The purpose of this course is to provide the aviation user with a foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities, to safely utilize aircraft to accomplish agency missions. Topics include Mission Preparation and Planning, Pilot and Aircraft Briefings, Operational Safety, Post-Flight Duties, and UAS. 

Note: A-100 now Incorporates A-116 General Awareness Security Training, which is no longer a separate course.

The purpose of this course is to provide the aviation user with a foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities, to safely utilize aircraft to accomplish agency missions. Topics include Mission Preparation and Planning, Pilot and Aircraft Briefings, Operational Safety, Post-Flight Duties, and UAS. 

Note: A-100 now Incorporates A-116 General Awareness Security Training, which is no longer a separate course.

This course will give students an understanding of the National Airspace System (NAS), FAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) System, and Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) that contribute to the flow of all air traffic safely to prevent mid-air collisions.

This course provides a basic understanding on the operation of aircraft radios, including:

• VHF-AM
• Multi-channel Radios
• Agency required Radios

Also covers:

• Communications Requirements
• Radio Tones and their use
• Communications Systems within aircraft

And includes:

• Use of Air Guard
• Frequency Management
• Radio Discipline

The Aviation Transportation of Hazardous Materials course purpose is to ensure flight safety when transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT). This includes HAZMAT aboard, attached to, or suspended from government aircraft, under the exclusive direction and operational control of the Department of the Interior (DOI), the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USDA-FS), or other Grantees with a written Grantee Status.

This training complies with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations General Requirements, whereby agency employees who transport hazardous materials by air must receive training on the requirements and conditions under the terms of the DOT Special Permit-9198.

Topics may include:

• Handling Procedures
• Policy Requirements
• Mishap Notification
• Packaging
• Identifying Hazardous Materials
• Safety Requirements

This course covers the basic duties and responsibilities required when ordering and coordinating flights.

Topics include:

• How to Plan for a Flight
• Information Required to Order a Flight
• Flight Manager Responsibilities
• Flight Following Requirements
• Pilot Flight and Duty Limitations
• Pilot and Aircraft Approval

This course was specifically designed for US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USDA-FS) employees that utilize aircraft in the Alaska Region (Region 10) of the USDA-FS.

This course provides an overview of the AFF system. Emphasis is on using the web-based application and the procedures utilized by dispatchers and aircrews.

This course provides a fundamental understanding of standard aircraft marshalling hand signals to be utilized by Fixed-Wing Parking Tenders. The role of the Fixed-Wing Parking Tender (FWPT) is an important element of managing aircraft movement in the vicinity of the ramp. The aircraft FWPT provides the essential visual link to assist the flight crew in positioning the aircraft correctly. The responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft on the ground rests with the flight crew, however, the ground crew, including FWPTs, have the duty of care to provide the flight crew with the correct guidance information. In addition, to ensure that the possibility of accidental damage is mitigated with the use of best practices at all times.

This course provides an annual overview of the National Transportation Safety Board releasable information from the DOI and USDA-FS aviation mishaps and lessons learned. Instructors authorized to teach this course are required to coordinate with the appropriate agency DOI OAS Chief, Aviation Safety, Training, Program Evaluations & Quality Management, or USDA-FS Regional Aviation Safety Manager (RASM).

For additional USDA-FS information, contact the USDA-FS National Aviation Training Program Manager.

This course is designed to provide participants with knowledge of the aviation management organizations within the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USDA-FS).

This course covers provides students an understanding of the National Airspace System (NAS) that contributes to the flow of all air traffic safely in an effort to protect persons, property, and prevent mid-air collisions. The course presents basic airspace information as it might pertain to land management agencies.

Instruction will include how to read and plot on an aeronautical sectional and a Department of Defense (DOD) AP1/B flight information publication book and charts. The class focuses on mapping skills, including how to plot a latitude and longitude and convert it to a bearing and distance. Exercises involve map reading and risk management analysis of airspace.

This course provides a fundamental understanding of aircraft performance, capabilities and limitations derived from the basics of aerodynamics, aircraft structure, and flight controls for both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Understanding these parameters provides the knowledge to select the best aircraft to utilize for each mission.

This course stresses the fundamentals of aircraft performance planning, to include:

• Weight
• Balance
• Environmental Factors

This course provides a basic introduction to Risk Management, Safety Management Systems (SMS), and Operational Risk Management (ORM), and the ability to apply these principles in Bureau/Agency aviation environments.

This course provides a basic understanding of policies and procedures so the student can successfully participate in the planning, scheduling, tracking, and completion of an aircraft flight plan.

The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of policy requirements and benefits associated with approving the following, prior to the agency/bureau mission:

• Aircraft
• Pilots
• Mechanics
• Support Equipment

This course provides technical training on how to work with helicopters in a natural resource environment. Includes information on:

• Operational Planning
• Load Calculations
• Takeoff and Landing Areas
• Personnel and Cargo Transportation
• Fueling
• Specialized Missions

This course shows how to perform pre-use inspection on a helicopter and on a fixed-wing aircraft.

This course provides technical training and procedures for agency personnel performing helicopter external load operations. Participants will receive classroom and field training and will be asked to demonstrate proper procedures to safely conduct helicopter external load operations. Participants will be given the opportunity to develop the skills to safely perform hover hookups and/or longline operations, via a live helicopter. The Instructor may choose to incorporate one or both activities.

