Part 330 Aviation Management
Chapter 4 Aviation Operations and Maintenance 330 FW 4

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Supersedes 333 FW 1 - 3 and 334 FW 2, 3, and 4; 06/03/93

4.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter describes how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) conducts aviation operations, including:

A. Flight planning,

B. Rules for transporting passengers and cargo,

C. Aircraft security, and

D. Aircraft maintenance procedures.

4.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This chapter applies to all Service employees, volunteers, Youth
Conservation Corps members and students, and seasonal workers who use, operate, or maintain Service
aviation resources.

4.3 What are the authorities for this chapter?

A. Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Parts 43, 91, and 135).

B. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-126, Improving the Management and Use of Government
Aircraft.

C. Departmental Manual (DM), Parts 350 through 354.

4.4 Who is responsible for aviation operations?

A. The Director ensures that we have the resources in place to operate Service aircraft safely and
efficiently to accomplish Service goals.

B. The Assistant Director Migratory Birds is the Service Aviation Executive and is responsible for:

(1) Advising the Director on Service aviation matters.

(2) Overseeing the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Service Aviation Management
Program.

(3) Ensuring that the Services Aviation Management Program meets Departmental requirements.

C. The Chief Law Enforcement ensures that the Law Enforcement Aviation Program meets Service
and Departmental requirements.

D. Regional Directors ensure that the Regions Aviation Management Programs meet Service and
Departmental requirements.

E. The Service Aviation Manager:

(1) Serves as the primary Service contact and coordinator with the Department for all aviation
requirements.

(2) Revises and updates this chapter, as necessary.

(3) Serves as a consultant to resolve Servicewide questions or issues on aviation management. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
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F. Regional Aviation Managers (RAM):

(1) Serve as the Regions primary contacts with the NBC AM and are the Regions points of contact for
matters related to aviation.

(2) Assess Regional programs to determine if using aircraft could reduce costs or improve the
effectiveness of missions and administrative (point-to-point) travel.

G. Project Leaders:

(1) Make sure that flight operations for their area of responsibility follow Service requirements, and

(2) Develop and use current hazard maps, a current Mishap Response Plan, and Flight Following Plans
when involved in special use activities.

4.5 What authority does a Service Pilot-in-Command (PIC) have? The PIC of an aircraft used for
Service business, regardless of position and grade, is directly responsible for the safety of the aircraft and
the people on board.

A. The PIC is the final authority for flight-related operations and decisions.

B. If more than one pilot is on board an aircraft, the pilots must determine which one of them is the PIC for
that flight before flight preparations begin.

C. The PIC may deviate from any rule or policy to assure flight safety and to preserve life and equipment
during an in-flight emergency. PICs must notify the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NBC
AM, when appropriate, immediately after completing a flight where they had to deviate from rules or
policies because of an in-flight emergency.

4.6 What are the PICs responsibilities before a flight? The PIC must follow all FAA, Departmental, and
Service procedures. Some, but not all, of the activities PICs, crew members, or Project Leaders must do
before a flight include:

A. Pre-flight Planning. PICs are responsible for pre-flight planning, which includes determining:

(1) Risk. We expect pilots to use risk management techniques as a routine part of their flight planning and
operations. Pilots should take steps to reduce risks they identify and make sure the Project Leader is
aware of the risks involved. More information about risk management and the risk analysis process are in
330 FW 5, Exhibits 1 and 2.

(2) The route of flight, including the airspace being flown in and out of, and the distance of travel.

(3) Fuel requirements.

(4) Weather reports and forecasts at the points of origin and destination.

(5) Runway lengths for expected takeoffs and landings, considering gross weights, winds, and
temperatures. Review aircraft performance charts.

(6) Helicopter performance data for expected hovering in and out of ground effect at landing sites.

B. Weight and Balance, and Helicopter Load Calculations. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
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Aviation Part 330 Aviation Management
Chapter 4 Aviation Operations and Maintenance 330 FW 4

03/24/08
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Supersedes 333 FW 1 - 3 and 334 FW 2, 3, and 4; 06/03/93


(1) The PIC must complete a weight and balance calculation prior to each helicopter flight. The PIC may
use a pre-calculated mission weight and balance if the information is current and the PIC reviews it prior to
departure.

(2) A helicopter PIC must also complete a load calculation (Form OAS-67, Helicopter Load Calculation) on
the first flight of each day. That load calculation is valid for flights between similar points of elevation,
temperature, and fuel loads.

(3) The PIC must complete a new load calculation when there is:

(a) A change in outside air temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit/5 degrees Celsius,

(b) A change in landing site or low level operations of 1,000 feet/305 meters, or

(c) An increase of cargo or fuel load by 50 pounds/23 kilograms or more.

C. Increased Weight Check. PICs must operate strictly within the limitations of the increased weight pilot
operator handbook when they fly aircraft that the Operational Procedures Memorandum Number 06-50
(OPM No. 06-50) says may be flown over their certified gross weight. Only PICs with authorization to use
OPM No. 06-50 may fly aircraft in an over-gross-weight configuration.

D. Pre-flight Inspections. PICs must perform a thorough pre-flight inspection on the first flight of the day
as listed in the Pilot Operators Handbook or the Flight Manual. The PIC determines what items to check
prior to flights on that day, but the inspection must include safety items.

E. Flight Plans. PICs must complete and file flight plans on all flights (OPM-06-2).

(1) A Service flight plan must contain:

(a) The intended route of flight,

(b) Estimated time of arrival,

(c) How the aircraft will be tracked during the flight (see section 4.6F below), and

(d) The planned response procedures if the aircraft experiences a mishap or fails to report.

(2) You must file flight plans with one of the following agencies:

(a) FAA,

(b) International Civil Aviation Organization,

(c) A Regional Director-approved or other bureau-approved flight plan program, or

(d) An NBC AM-approved vendor flight plan program.

F. Flight Following. Flight following is an aviation term that means we report a flights position throughout
the flight. PICs must ensure that they or their air crew members:

(1) Provide the flight following agency position reports at least once an hour, under normal FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
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circumstances.

(2) Flight follow with at least one the following on every flight:

(a) FAA,

(b) International Civil Aviation Organization,

(c) A Regional Director-approved or other bureau-approved flight plan program. A Service flight following
program must describe the actions the Service or other officials will take if the aircraft is overdue or
missing. The flight following agent must document position reports to assist in locating an overdue or
missing aircraft.

(d) NBC AM-approved vendor flight following program. Even if the vendors position reporting
requirements do not require hourly reporting, you must stilll provide position reports at least once an hour.

G. Manifests. PICs must complete a passenger and crew member manifest and leave a copy of it at the
point of departure. The PIC must leave an updated copy of the manifest at subsequent points of departure
when practical.

H. Briefings.

(1) Mission Briefing.