B. Flight Following
FHP aviation operations have at least three participating team members: the aerial observer or photographer, the pilot, and the dispatcher.
1. Flight following between the aerial survey aircraft and the Dispatch Center or a designated alternate, will be done for every aerial survey mission. An example of a designated alternative could be a Ranger Station, a BLM officer, a BIA office, or a NPS office. On rare occasions, it may also be a State forestry office, a wildlife refuge, a fire lookout tower, or perhaps even an individual in the field with a radio located at a high point.
2. The aircraft position will be reported to the flight following designee (usually the dispatch office) every 15 minutes (if Automated Flight Following is being used, refer to section D below). If radio contact is lost for 15 minutes after the next scheduled check-in, the survey will be terminated and the crew will ensure that positive communication is made by either: calling from the air with a satellite phone, landing at an airport and calling from a telephone, or by contacting a third party who can relay a message to the dispatch office. The responsible FWFMSU will have at their disposal all-current primary and secondary radio frequencies and tones.
3. Fifteen-minute flight-following check-ins are recommended anytime FHP aircraft are airborne, whether it is ferry, point to point, aerial survey or photography work. Whenever possible, radio communications shall be accompanied by AFF, radio contact must be made with the dispatch office before AFF can be initiated. This will ensure that the Dispatch Center knows the aircraft location and the intent of the crew, enabling the quickest response time possible in the event of an emergency. Always make positive communication with the next Dispatch Center, prior to terminating flight following with the previous Dispatch Center. For long point-to-point flights, a flight plan may be filed with the FAA, in lieu of the 15-minute flight following check-ins. But even with an FAA flight plan, a courtesy check-in upon arrival is recommended.
C. Radios
1. All FHP flights will be conducted with a programmable FM radio on board. FM radios will have a minimum of five watts power, but ten watts is preferred. The radios will have an external antenna, power source, and jack for headphones.
2. A backup hand-held programmable FM radio is recommended to have on board in case of aircraft radio failure or in the event of a forced landing.
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