1 00:00:01,311 --> 00:00:02,996 (soft music) 2 00:00:02,996 --> 00:00:04,953 (logo whooshing) 3 00:00:04,953 --> 00:00:07,370 (soft music) 4 00:00:08,725 --> 00:00:11,475 (logo whooshing) 5 00:00:15,810 --> 00:00:17,610 - [Narrator] The Interagency UAS program 6 00:00:17,610 --> 00:00:20,113 has been evolving rapidly over the last few years. 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:22,500 The different missions that are provided 8 00:00:22,500 --> 00:00:25,430 have enhanced the agencies work in many ways. 9 00:00:25,430 --> 00:00:27,940 We will focus this discussion on its integration 10 00:00:27,940 --> 00:00:30,250 into wildland fire operations. 11 00:00:30,250 --> 00:00:31,310 There is an increasing need 12 00:00:31,310 --> 00:00:32,900 for the contracted type one drones 13 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:36,010 to perform intelligence surveillance and recon. 14 00:00:36,010 --> 00:00:37,900 The use of unmanned aircraft has proven 15 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:40,630 to help incident management teams with live feed infrared 16 00:00:40,630 --> 00:00:43,263 during low visibility and night operations. 17 00:00:44,230 --> 00:00:45,890 Aerial ignition with the Ignis system 18 00:00:45,890 --> 00:00:47,143 is also in high demand. 19 00:00:48,220 --> 00:00:50,610 The implementation of UAS for Earl ignition 20 00:00:50,610 --> 00:00:53,400 is reducing exposure to personnel and is essential 21 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,823 when poor visibility hinders manned aircraft. 22 00:00:56,910 --> 00:01:00,340 Today, we have Gil Dustin, Justin Baxter, Matt Dutton, 23 00:01:00,340 --> 00:01:03,500 Adam Ridley, and Steve Stroud to explain the UAS positions 24 00:01:03,500 --> 00:01:05,650 and how they conduct operations safely. 25 00:01:05,650 --> 00:01:08,233 (upbeat music) 26 00:01:10,330 --> 00:01:12,630 - There are a multitude of federal policies 27 00:01:12,630 --> 00:01:14,370 that govern the UAS program. 28 00:01:14,370 --> 00:01:15,690 We all work under the umbrella 29 00:01:15,690 --> 00:01:18,600 of the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. 30 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,540 All of our inner agency, remote pilots 31 00:01:20,540 --> 00:01:25,540 are carded by the FAA as remote pilots under part 107. 32 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,650 We also have Department of Interior Policy 33 00:01:28,650 --> 00:01:30,850 and US Forest Service Policy. 34 00:01:30,850 --> 00:01:33,040 The National Wildfire Coordination Group 35 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,800 governs our operational standards. 36 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,940 And for UAS, we have a standards guide 37 00:01:38,940 --> 00:01:40,540 called the Interagency Fire 38 00:01:40,540 --> 00:01:43,710 Unmanned Aircraft Systems standards. 39 00:01:43,710 --> 00:01:46,220 There are four UAS positions cataloged 40 00:01:46,220 --> 00:01:49,320 in our incident qualification and certification system. 41 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:52,220 They are UAS manager, UAS pilot, 42 00:01:52,220 --> 00:01:55,960 UAS data specialist, and UAS leader. 43 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,600 All four of these positions can be plugged in 44 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,970 based on the scenario we have in play 45 00:02:00,970 --> 00:02:03,930 and the objectives we have for UAS (indistinct) 46 00:02:03,930 --> 00:02:05,180 And I'm gonna throw this over to Matt 47 00:02:05,180 --> 00:02:06,220 and he's gonna talk about 48 00:02:06,220 --> 00:02:08,110 our training and qualifications process. 49 00:02:08,110 --> 00:02:10,880 - When we think about the four UAS positions we use on 50 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,180 on incidents, wildfire incidents, and in particular 51 00:02:14,180 --> 00:02:16,900 the pilot position is probably the position 52 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:19,860 that we're utilizing most often most heavily type three 53 00:02:19,860 --> 00:02:23,290 and type four UAS fly, situational awareness flights. 54 00:02:23,290 --> 00:02:24,983 IR flights, mappings flight, 55 00:02:26,070 --> 00:02:28,470 the formal training through NWCG that we do have 56 00:02:28,470 --> 00:02:31,500 for our pilot is S373 57 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:35,780 which is unmanned aircraft system incident operations. 58 00:02:35,780 --> 00:02:39,330 And that training is really about safety of flight 59 00:02:39,330 --> 00:02:42,920 operating on incidents in what we call the fire traffic area 60 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:45,060 integrating with manned aircraft, 61 00:02:45,060 --> 00:02:48,020 communicating effectively using the language 62 00:02:48,020 --> 00:02:51,383 that a manned aircraft expects on an incident. 