This page shall serve as the official Standard Operating Procedures for Firehawk operations and certification:

Last Updated:  04/19/2023
By:   Kidd B.

Standard Operating Procedure

Firehawk (FH)

- Purpose 

The purpose of this document is to serve as the main point of reference for all SOPs pertaining to SAFR’s Firehawk (FH) helicopter. Questions or concerns that extend past the scope of this SOP may be referred to the immediate supervisors. Deviations from the instructions in this document while operating in an official capacity could lead to disciplinary action at the discretion of leadership.

- Firehawk Activation

• FH can be used by FH certified personnel (Specialist+) for appropriate firefighting applications 

  • FH Discord Role is required in order to operate aircraft

• In order for FH to be activated it must be authorized by the highest rank on duty (Specialist+)

• Only one Firehawk should be activated at a time unless a Commanding officer approves additional units

• FH serves a main purpose of fire suppression from the air for large, uncontrolled fires

-Firehawk Expectations

• FH is not to be used for patient transport

• FH should be landed only in areas that are safe from blocking traffic, a helipad, or open fields

• If FH is unable to land safely, ground crews or police should be called to assist with landing zone operations

• FH must be locked whenever flight crew are not inside 

• FH is not to be used for any police related services

• FH pilots must value their life and the life of any crew members above all else

-FAA Regulations

• All SAFD aircrafts are exempt from altitude restrictions

• FH is only required to announce takeoffs/landings at base (SAFD locations) on VHF 100

• Any breach of FAA regulations can be reported by switching to VHF 1 (PD Radio)

Remember to be courteous when using radio 1

- switch to radio 1

- wait to hear if there is an active scene

- if there is use /911 to report instead, do not interrupt

- if there is not, call out “<SAFD/FIRE/FireHawk> to PD” and wait for someone to respond before relaying any further message.

FAA Regulations

Fire Hawk Technician Selection:

• Rank:  Specialist +

• Approval from Command Staff

• Approval from Fire Hawk Lead

• Trainee is responsible for coordinating training time through the Lead

• Lead is responsible for tracking overall progress and training hours per the SOP

• Once training program minimums have been met, Lead will present candidate to Fire Chief for approval

• Candidate shall operate in this capacity until Discord role is granted by the Chief

• Command reserves the right to approve or deny any certification process and it can be removed at any time at their discretion

Firehawk Turnover Process:

Phase 1:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 REVIEW/CLASSROOM 1 hour SOP Review

• SESSION 2 PRACTICAL 1 hour Basic Controls

• SESSION 3 PRACTICAL 1 hour Hovering Flat Terrain

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL 1 hour Hovering Mountain Terrain & Water

• SESSION 5 PRACTICAL 1 hour Radio use while in flight (appropriate use of channels 11 and 100)

Phase 2:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 PRACTICAL 1 hour Flying at low altitude and near obstructions/hazards

• SESSION 2 PRACTICAL 1 hour Landing Zones

• SESSION 3 PRACTICAL 0.5 hour Fire Suppression System Controls

• SESSION 4 PRACTICAL 0.5 hour Refill procedures

• SESSION 5 PRACTICAL 1 hour Fire Suppression System Capabilities

Phase 3:

[SESSION #] [SESSION TYPE]   [TIME] [TOPIC/TASK/OBJECTIVES]

• SESSION 1 PRACTICAL 1 hour Recognition of aircraft size and blade awareness

• SESSION 1 PRACTICAL 1 hour Scene Size-Up

• SESSION 1 SCENARIO(s) UKN Successfully extinguish FIVE working fires 

**10+ hours of documented total flight time**

**Certified FireHawk Pilots will have the 'FireHawk' discord role**