1. ARA Tools of the trade

2. Pertinent website to determine if station is transmitting

3. “All clocks” on a EBAM or ESAMPLER should be set to UTC time
“All clocks” on a EBAM or ESAMPLER should be set to UTC time. The NC EBAMS have THREE CLOCKS: EBAM monitor clock, the CR800 Clock, and the transmitter Clock .
The EBAM & CR800 clocks need be both set to UTC time.
The transmitter will do so when it ascertains a satellite lock
through the GPS unit.

4. This site is an instantaneous site.
The data is there within seconds as soon as it is transmitted. It is an essential step before leaving any deployment site.

5. GOES HEADER THAT PRECEDES 16 CHANNELS OR DATA FIELDS
Julian Fail Sigl Freq Mod Data Chnl Spcrf Uplnk Msg
NESDIS ID YrDayTime Code Strn Off Indx Qual Rcvd Rcvd Stat Len
323C G N N W XX
XX refers to data source code if an uplink is used: key ones for natural resource management are:
Code
Description
Location
Contact
Phone# d1
NIFC W1
Boise
J. Gray d2
NIFC W2 UB
Wallops
Mcmath UP XE
Sioux Falls E
EROS
Schwitalla XW
Sioux Falls W

8. Fields 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

9. Communication with the GOES Transmitter

10. COMET
communication software with Data Logger

11. Time zone conversion chart
critical for reviewing Intel. data in the local or fire time

12. Approx. Conversion Tool for pressure and altitudeft m is
mb/hPa
14.696
psi
760.00
mmHg
29.921
inHg 50
15.240
14.669
758.63
29.867
100
30.480
14.643
757.26
29.813
200
60.960
14.590
754.52
29.706
300
91.440
14.537
751.80
29.598
400
121.92
14.485
749.08
29.491
500
152.40
14.432
746.37
29.385
600
182.88
14.380
743.67
29.278
700
213.36
14.328
740.97
29.172
800
243.84
14.276
738.28
29.066
900
274.32
14.224
735.61
28.961
1000
304.80
14.173
732.93
28.856
2000
609.60
13.664
706.65
27.821
3000
914.40
13.171
681.14
26.817
4000
1219.2
12.692
656.38
25.842

13. 5000 ft
1524.0 m is
mb/hPa
12.228
psi
632.36
mmHg
24.896
inHg
6000
1828.8
11.777
609.05
23.978
7000
2133.6
11.340
586.44
23.088
8000
2438.4
10.916
564.51
22.225
9000
2743.2
10.505
543.26
21.388
10000
3048.0
10.106
522.66
20.577
15000
4572.0
8.2935
428.90
16.886
20000
6096.0
6.7534
349.25
13.750
25000
7620.0
5.4536
282.03
11.104
30000
9144.0
4.3641
225.69
8.8855
35000
10668
3.4580
178.83
7.0406

14. for Operational period 08-20 Hrs.
WILDLAND SMOKE IMPACT on VISIBILITY
For AIRCRAFT OPERATION
TODAY’S FORECAST – Tuesday, August 18th
Airport /
Heli-Base
Visual Rating
Hours expected
to occur*
Visual Range
for Operational period Hrs.
Comments
Illinois Valley
Good
>5 mi visibility
Applegate
Ashland
Medford
Fair
3-5 mi visibility
Prospect
Poor
8am – 12pm
< 1 mi visibility
Toketee
Grants Pass
Agness
TOMORROW’S FORECAST – Wednesday, August 19th
Airport /
Heli-Base
Visual Rating
Hours expected
to occur*
Visual Range
for Operational
period Hrs.
Comments
Illinois Valley
Good
>5 mi visibility
Applegate
Ashland
Medford
>5mi visibility
Prospect
Toketee
Grants Pass
Agness
*to be completed only for Very Poor and Poor Visibility Ratings for the operational period between 08 – 20 Hrs.
Visibility is checked with the sun at your back and relative humidity < 70 % (preferably < 60%).
This report is to provide guidance for aircraft operations at Heli-Bases with regards to the impacts of wildland smoke on visibility.
Each Visibility Rating Class is described by an adjective term which represents a visibility in miles, critical values at which visibility
in miles can occur and the documented range of PM ₂.₅ that has resulted in reduced visibility.

15. NOTES:
In making this visibility projection Crescent and Collier Butte Fires are major and equal contributors for today’s smoke production with contributions still from Stout. With light wind speeds expected (<5mph) inland smoke will collect, pool and persist in local areas. Smoke plume drift will certainly be influenced by topography. Collier Butte will benefit from a moderate northerly flow sending smoke to the southward. Weather and fuel conditions permit continuing burnout operations.
PROSPECT HB is expected to have a visual rating of Poor early this morning during operational hours. It is expected to last from 8 am – 12 pm improving through the afternoon. This impact for Prospect HB will repeat itself Tuesday but is expected to start improving at the beginning of the operational flight period. Poor visibility is expected from 4 to 8 am.
Agness HB for Tuesday is expected to experience decreasing visibility from 12 – 3 pm and thereafter improving. The visual rating expected is Poor with a range of 1–3 miles.
DISCLAIMER:
The values above are a synthesis of Bill Malm’s work of visual range versus PM2.5 concentration and Susan O’Neal’s summary and analysis of approaches linking visual range with PM2.5 concentrations. Because of much uncertainty and complexity, these values in the table cannot be taken as absolute. Yet, they may be able to provide operational guidance and ability to assist in the wildfire aviation planning. It is a start and in time these values can be adjusted. Your feedback is welcomed.
Contact information,
Gary Curcio ( , Janice Peterson ( ,
Mike McGown ( ,