Air Operations Branch Director

Responsibilities

The Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD) is ground-based and is primarily responsible for the coordination of the air operations portion (Form 220) of the Incident Action Plan (IAP), and for providing logistical support to incident aircraft. The AOBD will ensure that agency directives, flight manuals, unit restrictions, and other governmental and organizational concerns will not be violated by incident aircraft, e.g., flight hours, hoist limitations, night flying, etc. After the IAP is approved, the AOBD is responsible for managing the tactical and logistical assignments of the Air Operations Branch. In coordination with the Logistics Section, the AOBD is responsible for providing logistical support to aircraft operating on the incident.

Organization

Org chart coming soon

Checklist 0/28

Review common and leadership responsibilities.
Receive initial briefing from Operations Section Chief or Deputy (OSC/DOSC) and/or On-Scene Commander (OC) or briefing from person you are relieving.
Obtain the IAP from OSC, including Form 220 Air Operations Summary.
Participate in the AOBD planning activities.
Organize preliminary air operations.
Coordinate airspace use with the appropriate government agency. Request declaration (or cancellation) of temporary flight restrictions, as appropriate, and post required notices, as required.
Coordinate air space de-confliction via air task orders or flight schedules for aircraft involved in the incident.
Inform & coordinate with AOBD on Air Tactical Group activities.
Attend the Tactics and Planning Meetings to obtain information for completing Form 220 Air Operations Summary.
Identify resources and supplies dispatched for the Air tactical Group.
Request special air tactical items from appropriate sources through Logistics.
Participate in preparation of the Incident Action Plan (IAP) as needed, per the Operations Section Chief or Deputy (OSC/DOSC). Ensure that the air operations portion of the IAP accounts for Air Traffic Control requirements of assigned aircraft.
Coordinate with the Communications Unit Leader (COML) to designate air tactical and support frequencies. Obtain assigned ground-to-air frequency for airbase operations from COML or Form 205 Communications Plan.
Perform operational planning for air operations.
Prepare and provide Form 220 Air Operations Summary to the Air Support Group and Fixed-Wing Bases.
Supervise all air operations activities associated with the incident.
Evaluate helibase and helispot locations.
Establish procedures for emergency reassignment of aircraft.
Coordinate approved flights of non-incident aircraft in the area of temporary flight restrictions.
Coordinate agency air assets with the appropriate Command Center(s) through normal channels on incident air operations activities.
Consider requests for logistical use of incident aircraft.
Inform OSC of capability to provide night flying service.
Report to the OSC/DOSC on air operations activities.
Report special incidents/accidents.
Develop aviation Form 208 Site Safety Plan with the Safety Officer (SOFR). Identify locations for possible MEDIVACs.
Arrange for an accident investigation team when warranted.
Debrief with OSC/DOSC as directed at the end of each shift.
Maintain Form 214a Individual Log and forward to Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL) for disposition.

Forms to Complete

Check-In List

Prepare/review Check-In List

Form 220 Air Operations Summary

Prepare Form 220 Air Operations Summary

Form 214a Individual Log

Document events/activities

Meetings to Attend

Initial Response & AssessmentIncident Brief Form 201Initial Command MeetingTactics Meeting Planning Meeting Operations BriefingImplement New IAP & Assess Progress

Handbook Pages	160–161 (2 pages)
Part	B — Incident Management
Section	4.9 Air Operations Branch Director (AOBD)
Type	role