SMOKEY BEAR BALLOON

AIR OPERATIONS PLAN

SOUTHWESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE

October 1, 1999

FLIGHTS TO PROMOTE PREVENTION OF HUMAN-CAUSED WILDLAND FIRES

(FOR PILOT-ONLY FLIGHTS)

Southwestern Region Aviation and Fire Management

Prepared by: Richard D. Reitz, Forest Service liaison with Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc.

Reviewed by: Larry Hindman, Multi-Regional (R2 and R3) Aviation and Safety Officer

Approved by: Mike Rotonda, Southwestern Region Air Officer

Project Description and Objectives

The Cooperative Wildfire Prevention (CFFP) Program is authorized under the Smokey Bear Act of May 23, 1952 (Pub. L. 82-359, Ch. 327,66 Stat. 92; 18 U.S.C. 580p-2), as amended by Pub. L. 92-318. Implementing regulations are issued at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 271 (36 CFR part 271).

An objective of the CFFP Program is to "Create and maintain a public awareness through the image of Smokey Bear, about the need to prevent unplanned, careless, or human-caused wildland fires." (FSH 5109.18, 20.2, 1)

Forest Service policy states: "The CFFP Program shall convey wildland fire prevention messages through a variety of educational techniques, using Smokey Bear as the primary image…" (FSH 5109.18, 20.3).

The Friends of Smokey Bear, Inc. is a non-profit entity that fulfills four out of five of the major program elements of the CFFP Program. Specifically, they support educational activities, they have a commercial license to use the Smokey Bear image on commercial products and materials, they use the Smokey Bear image to promote wildland fire prevention, and work in this area has been recognized by achieving the recognition of the Gold Smokey Award. (FSH 5109.18, 21)

Smokey Bear Balloon flights support the educational activities branch of the fire prevention effort. As a symbol of fire prevention, Smokey Bear is familiar to millions of people throughout the world. However, there is always a new generation of people who need to learn Smokey’s message. The mere presence of Smokey stimulates the imagination and curiosity of younger generations while older generations pass along those wildfire prevention lessons learned in their past and reinforced in the present.

Using the Smokey Bear hot-air balloon to create and maintain public awareness through the image of Smokey Bear, about the need to prevent unplanned, careless, or human-caused wildland fires is considered an essential flight mission. As such, preparedness funds may be used to finance the use of this licensed product. This air operations plan covers flights of the Smokey Bear hot-air balloon at USDA-Forest Service sponsored educational activities conveying a wildland fire prevention message. This air operations plan does not authorize passengers to fly in this hot air balloon. Only a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified balloon pilot is allowed to fly. If employees, or guests of the USDA-Forest Service are invited to fly in the balloon, then a mission-specific air operations plan must be completed, reviewed by the Regional Aviation Officer, and approved by the line officer hosting the event.

Personnel and Aircraft

Aircraft: Acrostar SPI-3001 hot-air balloon, N 87SB, registered to "Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc."

N 87SB has been approved (carded) by Asher A. Williams, Intermountain Regional Aviation Officer. The approval expires in August, 2000.

Pilot: Bill Chapel, Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc.

Pilot Bill Chapel has been approved (carded) by Tom Landon. The approval expires in September, 2001.

Pilot Duties and Responsibilities: Determines if and when flight will occur. Pilot will be in control of balloon from launch until landing. Refer to "Summary of the Smokey Bear Balloon on Tour Program" by the Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon for additional information on operational guidelines and logistics.

Ground Crew Party Chief: Dalles Griner or Stew Bush, Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc.

Ground Crew Party Chief Duties and Responsibilities: Manage the launch or tethering operations of the balloon including: unpacking and packing balloon, balloon inflation, and ground crew training. Ground crew will likely be USDA-Forest Service employees and local citizens on hand to assist with balloon handling.

Chief of Party: USDA-Forest Service person assigned by local unit.

Chief of Party Duties and Responsibilities: Oversee the project and insure project objectives are achieved and that all safety and flight regulations are followed. For all fights covered under this plan the Chief of Party must have completed USDA-Forest Service Chief of Party aviation training.

