Fire and Aviation Management, Aviation Safety Management Systems

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National Rappel Program Update

National Rappel Program Reactivation Process Plan (PDF)

Appendix A - Official Correspondence:
- 2007 Letter from Deputy Chief Hubbard that provides direction from the recommendations in the Feasibility of Conducting a Competitive Sourcing Competition on Aviation Activities in the U.S. Forest Service (PDF)
- 2010 (February 1) Programmatic Helicopter Rappel Stand-Down Letter Directed by Chief Tidwell (PDF)
- 2010 (June 28) Reinstituting Helicopter Rappel Program Requirement Letter from Deputy Chief's Hubbard and Myers (PDF)
- 2010 (June 28) Reinitiating the Rappel Program Decision Memo from Deputy Chief Hubbard (PDF)
- Letter approving the 2010 Helicopter Rappel Guide by the Director FAM Harbour (PDF)
- National Rappel Reactivation Concurrence Letter from Director FAM Harbour (PDF)
- National Rappel Program Update Letter from the Director Fire & Aviation Management Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry, James Hubbard 10/18/2010 (PDF)
Appendix B - National Rappel Program Quality Assurance Checklist, Region Action Plan (PDF)
Appendix C - National Rappel Quality Assurance Team Re-activation Checklist (PDF)
Appendix D - Rappel Training Agenda Example (PDF)
Appendix E - National Rappel Operations Review Checklist (PDF)
Appendix F - Region, Local Unit Rappel MOU (PDF)
Appendix G - Spotter Emersion Student Workbook Example (PDF)
Appendix H - Aviation Operational Risk Management Worksheet v8.1 (PDF)
Appendix I - Re-activation Request Documentation Checklist (PDF)
Appendic J - Interagency Helicopter Rappel Guide (IHRG) Forest Service Edition #1, July 2010 (Link to MTDC)
Appendix K -Programmatic Risk Assessment and Quality Assurance Evaluation For Helicopter Rappelling – Final Report, March 2, 2010 (PDF)

Rappel Standardization Update Document (PDF)

This document package was the basis of the decision to reactivate the rappel program. It includes the strategies outlined for the Rappel Risk Assessment, Willow Helibase Accident Review Board Recommendations, and status of the Interagency Helicopter Rappel Guide. It also includes additional documents that provide intelligence for management to make an informed decision.

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