Interagency Aviation Trainer (IAT) qualification. This 32-hour course is designed to provide training to select employees with aviation and training backgrounds to qualify them as Interagency Aviation Trainers (IATs). Course emphasis is on increasing program knowledge and enhancing presentation skills.

The purpose of this course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to safely instruct the A-312 Water Ditching & Survival course. Scheduling this course requires authorization from the DOI OAS Chief ASTPE, or USDA-FS NATPM.

This course designed to assist students with maintaining currency as an IAT Instructor, providing a review and update of current IAT Instructor policies and processes (i.e., IAT website course offerings webpage, class roster, instructor/student course evaluations) and training techniques that support the instructor in successfully delivering IAT courses.

This course provides an understanding of personal and organizational responsibility and liability in aviation program operations.

This course provides the basic principles of human behavior relevant to general aviation accident prevention and the human physiological and psychological factors that affects aircrew performance.

This course provides an overview of what aviation managers should look for to ensure that proper aircraft maintenance is being performed. Topics include:

• Roles and Responsibilities
• The Maintenance Process
• Return to Service
• Return to Contract Availability

This course presents the practical application of deliberate risk management techniques, tools, and resources and how they may be used to identify hazards and to assess risks in natural resource aviation operations. Information presented will allow the students to utilize the five steps of the risk management process and the 5M Risk Model, as well as working through an operation risk scenario utilizing risk management tools. The course references relevant elements from the following:

• Air Force Pamphlet 90-803
• FAA Systems Safety Handbook - Chapter 15
• NWCG standards for Aviation Risk Management PMS 530
• NWCG Aviation Risk Management Workbook PMS 530-1
• DOI OPM-06 Aviation Management Plans

This course covers both DOI AQD/USDA-FS aviation contracts and was designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to administer aviation contracts.

The focus of the course will be:

• Roles and Responsibilities
• Policy
• Contract Typesv
• Procurement Process
• Payment
• Documentation
• Emergency Hiring of Aircraft

This course provides participants with a working knowledge of aviation directive systems within each agency for the management and use of government aircraft (e.g., DOI Departmental Manuals and USDA-FS Forest Service Manual 5700).

The purpose of this course is to understand the layout and information contained in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This information is used to support performance planning requirements of the Helicopter Manager-Resource position.

The purpose of this course is to provide participants with an overview of crew resource management (CRM) skills and techniques, and to illustrate the importance of practicing CRM to accomplish safe aviation operations. Topics covered include:

• Situational Awareness
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Task Allocation
• Decision Making

Note: USDA-FS requires N9059/RT9059

This course provides aviation personnel with an overview of the aviation planning process for state and federal agencies, including how and when to prepare an Aviation Plan.

This purpose of this course is to provide classroom and hands-on training to better prepare students in the event they experience an aircraft water ditching.

This course provides a synopsis of US Forest Service aviation program management and overview, as it relates to Line Officers and Supervisors responsibilities. The course units are broken up into the 4 components (pillars) of Aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS) to provide the framework for the course content.

This course provides the participants with the knowledge of the proper procedures to follow in the event of water ditching of an aircraft; to include discussion on egress, hypothermia, utilization of PFDs, life raft, and water survival equipment. The course is an academic refresher ONLY.

The refresher course is required by USFWS only, but other Bureaus/Agencies may benefit by taking this course.

This is the fundamental small UAS course for individuals wanting to become qualified to operate small UAS for the Department of the Interior (DOI)/US Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USDA-FS). A-450 will utilize small UAS aircraft (less than 55lbs) to provide the basic academic and flight training necessary to conduct missions as Remote Pilot-in-Command (RPIC) for DOI/FS.

Candidates must be nominated by National UAS Program Managers or designee.

Students should meet the prerequisite requirements prior to attending A-450. Some required IAT courses may not be available prior to A-450 training selection, but UAS pilots must complete all IAT training requirements within 6 months of A-450 selection.

Note: For further information, contact your DOI National Aviation Manager or USFS Regional UAS Specialist for guidance regarding how to begin a UAS program.

Remote Pilots must complete UAS Refresher Training (A-452R), or approved equivalent, every 24 months, following the issuance of their UAS Pilot Qualification card (OAS-30U).

Current DOI/USDA-FS Remote Pilots participating in either A-450 or A452R, as a student or an instructor, will receive credit for refresher training. This training can be completed 4 months in advance, or within 30 days after, the date of expiration on the OAS-30U, and shall be documented on the Interagency Aviation Training (IAT) website.

Whether or not you complete A-452R before or after your expiration date, you will retain your original carding date.

Remote Pilots operating low complexity UAS will be able to complete this requirement via distance learning opportunities. Remote Pilots operating more complex aircraft may be required to attend a refresher course in-person. For further information, see DOI OPM-11 DOI Use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Forest Service Standards for UAS Operations.

This course is for individuals who have previously attended A-450 Small UAS Basic Remote Pilot Course. Students receiving add-on UAS training need to be approved by their supervisors and appropriate UAS managers. Contact your National Bureau UAS Manager or Regional UAS Specialist for further information.

This course is an overview and introduction to small UAS aircraft operations. It gives the participant a brief history, overview, and application of small UAS. This is not an operator course. This course will provide managers an overview of how to begin a small UAS program, along with the requirements for operating a small UAS in the National Airspace System, and while working for the DOI/USDA-FS.