63 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:54,570 - The process of becoming a UAS pilot 64 00:02:54,570 --> 00:02:57,070 or any of the four positions that Gil had mentioned 65 00:02:57,070 --> 00:02:59,960 starts with becoming a remote pilot for the government. 66 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:02,620 So it starts out with A450, 67 00:03:02,620 --> 00:03:05,150 once you go through the A450 class 68 00:03:05,150 --> 00:03:07,390 and some IAT pre-work, 69 00:03:07,390 --> 00:03:10,870 that gives you the prerequisites to then start the process 70 00:03:10,870 --> 00:03:12,660 of becoming a UAS pilot. 71 00:03:12,660 --> 00:03:16,040 - So Matt and Justin, there's essentially two weeks 72 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:17,003 of classroom training 73 00:03:17,003 --> 00:03:19,830 before you can actually go out on a fire and fly UAS. 74 00:03:19,830 --> 00:03:23,220 So is there any on the job or field training requirement 75 00:03:23,220 --> 00:03:24,610 for people certified. 76 00:03:24,610 --> 00:03:28,160 - S373 training is pretty intensive field 77 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,580 exercise-based training, training pilots 78 00:03:30,580 --> 00:03:32,460 through a variety of scenarios 79 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:34,130 that one might find on any incident. 80 00:03:34,130 --> 00:03:37,240 We like to integrate different incidents, mission profiles 81 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:38,650 outside of wildfire, to include search 82 00:03:38,650 --> 00:03:41,900 and rescue investigations, et cetera 83 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:44,120 and successful completion of that training 84 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,270 moves pilot training into the next phase, 85 00:03:46,270 --> 00:03:47,780 which is kind of performance-based training 86 00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:49,050 on real life incident. 87 00:03:49,050 --> 00:03:52,080 So a task book is issued to trainees 88 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:53,790 after they complete S373. 89 00:03:53,790 --> 00:03:56,820 So S373 is a knowledge-based class. 90 00:03:56,820 --> 00:03:59,790 And then with the field exercises that we use, 91 00:03:59,790 --> 00:04:01,360 it's kind of a practicum, 92 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,553 successful completion of that leads to the task book, 93 00:04:04,553 --> 00:04:06,020 which trainees take into the field 94 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:08,050 and can use those tasks books on wildfires, 95 00:04:08,050 --> 00:04:11,560 prescribed fire, search and rescue, any incident. 96 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,910 And those paths that are identified in the task book 97 00:04:14,910 --> 00:04:19,910 are all performance-based and specific to what, 98 00:04:20,390 --> 00:04:23,450 what are we asking them to do in the password? 99 00:04:23,450 --> 00:04:25,560 - Safely and effectively integrate UAS 100 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:26,880 into the fire traffic area. 101 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:30,940 So the tasks range from what needs to be done 102 00:04:30,940 --> 00:04:33,390 or what needs to be accomplished before you fly 103 00:04:33,390 --> 00:04:35,950 on an incident all the way up into how to safely 104 00:04:35,950 --> 00:04:38,420 and effectively integrate UAS into a fire. 105 00:04:38,420 --> 00:04:42,890 So how to correctly speak to air attack 106 00:04:42,890 --> 00:04:44,780 or other cooperating aircraft, 107 00:04:44,780 --> 00:04:46,960 how to set up and deconflict 108 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,260 before any sort of mission is undertaken. 109 00:04:50,260 --> 00:04:51,550 - So on one end of the spectrum, 110 00:04:51,550 --> 00:04:53,480 it's being able to use the radio 111 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,710 and communicate to people on the ground, 112 00:04:55,710 --> 00:05:00,030 people in the air attack, helicopters and manned aircraft 113 00:05:00,030 --> 00:05:02,190 and then also how to use the aircraft itself. 114 00:05:02,190 --> 00:05:04,560 The GCS, set an altimeter, 115 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,220 requests flight areas, and ceilings to operate in. 116 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:10,570 - During S373, we train our pilots 117 00:05:10,570 --> 00:05:12,520 four different scenarios that they'll encounter 118 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,760 on a wildfire on an incident, 119 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,450 one which is there's no other aircraft in the area. 120 00:05:18,450 --> 00:05:22,460 The second is an aircraft shows up while they're in flight. 