Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation 

	Subcommittee

	Organization Intent

**Contents**

	1  Identification

	2  Strategic Intent

	    2.1  Vision

	    2.2  Purpose

	    2.3  Mission

	    2.4  Responsibility

	3  Scope

	4  Authorities

	    4.1  Delegation of Authority

	5  Organization Structure & Relationships

	    5.1  Relationships

	    5.2  Stakeholders & Partners

	6  Membership

	    6.1  General

	    6.2  Primary

	    6.3  Associate

	7  Products & Services

	Thursday, March 07, 2013	Page 1 of 3

Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation 	Organization Intent

**1  Identification**

	The Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation Subcommittee (SASES) is an active interagency, NWCG 

	subcommittee informally known as the SASES, known herein as the Subcommittee.

**2  Strategic Intent**

**2.1  Vision:**

	Smokejumper aircraft and paracargo aircraft involving NWCG agencies and partners are standardized and safe.

**2.2  Purpose:**

	The Subcommittee has been established to evaluate and approve smokejumper aircraft, paracargo aircraft, and 

related aircraft accessories.  This includes evaluation of new aircraft proposed for smokejumper and/or paracargo operations and continued oversight of approved aircraft.

**2.3  Mission:**

	SASES serves the NIAC as a body of smokejumper aircraft, paracargo aircraft and related accessories experts.

	The mission goals are:

	•	Develop and provide criteria, engineering data, and procedures for the testing and evaluation of aircraft 

	proposed to be used as smokejumper and paracargo delivery platforms.  Serve as a central source for 

	such information to all using agencies.

	•	Keep informed of new and improved aircraft and related accessories, which could improve the overall 

	safety and efficiency of the smokejumper mission.

	•	Maintain the SASES manual

	•	Promote and coordinate the ongoing development and improvement of previously accepted aircraft 

	accessories and equipment.

	•	Provide a standard aircraft evaluation plan for the introduction, evaluation, and selection of new 

	Smokejumper aircraft and/or paracargo aircraft.

	•	Review and evaluate final reports, and other relevant data, upon completion of the new aircraft 

	evaluation process.  Determine whether the subject aircraft should/should not be added to the list of 

	approved aircraft.

	•	Review and evaluate new aircraft proposals submitted by sponsoring units to determine whether further 

	evaluation and testing should, or should not, be conducted.

	•	Review and evaluate reports from using agencies, concerning problems with specific smokejumper 

	aircraft, or aircraft related accessories and determine the appropriate corrective action, to include 

	possible removal from the list of approved aircraft.

**2.4  Responsibility:**

	The Subcommittee is primarily responsible for providing interagency guidance to smokejumper and paracargo 

	aviation management.  SASES will maintain a list of aircraft approved for smokejumper and/or paracargo 

	operations.

**3  Scope**

	The scope of the Subcommittee is described as:

	The approving authority for smokejumper aircraft and paracargo aircraft used to meet wildland fire program 

	objectives.

**4  Authorities**

	The Subcommittee is established under the following authorities:

	•	National Interagency Aviation Committee Charter

	The Subcommittee is established by the following documented agreements:

**4.1  Delegation of Authority**

	The Subcommittee is delegated the authority to:

	•	Create task teams. This authority is not delegable to subgroups.

	Thursday, March 07, 2013	Page 2 of 3

Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation 	Organization Intent

**5  Organization Structure & Relationships**

	The Subcommittee is one of several subcommittees under NIAC, each having responsibilities for a specific aviation-

	related business area.

The Subcommittee shall meet annually to review and evaluate new aircraft, aircraft accessories, and project proposals. 

**5.1  Relationships:**

	The Subcommittee is a subgroup of the National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC).

	The Subcommittee succeeds and replaces the Smokejumper Aircraft Screening and Evaluation Board 

	(SASEB).

**5.2  Stakeholders & Partners**

	The USDA Forest Service (FS), DOI Office of Aviation Services (OAS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

	are the primary participants and stakeholders to this Subcommittee.

	Other aviation management agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal 

	Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) may be consulted on 

	an as needed basis.

	Aviation industry partners such as manufacturers may be consulted on an as needed basis.

**6  Membership**

**6.1  General :**

	The Subcommittee is composed of six primary (voting) and one associate (non-voting) members.  The primary 

	members representing FS are appointed by the Assistant Director of Fire and Aviation; OAS: appointed by the 

	Associate Director; BLM: appointed by the Director of Fire and Aviation.  A representative of the FS Missoula 

	Technology and Development Center will serve as an associate member.

	The Chair is assigned from within the primary membership of the Subcommittee and serves concurrently as a 

	primary member.

**6.2  Primary :**

	DOI Office of Aviation Services (2)

	DOI Bureau of Land Management (2)

	USDA Forest Service (2)

**6.3  Associate :**

	USDA Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center (1)

	At the discretion of the Chair, technical advisors may be added as associate members.

**7  Products & Services**

	The SASES Manual.  The five parts of the manual are:

	A list of approved smokejumper aircraft, paracargo aircraft, and related accessories

	Criteria for evaluation and acceptance of new smokejumper aircraft and/or paracargo aircraft and related accessories

	Performance parameters for each approved smokejumper aircraft and/or paracargo aircraft

	Smokejumper aircraft evaluation plan

	List of SASES members

	Technical assistance, problem solving, corrective action, on-going development and improvement with specific 

	smokejumper aircraft and/or paracargo aircraft and related accessories

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