP). Enrollment requires an account. Log on as a guest to search for session offerings of this course and to view other public content. To search for a specific course, use the FIND LEARNING menu at the top of the page, then select UPCOMING COURSES. To view Geographic Area training schedules, select the specific GEOGRAPHIC AREA information using the drop-down menu at the top of the page. Contact your local Training Officer for more information about local course sessions.

 

Delivery

RT-378 is available as classroom instructor-led training.

Course Components and Hours to Complete

Course Component Course Time
Pre-course work 8
Pre-selection assessment N/A
Online training N/A
Instructor-led training 16
Total Hours 24

Course Level

Regional, state, or area

The pre-course work, generated by the course coordinator/lead instructor will consist of online aviation training or practical exercises.

Core elements of a refresher will include the following:

  • Risk management/System Safety
  • Mission procedures
  • CRM
  • FTA management
  • Evaluated flight simulation/STEX (IASG)
  • Fire and aviation weather
  • Lessons learned/case studies

Optional Topics:

  • Radio programming
  • Map reading/navigation
  • Fleet updates
  • Contract updates
  • Payment documents
  • Aerial firefighting strategy and tactic
  •  Electronic flight bags

Flexibility should be encouraged within these topics to meet geographic and audience needs. This refresher shall be designed to provide discussion and information sharing based on the identified topics. The agenda should be revisited annually to ensure current and relevant material is presented. Presenters should include interagency, national, regional, state and local instructors involving aviation positions such as Dispatch, Lead/ASM pilots/crews.

Minimum Instructor Qualifications

Lead instructor must meet current S-378 instructor qualifications. Unit instructors will be selected for their expertise in field, i.e., aircraft payment documents, aviation maintenance, avionics, contracting, risk management, aviation safety.

See NWCG Standards for Course Delivery, PMS 901-1, Instructor Standards for more information.

 

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Functional Area: 
Air Operations
Required For: 
ATGS-Triennial
Page Last Modified / Reviewed: 
2022-04-11

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