Helicopter Manager

March 13, 2019

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

HELICOPTER MANAGER

1. Basic OPM Requirements for this Position

 Refer to the OPM Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Technical and Medical 

Support positions

2. Specialized Experience

In addition to a minimum of one year of creditable specialized wildland fire management 

experience equivalent to the next lower grade level applicants must meet the 

requirements identified in the current Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation 

Operations .

3. NWCG Incident Management Qualifications - Currency Required*

Primary Core Requirement Secondary Core Requirement

HEBM ICT4

4. Additional required training as presented in the following courses, or agency 

equivalent:

 None

Common grade level: GS-9 (Note: Actual grade level will depend on the duties and 

responsibilities of the position.)

Selective Factor Justifications

 HEBM and ICT4 are national standards for this position contained in the Interagency 

Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations for an exclusive-use helicopter module.

 The HEBM qualification provides the knowledge and experience needed in the planning 

and coordination of complex air operations.

 ICT4 is the command qualification for the second lowest complexity incident. The 

Helicopter Manager needs to have this qualification as they are typically the initial attack 

responder for many Type 4 incidents.

Employee Development Training - Employee should receive the following developmental 

training, (or agency equivalent) to fully achieve competencies:

 S-200 “Initial Attack Incident Commander Type 4"

 S-260 “Incident Business Management Principles”
Helicopter Manager

March 13, 2019

 40-Hour Supervisory Training

 Aerial Ignition Equipment Techniques appropriate to area

 M-581, Fire Program Management- An Overview

 Contracting Officers (Authorized) Representative (COR) training

 Federal Aviation Regulations 133, 135, 137

 Interagency Helicopter Manager’s Workshop

 Leadership and organizational skills training

 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) Regulations training

*Currency

The Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) Standard identifies currency as a

requirement for certain IFPM positions. The original intent of the Task Group that developed the 

IFPM Standard was to document that currency was defined as “current and qualified” (i.e. “red 

card” qualified). However, it has since been clarified per Office of Personnel Management

(OPM) standards, that currency cannot be used as a selective factor because it does not meet the 

OPM’s definition of a selective factor

(http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-06.asp).

The following points are intended to provide clarification for Human Resources (HR) and Fire 

Management regarding the term “currency”:

1. “Currency” will now be defined pursuant to the Wildland Fire Qualification System

Guide (PMS 310-1).

2. Federal bureaus cannot use “currency” to screen out applicants. As long as applicants can 

produce documentation that they have obtained the IFPM competencies at some point (as 

validated by the Incident Qualifications and Currency System (IQCS) Master Record or 

equivalent documentation), they will meet the IFPM Selective Factors.

3. The hiring official can use “currency” as justification for selection. However, for

Delegated Examining advertisements, currency cannot be a reason to pass over a person who is a 

qualifying veteran.

4. As indicated in the IFPM Standard, certain positions still require the employee to remain 

current and qualified (i.e. “red card” qualified). If an applicant is selected less “currency”, or an 

incumbent loses “currency”, the employee and management must develop a plan for regaining 

currency.