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), December 2024, (PDF fillable form, 216 KB)
FS-5700-11 Cost Comparison Travel Worksheet, May 2019 (PDF, 114 KB)
FS-5700-12 Day Trip Authorization, May 2019, (PDF fillable form, 174 KB)
National and Regional Report of Annual Administrative Flight Use (AUA-2), May 2015, (PDF fillable form, 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, December 2024, (PDF) (695 KB)
Aircraft Inspector Guide 2025, (PDF, 6 MB)
Airworthiness Assurance Guide for Aerial Firefighting & Natural Resources Aircraft, November 2015 (PDF, 1 MB)
Amphibious Water Scooper Aircraft Operations Plan, April 2016 (PDF, 734 KB)
Aviation Management Handbook - FSH 5709.16 website
Aviation Management Manual - FSM 5700 website
Aviation Strategic Plan: 2022 - 2026, May 2022, (PDF, 8.2 MB)
Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) Guide, November 2021 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Airtanker Operations, May 2025, (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Short-Haul Operations 2024, (PDF, 15 MB)
Forest Service Standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations, June 2025, (PDF, 5.8 MB)
Forest Service Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Airworthiness Evaluation Standards and Approval Process, July 2023, (PDF, 1.2 MB)
National Aviation Safety Management System Guide 2024 - 2026, October 2023, (PDF, 924 KB)
National Night Air Operations Plan, April 2017, (PDF, 642 KB)
MAFFS Operating Plan, May 2025, (PDF, 778 KB)
MAFFS Operating Plan - Appendices, May 2025, (PDF, 1.5 MB)
RAM-Air Parachute System Operations Plan, October 2018, (PDF, 2.4 MB)
Standards for Aerial Supervision Operations, June 2019, (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Standards for Rappel Operations - January 2024 Edition, (PDF, 14.7 MB)
Working Capital Fund Aircraft Users Guide, September 2016, (PDF, 996 KB)
Aircraft Dispatch Form, Proposed version, May 2018, (PDF, 34 KB)
Airtanker Base Directory (Located on the Fire Enterprise Geospatial Portal website)
Aviation Technical Assistance Directory webpage
DOT Special Permit Authorization DOT-SP 9198, July 2018, (PDF, 598 KB)
Emergency Helicopter Extraction Source List webpage
Forest Service DOT SP-9198 Grantee Letter, USDA Forest Service, March 2018, (PDF, 95 KB)
Guide to Preventing Aquatic Invasive Species Transport by Wildland Fire Operations, January 2017, (PDF, 4 MB)
Interagency Aircraft Dispatch form, May 2021, (PDF fillable form, 4 MB)
Interagency Airplane Pilot Practical Test Standards 2012 (Revision 2.0), October 2012, (PDF, 2.1 MB)
Interagency Aviation Life Support Equipment Guide 202, v. 3, March 2021, (PDF, 1.1 MB)
Interagency Aviation Training Guide, March 2024, (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Interagency Helicopter Pilot Practical Test Standards 2015, Version 2.0, February 2015, (PDF, 611 KB)
Standards for Smokejumper Operations, January 2025, (PDF, 894 KB)
Interagency Smokejumper Pilot Operations Guide, May 2018, (PDF, 2.3 MB)
National Interagency Mobilization Guide (National Interagency Coordination Center, NICC webpage)
National Smokejumper Training Guide - Forest Service, June 2016, (PDF, 5.3 MB)
NWCG Aviation Mishap Response Guide and Checklist, PMS 503, February 2021
NWCG Standards for Aerial Ignition, PMS 501, October 2025
NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505, March 2025
Aerial Supervision Logbook. PMS 509, June 2014
NWCG Standards for Airspace Coordination, PMS 520, May 2025
NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations, PMS 508, March 2025
NWCG Standards for Aviation Transport of Hazardous Materials, PMS 513, February 2018
NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations, PMS 510, May 2023
NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Aircraft Operations, PMS 518, December 2024
R-2508 Complex INF Simulcast Radio "Cross-Talk" Use Guide, March 2019, (PDF, 355 KB)