Communications

A USDA-Forest Service employee (i.e. Chief of Party or his/her delegate) will be in contact with the Area dispatch facility while the balloon is in operation, either tethered or in free flight. A chase vehicle containing the radio operator will follow and report progress of balloon as needed to area dispatch facility. If dispatch office is not staffed, the Chief of Party will have radio or telephone contact with "on call" dispatcher from local unit.

Fueling Plan

Fuel (propane gas) in self-contained certified and dated fuel tanks are refueled after each use by certified and licensed/ authorized refueling personnel in an authorized locale. Safety restrictions include removal of all nylon flags, jackets, strikers, etc. that may cause a spark. No more than two people are allowed near the balloon during refueling. Radios must be turned off, and tailgates, doors of trailers, etc must be opened to allow proper ventilation during the refueling process.

Cargo or Personnel Transported

No cargo will be carried in balloon basket. The person covered by this air operations plan is the pilot only. Other passengers must be approved, in a mission-specific air operations plan, reviewed by the Regional Aviation Officer, and approved by the line officer hosting the event.

Project Costs

Project costs can be financed by preparedness funds. The balloon costs are set by Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc. and are shown in "Summary of the Smokey Bear Balloon on Tour Program." These costs are finalized with Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc. when balloon is scheduled and set forth in an approved contract.

Hazard Analysis

Ground Safety: The pilot, ground crew party chief, and chief of party briefing prior to each flight will handle these issues. Refer to "Summary of the Smokey Bear Balloon on Tour Program" by the Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon for additional information on operational guidelines and logistics.

In-Flight Safety: Operation of the balloon will be solely at the pilot’s discretion. Refer to "Summary of the Smokey Bear Balloon on Tour Program" by the Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon for additional information on operational guidelines and logistics.

Special Considerations

None.

Specialized Equipment

None.

Project Air Plan Safety Briefing

The Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc. will retain a copy of this briefing page for one month following the flight.

Briefing Leader: Chief of Party.

Briefing Date: __________ Time: __________ Location: ________________________

Discussion Items (* provide documentation):

_____ a. Hazard Analysis*

_____ b. Safety Air Ops (ground)*

_____ c. Safety Air Ops (flight)*

_____ d. Military Training Routes

_____ e. Flight Following

_____ f. Radio Frequencies (VHF, FM, Ground-to-Air, Forest, etc.)

_____ g. Fueling

_____ h. Emergency Evacuation Plan

_____ i. Authorities

_____ j. Weather Conditions

_____ k. Other

Attendees Signature and Concurrence: _______________________________________________________

ATTACHMENT 1

AUTHORIZATION FOR MISSION WITH PASSENGER(S)

This attachment is tiered to the SMOKEY BEAR BALLOON AIR OPERATIONS PLAN, SOUTHWESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE, October 1, 1999 that identifies Project Description and Objectives, Personnel and Aircraft, Communications, Fueling Plan, Cargo and Personnel Transported, Project Costs, Hazard Analysis, Special Considerations, Specialized Equipment, and Project Air Plan Safety Briefing. This attachment should identify mission specific details that will provide the Regional Aviation Officer and local line officer enough information to recommend and approve a mission with passengers, respectively. Before submitting this attachment, and any addition information, to the Regional Aviation Officer for his/her review and recommendation(s), secure line officer concurrence that the mission concept (i.e. a passenger will be allowed to fly in the balloon) is acceptable.

The following individual(s) is/are authorized to accompany the approved pilot, Bill Chapel, in the approved Acrostar SPI-3001 hot-air balloon, N 87SB, registered to "Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon, Inc.": (1)___________________________________, (2)___________________________________.

The individual(s) named above have the following specific mission(s) with this aircraft:

__________________________________________________________________________________

The following departures to the parent SMOKEY BEAR BALLOON AIR OPERATIONS PLAN, SOUTHWESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE, October 1, 1999 will be made to provide for greater employee safety during this/these mission(s):

__________________________________________________________________________________

Regional Aviation Officer Review, Recommendation(s), Signature, and Date:____________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Line Officer Approval Signature and Date:________________________________________________

**Attach Additional Pages as Necessary**

Smokey's Home		*Smokey Bear*
		*"Remember...Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!"*