National Fire and Aviation Executive Board
August 23, 2005
Memorandum

To: Agency Administrators
From: National Fire and Aviation Executive Board
Subject: Aviation P25 Radio Implementation within the All-Risk/Fire Community

Program Area: Radio Narrowband Advisory Group

On May 12, 2005 a meeting was held in Boise, Idaho to determine when the aviation P25
compliant (wideband analog, narrowband analog and digital narrowband capable) radios would
be required within the all-risk/wildland fire aviation community. The meeting was attended by
representatives from the USDA Forest Service and all Bureaus from the U.S. Department of the
Interior having an interest in P25 aviation radio/communications. These representatives came
from the technical, management, contracting, and operations fields.

Overview

The meeting was held to solicit input from all government stakeholders for reaching a common
date to implement an aviation P25 radio for all-risk/wildland fire use. When the agencies would
begin utilizing these radios, in a “pure” P25 digital format, will be determined by the NWCG at a
later date.

DOI began requiring the purchasing of P25 radio equipment in 1998 with a department wide
conversion by 2005. The Forest Service required the purchase of P25 radio equipment in 2005
with an estimated agency wide conversion date of 2015. As both DOI and FS share aviation
missions and equipment, a common implementation strategy was necessary to avoid policy,
political, mission, contractual, and equipment inconsistencies.

Discussions

Attendees discussed various implementation issues and strategies including; budgetary
constraints, policy impacts, interagency compatibilities, equipment availability, contractor issues,
and contract timelines. None of the attendees objected to committing toward a firm P25 aviation
radio requirement date. However, several discussions surrounded budgetary issues and the fiscal
impact on our contractors. There will be over 1,700 aircraft impacted by this conversion to P25.
Many of these aircraft are operated under call-when-needed (CWN) and aircraft rental agreement
(ARA) contracts. Other aircraft affected are exclusive use contract aircraft as well as fleet
aircraft.

The Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) recently awarded several exclusive use contracts
where the government would incur significant costs if P25 radios were required before 2009. In
addition, manufacturers of aviation P25 radio equipment would benefit from an extended
implementation date whereas they could refine their products to meet our needs. Law
enforcement personnel from both the DOI and FS currently require P25, in digital mode
communications equipment with little support toward aviation P25 communications
requirements.

Conclusion

The consensus of the group was that the most feasible implementation date will be
January 1, 2010 for requiring P25 aviation radios into all fleet and contract aircraft. All new
aircraft contracts will include a note giving contractors notice of the impending P25 radio
implementation date.