![](media/image1.png){width="1.3840277777777779in"
height="1.2493055555555554in"}**GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy**

**Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP)**

**ICAP Member Agencies**

ICAP agencies use aircraft for firefighting, law enforcement, weather
prediction, natural resource support, homeland security, space research,
and beyond. This brochure provides a description of the ICAP's largest
non-military aircraft programs. Other ICAP member agencies not included
in this brochure include the Tennessee Valley Authority, Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran's
Affairs.

Non-Defense Federal agencies own about 1,500 aircraft and rent, charter,
or contract for the use other aircraft. All civilian agencies are
required to report cost and utilization information to GSA through the
electronic Federal Aviation Interactive Reporting System (FAIRS).

The 2007, non-Defense government owned aircraft logged 308,000 flying
hours at a cost of \$688.6M.

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**What is the ICAP?**

The General Services Administration (GSA) established the Interagency
Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) in 1989 at the direction of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Eighteen Federal agencies are
members of the ICAP. With advice from the ICAP, GSA makes policy for
Federal aviation management. The ICAP coordinates the policy views of
the Federal aviation community and also assists agencies in providing
aviation services to support their missions. GSA chairs and facilitates
the committee, provides support for aviation management, and operates a
management information system to collect and report data related to
Federal aviation operations.

The ICAP develops and accomplishes its objectives through various
subcommittees, which currently include the following:

Acquisition, Use, and Disposal

Communications

Management Data and Systems

Safety Standards and Training

The ICAP sponsors Federal aviation manager training and issues a number
of informative publications, including the Common Aviation Management
Information System Standard, the Federal Aviation Cost Accounting Guide,
operations manual guides, and inspection planning guides. Ongoing ICAP
efforts include development of safety standards guidelines for Federal
flight programs, fleet modernization planning, development of
performance measures and benchmarks, Aviation Resource Management
Surveys (ARMS), and cost and utilization data reported in the Federal
Aviation Interactive Reporting System (FAIRS).

**Department of Agriculture (USDA)**

Three agencies in USDA use aircraft: The Agricultural Research Service's
(ARS) aircraft support research on airborne entomological radar systems
and on delivery systems for aerial application of agricultural materials
to control crop pests. ARS acquires aerial images for research studies
in agriculture, including range land, soil, water quality, and other
natural resources.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) uses its aircraft
to support pest control, emergency pest outbreaks, sterile insect
dispersal wildlife management, predator control, and the monitoring of
aerial application contractors. APHIS aircraft are also used for
research and development.

The Forest Service's (USFS) aircraft deliver personnel and equipment to
remote areas for firefighting. USFS firefighters dispense water and
chemical fire retardants from the air and use cameras to take aerial
photos, video, and infrared imagery. USFS aviation also supports law
enforcement, surveys, and other activities for the management and
protection of nearly 188 million acres of National Forest System lands.

**Department of Commerce (DOC)**

DOC operates a variety of aircraft through the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). All DOC aircraft are modified to
perform atmospheric research, air chemistry, photogrammetry,
aeronautical charting, coastal mapping, snow surveying, fishery survey,
marine mammal research, LIDAR nautical charting, and logistical support
to scientific parties.

**Department of Energy (DOE)**

DOE has a small fleet of aircraft, which they use for transportation of
cargo, sensitive nuclear materials, and other hazardous materials; power
line patrol; installation security; and multi-spectral photography. Most
of DOE's aircraft are extensively modified to perform their particular
missions. Additionally, DOE uses special aircraft, primarily unpiloted
aerial systems, in atmospheric and energy research.

**Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)**

HHS does not own or operate any aircraft. However, the Indian Health
Service charters aircraft as needed to transport emergency medical
patients and occasionally medical personnel, supplies, and equipment in
remote areas of the western U.S. and Alaska. In addition, the Centers
for Disease Control lease specially equipped aircraft to carry medical
and biological materials.

**Department of Homeland Security (DHS)**

DHS operates aircraft to support the operations of the Customs Border
Protection (CBP) and to support law enforcement operations, including
investigative support and drug enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard uses a
specialized fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to support
search and rescue, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental
response, ice operations, aids to navigation, and boating safety. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may also hire aircraft.

**Department of the Interior (DOI)**

DOI\'s responsibilities entail management of natural, cultural, and
historic resources throughout the United States and U.S. Territories.
DOI\'s eight resource management bureaus (including the U.S. Geological
Survey, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) use aviation services to support
natural resource missions. Aircraft are required for law enforcement,
wildlife management (animal capture and tracking), wild land
firefighting, scientific research, and other uses. Aircraft ensure
access to remote areas that are not easily accessible by vehicles and
the aircraft are often used to support high-risk missions like
firefighting. Commercial aviation companies deliver over 90 percent of
DOI\'s aviation support services, with annual usage fluctuating based on
the severity of the fire season. To maximize efficiency, effectiveness,
and especially safety, DOI has established a centralized aviation
service in the Aviation Management Directorate of the DOI National
Business Center, which provides management oversight, administrative
support, and technical expertise to the bureaus on aviation matters.

**Department of Justice (DOJ)**

DOJ operates aircraft to support the operations of the U.S. Marshals
Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement
Administration. Justice's use of aircraft supports two broad mission
areas: law enforcement, including investigative support; and
transportation of prisoners and illegal aliens.

**Department of State (DOS)**

The DOS Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
(INL) operates helicopters and airplanes in Central and South America to
assist host nations in the eradication of illicit drugs crops and the
detection, monitoring, and interdiction of drug trafficking operations.
Depending on the host nation agreement, the actual operations of INL
aircraft will vary from DOS contractor personnel to host nation
personnel.

**Department of Transportation (DOT)**

Under DOT, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates aircraft
to accomplish activities such as flight inspection, training, research
and development. FAA's goal is to ensure that all efforts lead toward a
safe, efficient, and effective utilization of the National Airspace
System.

**National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)**

NASA operates a fleet of aircraft for research and development, program
support, and mission management. About a quarter of NASA\'s fleet is
highly modified or leading-edge technology airframes designed to explore
new aeronautical theories or flight regimes. Over sixty of NASA\'s
aircraft are designated as program support aircraft designed to be
platforms for aeronautical research, to carry specific projects, or to
train space shuttle crewmembers. The remaining aircraft are used for
administrative purposes to transport passengers on official government
business in support of NASA\'s operations.

**National Science Foundation (NSF)**

NSF maintains a small fleet of aircraft to support research and
education in the [atmospheric](http://www.eol.ucar.edu/welcome.html) and
oceanographic sciences and in [polar
programs](http://www.nsf.gov/home/polar/). The fleet is currently
performing the following missions: 1) long-range observations over
remote tropical and oceanic regions critical to studies of the global
climate; 2) studies of the kinematics and thermodynamic structure of the
troposphere (including boundary layer studies); 3) studies of
atmospheric chemistry and aerosols in the troposphere; and 4) cloud
physics including penetration of convective clouds.

**FOR MORE INFORMATION**

Visit the internet homepage of the Aircraft Management Policy, General
Services Administration (GSA), http://www.gsa.gov/aviationpolicy