IHOG 2006 Revision: Summary of Changes, Effective May 2006

1. 2006 IHOG A Summary of Revisions http://www.nifc.gov/ihog/

2. IHOP Working Groups

3. IHOG Working Group CHAIR: Cameron Dingman, BLM Dianne MacLean, FWS Ken Barnes, NPS Meg Gallagher, AMD Bob Quirino, USFS Dave Underwood, BIA Vacant, States

4. Revision Process IHOG Work Group opened field comment period: Dec 03 – Oct 04 IHOG Work Group held meeting to screen suggested changes: Nov 04 IHOP Steering Committee reviewed revision list at workshop in Anaheim: Feb 05 Editor makes final changes, document given to GB Cache for contract printing and final publication: March/April 06 Aviation Ops Oversight Team reviewed final revision & signed approval letter: Feb 06

5. IHOG IHOG General Information • Emphasis on reducing volume and eliminating redundancy • Revisions will reflect new CWN Type I & Type II Contract changes • New Binder & New Color • Targeted for Cache availability: May 2006 • Electronic IHOG and forms package @ http://aviation.blm.gov/library.htm

6. IHOG IHOG General Information • 450+ changes proposed (Includes forms package) • Approximately 200 changes approved • Revision summary to be included in front of new version • Changes effective with issuance of the new IHOG by the cache system

7. IHOG IHOG Review • Use of the verbs “must” and “shall” convey mandatory compliance. • Use of “ought” and “should” convey required compliance with justified exceptions. Document… • Use of “may” and “can” conveys optional compliance • These definitions are in Chapter 1

8. IHOG IHOG Chapter 1 • Agencies and Policy references will be listed for each agency adopting IHOG • Addition: “Exceptions to the IHOG may only be authorized through agency specific procedures.”

9. IHOG IHOG Chapter 2 • Limited Use Type III helicopter staffing policy is added; only HEMG required • “Aerial Supervision” requirement removed from “One-for-Two” criteria • All Helicopter and Helibase staffing to consist of fully qualified personnel • Parking Tender requirements changed to meet the intent of Safety Alert 04-03

10. IHOG IHOG Chapter 2 “Pg. 2-5, paragraph just below the “IMPORTANT NOTE:” Replace current paragraph with: “State and Local agencies may have other minimum requirements for personnel and aircraft. Alaska agencies such as the Alaska Fire Service (AFS) have different staffing requirements when operating in Alaska. However, at a minimum, a Manager must be ordered and assigned to all Exclusive Use and Call When Needed Helicopters in Alaska”.

11. IHOG IHOG Chapter 3 • Risk assessment process simplified and standardized • New Risk Assessment Worksheet added • “Aviation Watch Out Situations” added as an Exhibit and can be used as a Rapid Risk Assessment.

12. IHOG IHOG Chapter 7 • Verbiage accommodates new Load Calculation form, terms and instructions • Language added to allow electronic Load Calculation • Policy now states that HOGE allowable payloads should be used for first-time landings at unimproved sites.

13. IHOG IHOG Chapter 9 • PPE requirements simplified for flight and ground operations (Chart 9-1, 9-2) • Flight Suits or Nomex Shirt/Pants are both acceptable for all personnel • Flight Helmet/Hardhat requirement for firefighters clarified with new definition of “Managed” Helispot & Helibase: “…considered to be managed when there is a helicopter crewmember or helispot manager in place on the ground before the firefighters are delivered to the Helispot/Helibase.”

14. IHOG IHOG Chapter 10 • New emergency seating positions; based only on type of restraint system available • Example: shoulder harness for forward facing rear seat passenger. • Change in standard passenger briefing to include normal and emergency operation of doors to meet FAA requirements.

15. IHOG IHOG Chapter 11 • Clarification on when and how a swivel should be used • Allows manual cargo hook release to be checked only once per day, if requested by contractor • Clarifies horizontal rotor clearance required for long-line operations (defined as standard Safety Circle appropriate to type of helicopter)

16. IHOG IHOG Chapter 14 • Turbine Engine Power Assurance check requirements are clarified to allow for alternate documentation and non-numeric results (ex: correct vs. incorrect, above spec vs. below spec)

17. IHOG IHOG Appendices • Appendix A & B “HCM and HBM Forms/Checklists” revised/updated. • Appendix G “Helibase Crew Reference & Daily Checklist” deleted. • Appendix J “Incident/Project Helicopter Ops & Safety Evaluation” deleted.

18. IHOG IHOG IHOG Appendices • Appendix L “Helicopter Makes and Models” deleted. • Appendix M “Crash/Rescue Diagrams” new models added

19. IHOG IHOG Forms Package • Package consists of three parts: HCM, HBM, HJA (Helicopter Job Aids) • Some forms were deleted (HCM-10, HCM-13, ICS forms, HBM-4, HBM-6) • All forms revised and some renumbered

20. IHOG IHOG Forms Package • All forms capable of electronic completion (Microsoft Excel) • Some forms may be “linked” for future automation (Daily Diary, Daily Cost Sheet, Electronic Payment Document, Year-End Reports.