USDA Forest Service and Interagency Aviation Publications
Forest Service and interagency publications are the primary vehicles by which Forest Service and Interagency policy and standards are transmitted. Publications include manuals, handbooks, standards, guides, plans, and other documents.
Publications are distributed through hard copy print, web pages, mobile device applications, and other digital media. Web portals include key information that is updated on a continuous schedule.
Interagency Aviation Safety Alerts are hosted on the Department of Interior - Office of Aviation Services website
Flight Request Justification Approval Administrative Use Aircraft (AUA-1), (PDF, 216 KB)
FS-5700-11 Cost Comparison Travel Worksheet, (PDF, 114 KB)
FS-5700-12 Day Trip Authorization, (PDF, 174 KB)
National and Regional Report of Annual Administrative Flight Use (AUA-2), (PDF, 129 KB)
2022, (PDF, 650 KB)
2021, (PDF, 808 KB)
2020, (PDF, 720 KB)
2019, (PDF, 1.0 MB)
2018, (PDF, 1.1 MB)
2017, (PDF, 1.2 MB)
2016, (PDF, 986 KB)
2015, (PDF, 3.5 MB)
2014, (PDF, 3.1 MB)
2013, (PDF, 976 KB)
2012, (PDF, 565 KB)
Aerial Firefighting Use and Effectiveness (AFUE) Final Report, March 2020, (PDF, 2.46 MB)
Administrative Use of Aircraft Guide, (PDF) (695 KB)
Aircraft Inspector Guide 2025, (PDF, 6 MB)
Airworthiness Assurance Guide for Aerial Firefighting & Natural Resources Aircraft, (PDF, 1 MB)
Aviation Management Handbook - FSH 5709.16
Aviation Management Manual - FSM 5700
Aviation Strategic Plan: 2022 - 2026, (PDF, 8.2 MB)
Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) Guide, (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Airtanker Operations, (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Operations, (PDF, 838 KB)
Forest Service Standards for Multi-Engine Water Scooper Operations, (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Short-Haul Operations, (PDF, 15 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations, (PDF, 5.8 MB)
Forest Service Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Airworthiness Evaluation Standards and Approval Process, (PDF, 1.2 MB)
National Aviation Safety Management System Guide 2024 - 2026, (PDF, 924 KB)
National Night Air Operations Plan, (PDF, 642 KB)
RAM-Air Parachute System Operations Plan, (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Standards for Aerial Supervision Operations, (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Standards for Rappel Operations - January 2024 Edition, (PDF, 14.7 MB)
Working Capital Fund Aircraft Users Guide, (PDF, 996 KB)
Aircraft Dispatch Form, Proposed version, (PDF, 34 KB)
Airtanker Base Directory (Located on the Fire Enterprise Geospatial Portal website)
Aviation Technical Assistance Directory
DOT Special Permit Authorization DOT-SP 9198, (PDF, 598 KB)
Emergency Helicopter Extraction Source List
Forest Service DOT SP-9198 Grantee Letter, (PDF, 95 KB)
Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, (PDF, 4 MB)
Interagency Aircraft Dispatch form, (PDF fillable form, 4 MB)
Interagency Airplane Pilot Practical Test Standards 2012 (Revision 2.0), (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Interagency Aviation Life Support Equipment Guide 202, Version 3.0, (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Interagency Aviation Training Guide, (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Interagency Helicopter Pilot Practical Test Standards 2015, Version 2.0, (PDF, 611 KB)
Standards for Smokejumper Operations, (PDF, 894 KB)
Interagency Smokejumper Pilot Operations Guide, (PDF, 2.3 MB)
National Interagency Mobilization Guide
National Smokejumper Training Guide - Forest Service, (PDF, 5.3 MB)
NWCG Aviation Mishap Response Guide and Checklist, (PDF, 1.4 MB)
NWCG Standards for Aerial Ignition, (PDF, 935 KB)
NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision,
Aerial Supervision Logbook, (PDF, 964 KB)
NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination, (PDF, 13 MB)
NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations,
NWCG Standards for Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials, (PDF, 211 KB)
NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations, (PDF, 8.6 MB)
NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Aircraft Operations, (PDF, 491 KB)
R-2508 Complex INF Simulcast Radio "Cross-Talk" Use Guide, (PDF, 355 KB)