To function as a committee of state, federal, industry, and other forest health specialists providing technical input to cooperating resource professionals regarding issues of aerial application safety, efficiency and effectiveness in state and federal forest health aerial application projects.
Goals:
1. Promote a positive safety culture by applying components of Safety Management Systems in cooperative aerial application-related activities.
2. Provide information and technical assistance to local, state and federal program managers and their staff to ensure safe, effective aerial application projects.
3. Develop and help provide aerial application management and safety training programs.
Membership:
State and federal employees involved in aerial application programs or projects
Aviation, operations, and safety managersAerial application operators/vendors
Pesticide manufacturers' representative
Technical specialists
Group Chair:
The Chair shall serve a two-year term. The Chair of the committee is appointed by the NLMB Chair.
The Group will be empowered for five years with a review of its Statement of Purpose and subsequent endorsements at the end of the fourth year.
AASC Activities:
1. Facilitate improved aviation safety awareness and culture across Departments of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resource agencies involved in aerial application of pesticides and aircraft operations.
2. Contact local and states agencies new to aerial application projects for support and mentoring.
3. Distribute safety and technical information to application cooperators.
4. Work indirectly through various working groups/councils and directly with partner organizations (also see "Purpose" above), e.g.:
a. Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection
b. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board
c. Department of Interior (various Bureaus and Office of Aircraft Services)
d. lnteragency Aviation Training Steering, Subcommittee of the National Wildfire Coordination Group
e. USFS National Aviation Safety Council, Fire and Aviation Management
f. USFS Unmanned Aircraft Advisory Group
g. USFS Forest Health Protection (FHP) Washington Office, Regional/Area Directors and Unit Aviation Officers
h. International Programs (Canadian Ministry of Forestry, National Forestry Commission of Mexico, etc.)
i. USFS Pesticide Use Coordinators and pest working groups
j. Department of Defense
k. Department of Energy
I. Multiple government and academic research programs, private industry and professional associations
m. National Lymantria Management Board
n. Slow the Spread Foundation
o. National Plant Board
p. National Association of State Foresters
The AASC operates with formal oversight as a committee under the National Lymantria Management Board.
Kimberly Thielen Cremers Date: October 26, 2023
Chair, Aerial Application Safety Committee
Carl Harper Date: October 26, 2023
Chair, National Lymantria Management Board