UASP Toolbox

This page is updated as new information becomes available.  Please continue to monitor the home page for additional information.   

Last Update 3/18/2024

*New* 3/15/2024:  FAA Guidance to DOI for UAS operations and Remote Identification.   

Information for DOI remote pilots regarding Remote Identification requirements for UAS operations supporting emergency management, wildfire management, law enforcement activities, and training activities.     

Safety

• 8/29/2023: IASA 23-02 M-600 Batteries - Thermal Expansion. 
• 7/24/2023: IA APB 23-04 Freefly Alta X Landing Gear Separations During Flight
• 7/8/2022:  Interagency Aviation Mishap Response Guide UAS Insert  
• 6/28/2022:  M600 Battery Shipping:  With a recent increase in activity and ROs to Alaska, RPs must be aware of M600 Lithium Ion battery watt hours (Wh) and rules:   
  • T47S batteries are 99.9 Wh and are clear for carry-on luggage on airlines.  
  • T48S batteries are 129.96 Wh.  MAY NOT CARRY-ON.  Must be shipped!  
  • Reference:  https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/lithium-batteries-100-watt-hours-or-less-device  
• 6/17/2022: Accident Prevention Bulletin 22-03 - Defective M600 Batteries
• 6/13/2022: Interagency Tech Bulletin 22-01 for M-600 Props
• 5/9/2022:  SAFECOM 22-0234, M600 Batteries
• 3/25/2022:  DOI Accident Prevention Bulletin (APB) 22-02:  Solo Battery Life

Flight Authorizations

Updated Certificates of Authorization.  The FAA has reissued COAs for the DOI and USFS for UAS Operations.  

• DOI:     2023-WSA-11904 REV 2-COA  (Signed 9/11/2023)
• USFS:  2023-WSA-11903 REV 1-COA  (Signed 3/29/2023) 

Note:  When creating a NOTAM with the updated COAs, you must input with this format:  "2023-WSA-11904-COA" or "2023-WSA-11903-COA".  Using the "2023-WSA-11904 REV 1-COA" as written will not work.  

Special Government Interest Waivers

• Interagency SGI Instructions (09/14/2023)
• SGI Request Template - Blank (09/14/2023, MS Word Doc)
• SGI Request Template - Populated  (09/14/2023, MS Word Doc)

SGI waivers are required for UAS operations inside a TFR.  Contact the UAS Coordinator for assistance with waiver coordination through the FAA. 

See IA IB 22-06 for additional information:   IA IB 22-06 "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations within Incident Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

FAA SGI Website

UASP Training 

Information: Several RPs have reported problems in IQCS with UASP qualifications.  Many are missing the triennial RT-373 requirement.  Please check the UASP Position Qualification Requirements from the NWCG website for more information.  

January 2024:  The UASP Position Task Book has been updated and is no longer combined with the Task Books for UASL, UASM, and UASD.  Please review the new PTB here:  UASP PMS 311-78

PMS 515:  https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms515

Before any flight, have you:

• Checked your Pilot Currency? (eg:  Part 107, A-452R, RT373; Carded, Proficient, and Current on aircraft and mission profile (ELOS/BVLOS) per Agency/Departmental Policy)     
• Checked your Aircraft status?  (eg: Inspection and 36U)
• Confirmed your Authorization?  (eg:  Approved PASP/MASP, familiar with PMS 515 procedures and policy; notifications made)
• Coordinated your Airspace Clearance?  (Do you need a NOTAM or SGI? What FAA provisions or agreement are you flying under?)

Operations

• DOI Multirotor Checklist v190227
• Interagency PASP Template (v4.1, 1/1/2020)

NOTAMs and Airspace

• 10/30/2023: Joint CAL Fire and USFS Fire Traffic Area Review.  A joint bulletin has been released to highlight and reemphasize the importance of the FTA Protocol.  This is good refresher information for all remote pilots.  
• IA APB 22-05:  UAS NOTAMs
• IA IB 22-04 "Potential Airspace Challenges Resulting From Misinformation".  Please review for clarification on the Fire Traffic Area Diagram, PMS505D 
• NOTAM Acronym Change IA-IB 22-01  NOTAM now stands for "Notices to Air Missions"
• NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination PMS 520
• NWCG Fire Traffic Area Reference and Diagram (Updated 4/2022)
• IA IB 21-09 "Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) crossing multiple Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Airspace Boundaries" was released on Sept 24, 2021.  Please refer to this when operating in an airspace that may span multiple ARTCC boundaries, requiring separate TFR notices and subsequent SGI requests for UAS operations.  
• DoD Aeronautical Information System (Links to AP1A/AP1B on right side menu)
• Flight Services (1800WXBrief)
• SkyVector

Reference

Data Structures

• Refer to the UASD Toolbox for the latest versions

Equipment

• IBC Memo 22-05 - UAS Incident Replacement Guide.   NWCG Incident Business Committee (IBC) and the Interagency Fire UAS Subcommittee (IFUASS) has released guidance for consumable/replacement parts.  

Incident Coordination

•  IA-IB 21-07 has relevant information for IMTs on UAS Operations

System Shipping

• DOI UAS System Shipping Video
• DOI sUAS Lithium Battery Packaging Video

Software

• Avenza 4.0 Workflow to Airdrop and Export a Map (5/2022)

Communications

• Icom IC-A25 radio features (Youtube Video) 

Payloads

• Bad Elf Pro+ Update (12/13/2022)
• Zenmuse XT-2 User Guide

Miscellaneous Information

• BLM NOC UAS Flight Planning Spreadsheet (Gapinski, 4/8/2022)