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Busy airspace

A drone on a launch pad while a large forest fire burns in the background.
Note: While unauthorized drones in restricted airspace can halt firefighting air operations, the Forest Service is increasingly incorporating uncrewed aerial systems in wildfire operations.  From 2019 to 2025 the Forest Service has increased drone flights by 2,483% on active incidents (…
#Drones, #UAS, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Safety, #Fire, #Firesafety, #Flying, #Recreation, #Aviation

Filming and Photography

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Cameraman McCarthy and Director Chas. MacDonald on location during the filming of the “Blessing” on Hot springs, Montana, Beaverhead National Forest. (USDA Forest Service photo). How the Forest Service manages filming and photography authorizations changed with the passage of the Expanding…
#Filming, #Photos, #CommercialUse, #Permitting, #SpecialUsePermits, #Policy, #UnmannedAircraftSystems, #Drones, #UAS, #Recreation, #SpecialUses

Superior National Forest harnesses regional partners, drone technology to achieve extraordinary task

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An operator pilots an unmanned aircraft to visually survey parcels included in the proposed land sale. The multi-forest survey team employed unmanned aircraft systems to inspect parcels difficult to access on foot. (USDA Forest Service photo by Barbara Thompson) MINNESOTA — The Superior National Forest,…
#Drones, #SuperiorNationalForest

Drones help make fighting fires safer, cheaper, better throughout Rocky Mountain Region

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UAS operator and crew discuss the plan for collecting aerial images for the Oak Ridge Fire using an Alta X UAS. (USDA Forest Service photo) COLORADO — When some people hear the word drones, they think of the ones used to help get photos and measurements of their roof for a roof replacement, of the drone…
#Drones

Aviation Lessons Learned

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Interagency (IALL) and Forest Service (FSALL) Lessons Learned  Aviation Lessons Learned are purple-bordered and will be utilized to disseminate lessons learned from mishaps and their subsequent investigations.IALL 202626-03 Flight Distraction and Complacency, (PDF, 429 KB)26-02 In Flight Distractions, (PDF, 355 KB)26-01 Channelized Attention, (PDF, 246 KB)IALL 202525-06 Aeronautical…
#Fire, #FireAndAviationManagement, #Firefighters, #Drones, #Aviation, #FederalAviationAdministration, #FirefighterSafety, #Safety

Drones capture past, future of land management on White Mountain NF

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Becky Huncilman in the Moat Mountain Range on the Saco Ranger District of the White Mountain National Forest. USDA Forest Service photo by Becky Huncilman. NEW HAMPSHIRE—When Becky Huncilman started her journey to become an unmanned aerial system pilot, she was thinking about the future.“I wanted to jump on board before it really…
#Drones, #Technology, #Restoration, #Streams