Pilot Services pilot requirements.pdf

Solicitation No.

National Pilot Services

U.S. Forest Service National Office

SECTION B

DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

B.7 PERSONNEL

The PIC shall hold a current valid FAA commercial or higher Pilot certificate with current instrument rating. In addition, the Pilot shall also have logged flight time as PIC in fixed-wing aircraft of at least the following minimum amounts:

For a pilot who has not been previously inspected and approved for the missions required by this contract, by the DOI-OAS or USDA, Forest Service, the Contractor’s Director of Operations/Chief Pilot shall provide a signed statement that they have verified the pilot’s flight time qualifications and experience. The Contractor shall use Airplane Pilot Qualifications Record (Exhibit 3) to document this verification. The completion of this form will be required prior to pilot inspection.

(a) Flight Hours Experience

All Airplanes Flying hours

Total time 1500 Pilot-in-Command total 1200 Pilot-in-Command, as follows:

Category and class to be flown 200 Fixed wing – preceding 12-months 100 Cross Country 500 Operations in mountainous terrain* 200 Night 100 Instrument – in flight 50 Instrument – actual/simulated 75 Make & Model to be flown 25 Make & Model - preceding 12 months 10

* Operations in mountainous terrain is flight at 2500 feet AGL and below in terrain identified as mountainous in 14 CFR 95.11 and depicted in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Figure 5-6-2.

(b) Each PIC shall pass a DOI-OAS or USDA, Forest Service evaluation flight of missions required by this contract. Evaluation flights shall not exceed two (2) hours and will be given by an Agency Pilot Inspector with recurrent evaluation flights not to exceed a five (5) year interval.

Inspector Pilot or Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization may require additional evaluation flights in coordination with the CO. Evaluation flight costs shall be borne by the contractor.

(c) Evaluation flights for operations in mountainous terrain shall be performed in typical terrain.

(d) The PIC shall be capable of performing advanced programming functions and operations of installed aircraft avionics to include FMS. Pilots shall have the ability to enter and utilize newly assigned frequencies and tones by selected channel both on the ground and in-flight positions.

The PIC shall be able to instruct the Agency observer in how to perform programming and operation of VHF-AM and VHF-FM radios, and GPS/FMS.

(e) All Pilots shall possess a current Class I or Class II FAA medical certificate.

(f) All Pilots shall possess and carry a current Interagency Airplane Pilot Qualification Card or

U.S. Forest Service National Office

SECTION C

EXHIBITS

Point-to-Point Only Pilot Qualification Card, in accordance with the Schedule of Items.

(g) All Pilots shall speak English fluently and have the FAA “English Proficient” endorsement.

(h) Pilots shall maintain night currency as described in 14 CFR 135.247 (a) (2).

B.8 TRAINING

(a) The contractor shall ensure that all pilots are trained per the following FSH 5709.16 requirements:

(1) Annually, each contract pilot shall attend an authorized professional simulator training facility for emergency, instrument, and equipment training.

(2) Biennially, each contract pilot shall attend the National Fixed-Wing Standardization Workshop.

(3) Within the preceding 90 days of any flight carrying passengers, be in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61.57 (landing currency) plus have at least 5 hours as PIC in each category and class aircraft to be flown.

(4) Annually, each contract pilot shall have 3 hours mission practice, actual or simulated, incorporating the flight maneuvers, procedures, and techniques associated with each type working mission in category and class aircraft prior to any mission.

(5) Annually, each contract pilot shall complete the Interagency Aviation Training Grand Canyon National Park Special Flight Rules Area computer based training and be in possession of waiver certificates while on contract.

(6) Any additional or training requirements as directed in writing by the USFS WO Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization or designee, such as proficiency flights, Standardization Workshops, Smokejumper Pilot and Spotter Workshops, etc.

B.9 GOVERNMENT PROVIDED TRAINING

(a) National Aerial Firefighting Academy (NAFA) training: Pilots must complete the first available interagency National Aerial Firefighting Academy I and II after CO assignment against a CLIN if they have not attended a previous course (or every three years after attendance). NAFA training is typically conducted at USFS training facilities during January – February timeframe.

