View Position Qualification

8-509-1171

Name

Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Pilot

Status

Published

Version

1.4

Updated

7/23/2024 1:51:45 PM

Original Release

11/07/2017

Last Major Release

NQS Position

Resource Category

Search and Rescue

Primary Core Capability

Mass Search and Rescue Operations

Secondary Core Capability

Resource Kind

Personnel

Overall Function

The Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Pilot is responsible for aircraft operations and provides air SAR using helicopters to locate lost, stranded, or abandoned individuals

Single resource

In conjunction with a NIMS typed team

NIMS Typed Team

Search and Rescue Aircraft – Helicopter/Rotary Wing

In conjunction with a NIMS typed unit

NIMS Typed Unit

Description Notes

Not Specified

Supporting Core Capabilities
None

Types
Type 1	The SAR Pilot: 1. Conducts air SAR, recovery, and evacuation operations from inside the aircraft 2. Performs air SAR that may include technical rescues using hoist or short-haul techniques 3. Performs specialized helicopter operations in all water environments, including swiftwater 4. Conducts day or night air SAR under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. Aircraft operations may also require flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and use of night vision goggles (NVG), based on the mission as the requestor specifies 5. Reports to the Air Branch Director or Operations Sections Chief, as applicable 6. Operates within the Incident Command System (ICS), in a supervisory position within a National Incident Management System (NIMS) typed Helicopter SAR Crew 7. Plans team level tactics 8. Provides: a. Safety of self and team members b. Basic medical care of self and team members c. Simple decontamination of self and team members d. Basic ground support for helicopter operations 9. Coordinates with ground vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft for operations and support 10. Operates in environments with and without infrastructure, including those affected by disasters and terrorism; with compromised access to roadways, utilities, and transportation; and limited availability of shelter, food, and water

Type 1

The SAR Pilot: 1. Conducts air SAR, recovery, and evacuation operations from inside the aircraft 2. Performs air SAR that may include technical rescues using hoist or short-haul techniques 3. Performs specialized helicopter operations in all water environments, including swiftwater 4. Conducts day or night air SAR under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. Aircraft operations may also require flight under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and use of night vision goggles (NVG), based on the mission as the requestor specifies 5. Reports to the Air Branch Director or Operations Sections Chief, as applicable 6. Operates within the Incident Command System (ICS), in a supervisory position within a National Incident Management System (NIMS) typed Helicopter SAR Crew 7. Plans team level tactics 8. Provides: a. Safety of self and team members b. Basic medical care of self and team members c. Simple decontamination of self and team members d. Basic ground support for helicopter operations 9. Coordinates with ground vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft for operations and support 10. Operates in environments with and without infrastructure, including those affected by disasters and terrorism; with compromised access to roadways, utilities, and transportation; and limited availability of shelter, food, and water

Education

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	Not Specified

Training

Not Specified

Type 1

Completion of the following: 1. IS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100 2. IS-200: Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200 3. IS-700: National Incident Management System, An Introduction 4. IS-800: National Response Framework, An Introduction 5. Basic Aviation Safety: Interagency Aviation Training (IAT) A-100 or equivalent 6. All Hazards SAR Hazard Awareness training that meets or exceeds ASTM International (ASTM) F2890, Standard Guide for Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel 7. Land navigation and survival training that meets or exceeds ASTM F2209, Standard Guide for Training of Level I Land Search Team Member 8. Training of Support Personnel that meets or exceeds ASTM F2751, Standard Guide for Training of Support Level Land Rescue Team Member (LRT-Support)

Experience

Not Specified

Type 1

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Inspects, maintains, and operates personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, devices, and equipment specific to this position and sub-specialties 2. Completes helicopter operations based on resource type and the specifics of the resource order, such as Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), VFR, IFR, and NVG night operations Experience: Completion of a Helicopter SAR Pilot Position Task Book (PTB) or equivalent documentation

Physical/Medical Fitness

The NIMS Guideline for the National Qualification System (NQS) defines Physical/Medical Fitness levels for NIMS positions.

Type 1

1. Arduous 2. Maintains physical fitness standards, in accordance with the AHJ’s Job Related Physical Ability Test (JRPAT) 3. Meets minimum medical fitness standards in accordance with those of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and AHJ 4. Maintains immunizations in accordance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for the United States of America

Currency

Provider must carry out and use any background checks as applicable law specifies. This may include a background check completed within past 12 months; sex-offender registry check; and a local, state, and a local, state, and national criminal history.

Type 1

1. Completes AHJ-defined annual refresher of related skills and emergency procedures in relevant aircraft 2. Functions in this position during an operational incident, planned event, exercise, drill, or simulation at least once every three years 3. Meets all FAA or military standards and requirements for certification and currency in relevant aircraft 4. Background checks as applicable law permits or requires

Professional and Technical Licenses and Certifications

Not Specified

Component Types
Type	Criteria
Type 1	1. FAA Airman Certificate as a Rotorcraft-Helicopter pilot 2. FAA Instrument Helicopter rating or military pilot equivalent 3. AHJ-required BLS-level medical care certification or recertification

Composition and Ordering Specifications
Specification
Discuss logistics for deploying this position, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment

1627

Notes

References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 509: Helicopter Search and Rescue Crew Chief
FEMA, NIMS 509: Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician
FEMA, NIMS 508: Search and Rescue Aircraft - Helicopter/Rotary Wing
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
FEMA, NIMS Guideline for the National Qualification System, November 2017
American National Standards Institute/American Society of Safety Engineers (ANSI/ASSE) Z359.1-2007 Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems & Components
ASTM International (ASTM) F2209-14: Standard Guide for Training of Level I Land Search Team Member, 2014
ASTM, F2751-09: Standard Guide for Training of Support Level Land Rescue Team Member (LRT-Support) Member
Firefighting Resources of Southern California Organized for Potential Emergencies (FIRESCOPE) Field Operations Guide ICS 420-1, December 2012
National Search and Rescue Committee, Catastrophic Incident Search and Rescue (CISAR) Addendum to the National Search and Rescue Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, v. 3, June 2012
NWCG, National Incident Management System Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide, PMS 310-1, Physical Fitness Levels, October 2016
NWCG, Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide (IHOG), PMS 510, February 2013
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 117: Flight and Duty Limitations and Rest Requirements: Flight Crew Members, latest edition adopted
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR Part 1910.120: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.146: Permit-Required Confined Spaces, latest edition adopted

Version	Publish Date	Document Type
Published Versions
1.4	7/23/2024 1:51:45 PM	PDF
1.3	3/11/2020 9:58:33 AM	PDF
1.2	1/4/2019 2:16:07 PM	PDF
1.1	9/28/2018 5:12:12 PM	PDF
1.0	11/7/2017 4:43:15 PM	PDF