Requesting Fire TFRs part 1 of 2

Wildland fires are of different size, in easily accessible terrain, near residences, and very remote and difficult to access terrain. Some fires can be contained during the initial attack phase with or without air support. Other fires go beyond initial attack to extended attack. What determines if a temporary flight restriction (TFR) will be requested?

A friend who flys S-2's for CAL Fire told me that TFRs may "not be needed for initial attack but when the ATGS (Air Tactical Group Supervisor) feels it's going to become a big fire, he might send a request through the local CAL fire dispatch to the FAA for a TFR and ask local airports to include this information in the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS)."

The ATIS is an automated continuous message broadcast by larger airports communicating what is known as "noncontrol" information such as ceiling and visibility, wind, runways in use, altimeter setting, etc.

This e-mail correspondence with my friend from CAL Fire left me wanting to learn more about fire TFRs. Among other things, I was left with the question of exactly how the process of requesting fire TFRs works (e.g. fires on USFS or BLM lands), and what some of the problems are. Wanting to learn more about the process of requesting fire TFRs, I reached out to Ben Hinkle of the BLM aviation office. We have exchanged several e-mails, and I have learned a lot from him.

Tyler: what process is the process of requesting a TFR once someone in charge of a wildland fire decides to request a TFR. He said:

Ben: "The incident commander (IC) will place an order through Dispatch for the TFR. As an ATGS may or may not be on scene, or any other aircraft for that matter. The ATGS also recommends TFR’s as well as the dimensions. Dispatch depending on their local and protocol will request a TFR through the NOTAM entry system (NES). Dispatch offices have various levels that feed up in their bureaucracy. There is a form that would be used to request whoever in their food chain will enter the request into the NES." [The NES is a password protected internet based system used by authorized persons to request the NOTAM.]

Tyler: Having read NOTAMs online, I know that longitudes and latitudes are needed when a TFR is requested. In the case of a circular TFR, only one point will be needed. If the TFR is a polygon, four points will be needed. Who supplies these points, someone on the fire or the dispatcher?

Ben: "Most every engine and fire fighter carries a GPS these days. Most likely they will know. Also aircraft will back it up. Dispatch would then plot it using various means to come up with the shape of the TFR. Lat Longs for TFR's must be in minutes seconds vs minutes tenths as faa charts are in minutes seconds. Aircraft contracts require GPS to be in minutes tenths (DOI and USFS). Just another monkey in the peanuts!"

Tyler : How long it takes from the time a TFR is requested to the time it is established:

Ben "We REQUEST a notam and it may or may not be issued. TFR’s are Flight Data Center NOTAMS (FDC) and are regulations that are the law when issued. Quite impressive when you think something like one of our TFR’s as a regulation can be issued with an hour. Depending on the protocol in the region the TFR was requested this may take only an hour or 24 hours."

Tyler: I had some correspondence with a friend who is a former air tanker pilot. He was telling me that that "sometimes the location of the fire in a high density air traffic area may dictate that a TFR be requested, even if the fire is small and will probably be put out." Can you comment on this?

Ben: "Well it may dictate that we try to establish it, but the FAA has refused to issue TFR’s in such areas in the past. FAR 91.137 A 2 says the ATC (air traffic controller) can route an aircraft through a fire TFR. We request the TFR and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) will issue it or not."

He sent me a copy of FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) 91.137 A 2

Any of these conditions can allow a non particpating aircraft to fly thru a
fire TFR.

• Aircraft is participating in relief activities under the direction of the official in charge of on-scene emergency response activities
• Operating under ATC approved IFR (instrument flight rules) flight plan
• Carrying law enforcement officials
• Accredited media under a flight plan approved by the FSS (flight service station) or ATC facility specified in the NOTAM, and at an altitude above those being utilized by relief aircraft, unless authorized by disaster officials; or…
• Operations directly to/from airport within the TFR, 
• or as required to maintain VFR due to weather or terrain,
• and with the approval of the specified FSS or ATC facility,
• and the operation does not hamper or endanger relief efforts,
• and the operation is not to observe the incident!

Stay tuned for part 2 on October 7.