(b) ASM training: ASM contract pilots will attend initial or refresher ASM training as required.

Training locations are TBD.

(c) Smokejumper training: Smokejumper contract pilots will attend smokejumper/spotter mission specific training. Training locations are TBD.

(d) Other miscellaneous training and workshops relevant to the missions identified in this contract. Training locations are TBD.

EXHIBIT 2 – PILOT FLIGHT TIME AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

U.S. Forest Service National Office

SECTION C

Minimum Requirement (hours) Pilot-in-command 1,500 Fixed-wing preceding 12 months 100 FAA weight class 100 Make and model 501 Make, model, series, last 12 months 10 Operations in Mountainous Terrain2 200 Turbine Fixed-wing operations 100 1 Flight hour requirements may be reduced by 50% if the pilot submits evidence of satisfactory completion of the manufacturer’s approved pilot ground and flight procedures training in the applicable make and model.

2 Operations in Mountainous Terrain (agency contract requirements): A flight at 2500’ AGL and below in terrain identified as mountainous in 14 CFR, Part 95.11 and depicted in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) Figure 5-6-2 (fixed-wing operations).

Minimum Annual Requirements

Minimum Annual Requirements (Hours):

Flight Time1 (last 12 months) 1002 in the preceding 12 months Flight Time in Category 24 in the preceding 12 months Emergency Procedures Training Professional Simulator School3

Every 12 calendar months

Aircraft Standards Evaluation (Equipment/Instrument)

Every 12 calendar months (at least every 24 calendar months for each aircraft)4

Special-Use Aircrew Mission Evaluation Every 12 calendar months for each mission

1 Pilots unable to attain 100 flight hours must request an Alternate Means of Compliance (AMOC) through the National Fixed-wing Standardization Pilot. If approved, pilot will undergo recurrent flight training and a proficiency flight evaluation in order to re-establish designation as PIC. The request for this waiver must be made through the pilot’s chain of command. This AMOC is only to be used in extenuating circumstances such as long-term medical grounding and slow fire-seasons. An AMOC should be the exception to the rule, not a tool used to reduce training flight hour requirements.

2 When the position requires operation as PIC of large multi-engine airplanes (GTOW > 12,500 pounds) then at least 25 hours must have been flown in such large airplanes.

3 For single engine aircraft for which a simulator is not available emergency procedures training requirements will be documented and approved by the Branch Chief, Pilot Standardization.

4 If a pilot flies a single aircraft, a single standards aircrew evaluation is required every year.

If a pilot flies two (2) different aircraft, a standards aircrew evaluation in each aircraft is required every other year. If a pilot flies three (3) different aircraft, the potential exists for two

(2) standards aircrew evaluations per year.

Preceding 6 Calendar Months Requirements:

U.S. Forest Service National Office

SECTION C

Six (6) Instrument Approaches and holding in actual IMC, or in simulated conditions with a qualified pilot acting as a safety pilot. A pilot who has failed to meet the instrument experience requirements for more than six calendar months must reestablish instrument currency by completing an instrument proficiency check.

Preceding 90 Day Minimum Requirements5:

Three (3) Takeoffs/Landings Three (3) Night Takeoffs/Full-Stop Landings One (1) Hour 5 Requirements must be accomplished in category, class, and type, if type rating is required.

For currency in float/tailwheel aircraft, requirements must be accomplished in similarly configured aircraft.

Preceding 60 Day Minimum Requirements (Hours):

Flight Time Category 106 A pilot who has failed to meet the 60 day flight hour requirement has a 30 day grace period in which to regain currency without an instructor pilot. To regain currency after the grace period, the pilot must complete the appropriate refresher syllabus.

Other Requirements:

National Fixed-wing Standardization Workshop Every 24 calendar months National Inspector Pilot Workshop (inspectors only) Every 24 calendar months Standardization Branch approved Crew Resource Management (CRM) training

Every 36 calendar months