121 00:05:22,460 --> 00:05:24,750 The third is there's an aircraft on scene 122 00:05:24,750 --> 00:05:26,250 and how to coordinate 123 00:05:26,250 --> 00:05:28,880 and deconflict with an aircraft that's already working. 124 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:29,890 And then the fourth 125 00:05:29,890 --> 00:05:33,500 and probably most common is that air attack is on scene. 126 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,850 So the expectation as our pilots 127 00:05:35,850 --> 00:05:37,760 are working through their task book 128 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,410 is that they're put into situations 129 00:05:39,410 --> 00:05:41,290 where they not only need to deconflict 130 00:05:41,290 --> 00:05:44,840 with other aircraft on scene, where there is no supervision 131 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:48,000 but also working with air attack, with hella base 132 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,810 to make sure that we can ensure safety of flight 133 00:05:50,810 --> 00:05:52,466 and deconfliction. 134 00:05:52,466 --> 00:05:54,700 (upbeat music) 135 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:57,480 Starting the communication early is also key 136 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,650 but we all know that fire is a dynamic environment. 137 00:05:59,650 --> 00:06:03,010 So the plans that elevates has, or the UAS pilots have 138 00:06:03,010 --> 00:06:05,670 at the morning briefings don't necessarily 139 00:06:05,670 --> 00:06:07,910 stay the priorities for the rest of the day. 140 00:06:07,910 --> 00:06:10,320 The number one thing that we wanna do 141 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:11,570 before we launch an airspace 142 00:06:11,570 --> 00:06:13,630 is make sure that we've communicated 143 00:06:13,630 --> 00:06:15,950 and deconflicted our airspace and what we're gonna do. 144 00:06:15,950 --> 00:06:19,290 That starts with the UAS pilot calling hella base 145 00:06:19,290 --> 00:06:21,520 and letting them know when and where, 146 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,110 how long we're gonna be operating UAS. 147 00:06:24,110 --> 00:06:26,260 We do not expect hella base 148 00:06:26,260 --> 00:06:29,430 to do any sort of deconfliction for us, 149 00:06:29,430 --> 00:06:32,230 but we do want them to know where we're gonna be operating 150 00:06:32,230 --> 00:06:35,040 because they're the ones that are gonna send 151 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,970 the helicopter up to do the next round of bucket work 152 00:06:37,970 --> 00:06:40,280 or the next crew shuttle. 153 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:42,800 So inevitably the message that we give to hella base 154 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,770 of wind and where we're gonna be operating 155 00:06:44,770 --> 00:06:47,490 what we're noticing or what we're seeing is that 156 00:06:47,490 --> 00:06:50,530 there is a gap in the current training 157 00:06:50,530 --> 00:06:53,230 for those positions that are either manning the radio 158 00:06:53,230 --> 00:06:55,180 or the expectation that we're putting on people 159 00:06:55,180 --> 00:06:57,280 that they haven't trained or seen before 160 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:00,440 that the message of when and where we're gonna be operating 161 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,110 isn't always passed on 162 00:07:02,110 --> 00:07:05,930 to the helicopters that are gonna be out in the field. 163 00:07:05,930 --> 00:07:08,510 When air attack is on scene that that responsibility 164 00:07:08,510 --> 00:07:09,470 falls on air attack 165 00:07:09,470 --> 00:07:13,380 and that I think they're used to operating in that capacity. 166 00:07:13,380 --> 00:07:15,620 What we've seen with the radio operator 167 00:07:15,620 --> 00:07:19,130 in the morning at hella base might be doing something else 168 00:07:19,130 --> 00:07:20,330 in the afternoon. 169 00:07:20,330 --> 00:07:23,830 And that message that we're operating is not getting passed 170 00:07:23,830 --> 00:07:26,450 from either one radio operator to the next. 171 00:07:26,450 --> 00:07:28,460 So they're either unaware that we're operating 172 00:07:28,460 --> 00:07:31,990 or it's just not something that they're trained on 173 00:07:31,990 --> 00:07:34,470 that that message needs to be passed to the helicopter 174 00:07:34,470 --> 00:07:35,470 before they launch. 