SINGLE SKID, TOE-IN, AND HOVER EXIT/ENTRY PROCEDURES

Definition

STEP is defined as Single-Skid, Toe-In and Hover Exit/Entry Procedures. There are three

separate STEP maneuvers to be conducted in this mission profile: 

• Single-skid: One skid or a portion of one skid is in contact with the surface while the

other skid is (due to terrain considerations) not in contact with the surface.

• Toe-in: The toes (forward portion of the skids) are in contact with the surface, while the

rear portion of the skids are not in contact with the surface.

• Hover: The helicopter remains in a hover above the surface of the terrain.

Background

STEP is a common flight maneuver that has been used throughout the world for many years by

the military, law enforcement, SAR and heli-skiing. The National Park Service has utilized STEP

for many years for rescue, fire, animal capture and utility projects. Prior to STEP being approved

for BLM wildland fire, it had been used extensively by BLM cadastral crews in Alaska since

2003, with each Alaska exclusive use helicopter conducting 200-300 operational STEPs

annually. In 2015 Salt Lake Helitack became the first BLM fire suppression helitack program to

be approved for emergency firefighter STEP operations. In 2017 the program was approved for

firefighter insertion/extraction.

Justification

Single Skid, Toe-In, and Hover Exit/Entry Procedures (STEP) support the timely initial attack of

wildland fires by providing insertion of firefighters, as well as allowing for the evacuation of

injured or incapacitated wildland firefighters where the slope or nature of the terrain does not meet

helicopter flight manual requirements for full skid tube placement, or zero pitch (no lift produced)

in the rotor blades. Much of the Western U.S. landscape and particularly the Great Basin is

conducive to STEP operations i.e., sage flats, ridgelines, and rocky outcroppings.

STEP landings expedite a more efficient and effective way to insert personnel when confronted

with difficult landing zones in mountainous and steep angle terrain. Such landings allow

trained firefighters or rescue personnel to be inserted near wildland fires and accident scenes that

may otherwise be difficult to access with a helicopter. In addition to extricating a “yellow” or “red”

patient a STEP extraction of a “green patient” would be acceptable when the patient is in terrain

that could pose a hazard to crews trying to extricate them over steep and difficult terrain. In

addition to providing access and egress during emergencies, these landings also reduce the amount

of time firefighters and rescuers spend approaching potentially complex and dangerous fire

environments.

Operations

An approved annual operations plan outlines minimum policies, procedures, qualifications, 

training requirements and equipment for a STEP program utilizing the associated exclusive use

helicopter. Prior to STEP operations, the Incident Commander (IC), dispatch or the assigned Air
Attack will be notified. Prior to any STEP mission, the STEP Helicopter Manager will brief all

personnel involved as to the nature of the mission, location, and pertinent information to

accomplish the objective. The information will include the anticipated STEP procedure (Toe-In,

Single Skid or Hover), environmental concerns (e.g., weather, wind, terrain, landing areas,

pressure altitude, LCES, safety zones, aerial and other hazards), individual responsibilities, and

incident specific information. An operational risk assessment utilizing the STEP Green Amber

Red (GAR) model will be completed by all STEP participants, including the pilot. The GAR

may be completed on the ground or in flight. The Go/No-Go decision matrix will be reviewed in

flight prior to any STEP procedure.

Currently

Since 2015, BLM fire helitack crews have completed hundreds of operational STEPs and

thousands of initial training and recurrency STEP’s. Today there are currently 5 BLM fire

helitack crews approved for STEP (Elko, Moab, Moki, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake) Common

operational STEPs include initial attack fire suppression, helispot construction and medical

extraction. Recently there has been great interest from other BLM exclusive use helitack crews,

along with other fire agencies including the USFS and BIA. This interest has grown to allow

non-BLM employees to participate in STEP training with the BLM to gain exposure to STEP

operations.