Is this flight necessary? A new framework for fire aviation decision support that improves efficiency through analytics

Abstract

Aircraft play vital roles in managing wildfire, but their use is both costly and inherently risky. On average, USDA Forest Service aviation costs represent 30 percent of annual firefighting expenditures. And despite improvements in airworthiness and safety in the last decade, aviation-related accidents represented the highest category of federal firefighter fatalities. To improve strategic risk management of firefighting aircraft, Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) ecologist Crystal Stonesifer and colleagues have recently developed and published a decision support system called the Aviation Use Summary (AUS). The AUS provides a shared understanding for firefighters, fire managers, and fire leadership through near real-time automated mapping of aircraft actions (such as retardant drops) and a structured, repeatable check-in and planning process.

Citation

Stonesifer, Crystal. 2022. Is this flight necessary? A new framework for fire aviation decision support that improves efficiency through analytics. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), February 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.