175 00:07:35,470 --> 00:07:37,160 - [Gil] And as we're figuring that out as pilots, 176 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,090 I think we have a strong culture of doing what's right 177 00:07:40,090 --> 00:07:41,770 as we continue to identify gaps 178 00:07:41,770 --> 00:07:43,660 start to close those gaps through education, 179 00:07:43,660 --> 00:07:46,990 through training and through integration of the element 180 00:07:46,990 --> 00:07:50,024 of an operational period that we're all contributing to. 181 00:07:50,024 --> 00:07:52,607 (upbeat music) 182 00:08:00,050 --> 00:08:05,050 - We're here evaluating the the Metairie 600 aircraft, 183 00:08:05,773 --> 00:08:08,460 Zenmuse XT2 DGI camera 184 00:08:08,460 --> 00:08:11,990 and also the drones amplified ignace payload 185 00:08:11,990 --> 00:08:14,590 which is a plastic spear dispenser, so it. 186 00:08:14,590 --> 00:08:16,080 The ping pong balls 187 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,930 as they're commonly referred to has a chemical in it 188 00:08:18,930 --> 00:08:20,530 called potassium per manganese. 189 00:08:20,530 --> 00:08:23,030 And when you inject the ping pong ball 190 00:08:23,030 --> 00:08:25,630 with glycol or antifreeze, 191 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:29,520 you get a reaction about 30 to 45 seconds later. 192 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:31,740 The reason we use ping pong balls 193 00:08:31,740 --> 00:08:34,130 is because we can drop it from the air, 194 00:08:34,130 --> 00:08:35,870 they ping-pong down through the trees 195 00:08:35,870 --> 00:08:37,000 and get to the ground level 196 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,430 so we can establish a backing fire 197 00:08:39,430 --> 00:08:42,670 which generally ecologically speaking is more healthy 198 00:08:42,670 --> 00:08:45,910 for the forest, and it doesn't generate crown fire generally 199 00:08:45,910 --> 00:08:48,730 because we can control the intensity of the heat. 200 00:08:48,730 --> 00:08:50,210 If we start at the top 201 00:08:50,210 --> 00:08:52,350 and bring a line of balls across the top 202 00:08:52,350 --> 00:08:54,160 and then step that down the ridge, 203 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,150 you create a less intense fire 204 00:08:56,150 --> 00:08:58,450 and just generally under burn 205 00:08:58,450 --> 00:09:00,550 the large fuel masses generated under 206 00:09:00,550 --> 00:09:02,480 out of many years of conditions they've had 207 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:03,880 since the previous fire. 208 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,380 So that's really the intent. 209 00:09:05,380 --> 00:09:06,530 We're finding it beneficial 210 00:09:06,530 --> 00:09:10,600 because normally we have to hike people down the hill 211 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,150 and either fire up by hand 212 00:09:13,150 --> 00:09:14,730 which generates a lot more heat 213 00:09:14,730 --> 00:09:17,430 because it's more difficult to get up and down the slope 214 00:09:17,430 --> 00:09:20,990 or we use conventional helicopter PSD machines. 215 00:09:20,990 --> 00:09:24,780 Problem with that is the generally flying low and slow 216 00:09:24,780 --> 00:09:27,240 in hazardous conditions with a manned aircraft. 217 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,210 It's very effective for landscape 218 00:09:29,210 --> 00:09:32,000 and being able to burn large areas if needed. 219 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,500 This is more of a pinpoint precision tool 220 00:09:34,500 --> 00:09:37,830 and also because of the forward looking infrared camera, 221 00:09:37,830 --> 00:09:40,340 we can fly in essentially zero visibility 222 00:09:40,340 --> 00:09:43,340 where other aircraft can't fly manned aircraft. 223 00:09:43,340 --> 00:09:45,165 So it's an excellent tool 224 00:09:45,165 --> 00:09:47,270 for what's called ISR, Intelligence Surveillance Recon, 225 00:09:47,270 --> 00:09:49,220 the ability to look at things 226 00:09:49,220 --> 00:09:52,050 when a manned helicopter flight recon is unable 227 00:09:52,050 --> 00:09:53,610 and they're also not able to fly 228 00:09:53,610 --> 00:09:56,070 in what what's called instrument flight rules, 229 00:09:56,070 --> 00:09:57,040 IFR conditions. 230 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,520 So we can fly essentially in zero visibility 231 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,820 out to about five miles with this aircraft. 232 00:10:02,820 --> 00:10:04,815 So it's been very beneficial. 233 00:10:04,815 --> 00:10:05,970 (upbeat music) 234 00:10:05,970 --> 00:10:08,740 - [Instructor] The way that we start the firing. 235 00:10:08,740 --> 00:10:10,210 So we'll take the aircraft off 236 00:10:10,210 --> 00:10:11,960 we'll fly it over to the location. 237 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,130 For instance, this one we were flying 238 00:10:14,130 --> 00:10:18,760 from generally about this position here 239 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,940 which is about a mile and a quarter away. 240 00:10:20,940 --> 00:10:25,500 And the altitude delta between the two is about 1200 feet. 241 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:28,040 So we were flying a mile and a quarter putting the aircraft 242 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,380 at about 1300 feet, so that we're clear of any obstacles, 243 00:10:31,380 --> 00:10:33,610 the other nice benefit of this, as you can see 244 00:10:33,610 --> 00:10:37,560 the white line that's out around the burn area. 245 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:39,430 So that is what's called a geofence. 246 00:10:39,430 --> 00:10:42,520 So we can actually clear that geofence 247 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,130 and we can build a new geofence. 248 00:10:44,130 --> 00:10:47,350 So if we just wanted to burn out this one drainage, 249 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:50,590 we can geofence around a specific area. 250 00:10:50,590 --> 00:10:53,270 And then if the aircraft ever leaves that area, 251 00:10:53,270 --> 00:10:56,160 the Ignis machine will automatically stop dropping 252 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,578 and give us a notification that we're flying outside 253 00:10:58,578 --> 00:10:59,742 of the geofence. 254 00:10:59,742 --> 00:11:02,325 (upbeat music) 255 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:27,760 - On the call when needed contract side of the house, 256 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,650 better cameras, longer flight times, 257 00:11:30,650 --> 00:11:32,710 the aircraft are gonna be flying 258 00:11:32,710 --> 00:11:34,180 either all day or all night. 259 00:11:34,180 --> 00:11:35,810 The idea is to launch them 260 00:11:35,810 --> 00:11:38,080 before the helicopters and everybody else spools up 261 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,770 in the morning and bring them back into their base 262 00:11:41,770 --> 00:11:43,710 long after the air tankers lead planes 263 00:11:43,710 --> 00:11:45,410 and helicopters has left for the day. 264 00:11:45,410 --> 00:11:48,620 And I'd like to hand it over to our data specialists, Adam 265 00:11:48,620 --> 00:11:52,160 to talk about some of the different products that we produce 266 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,143 with contract UAS sensor package. 267 00:11:55,143 --> 00:11:57,550 (upbeat music) 268 00:11:57,550 --> 00:11:59,170 - [Adam] Usually you're putting an aircraft up 269 00:11:59,170 --> 00:12:01,590 with some kind of a product in mind 270 00:12:01,590 --> 00:12:05,140 whether that's real-time situational awareness video 271 00:12:05,140 --> 00:12:08,890 communication related directly to division or branch 272 00:12:08,890 --> 00:12:11,760 but depending upon the sensor package 273 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:13,080 and the mission profile, 274 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,310 we can produce a variety of different products. 275 00:12:15,310 --> 00:12:17,740 On the tactical side, we're talking more 276 00:12:17,740 --> 00:12:20,500 about real-time video that can be relayed directly 277 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:24,830 to either ICP or with some additional technology 278 00:12:24,830 --> 00:12:26,810 personnel on the fire line directly. 279 00:12:26,810 --> 00:12:30,130 This is an example of an EO/IR mosaic 280 00:12:30,130 --> 00:12:33,260 that we built for the skid fire in New Mexico in 2019. 281 00:12:33,260 --> 00:12:35,600 This shows high resolution, 282 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:37,190 daylight imagery on the left 283 00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:40,860 and high resolution imagery on the right, 284 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:42,580 they were processed separately but as you can see, 285 00:12:42,580 --> 00:12:43,630 they match up pretty well, 286 00:12:43,630 --> 00:12:46,790 and we use the combined EO and IR imagery 287 00:12:46,790 --> 00:12:49,080 to derive a new fire perimeter 288 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,430 for a fire that had previously not been mapped. 289 00:12:53,380 --> 00:12:57,030 - If you just have one takeaway, we'd like you to be aware 290 00:12:57,030 --> 00:13:00,800 that there is in fact, an Interagency Fire UAS program 291 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:05,154 and these systems are out flying every day on fires. 292 00:13:05,154 --> 00:13:07,737 (upbeat music)