The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Branch of Aviation Management is responsible for the safety and oversight of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s fleet of planes and pilots.

What We Do

Image Details

Our Services

We implement U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) aviation policy and are responsible for the safety and training oversight of the USFWS fleet of aircraft and pilots, as well as our fleet of unmanned aircraft systems and remote pilots.  Our expertise is incredibly diverse to meet the mission and objectives of our agency, including low level wildlife surveys (primarily for waterfowl and large mammals), radio tracking surveys, law enforcement surveillance flights, and fire management missions. We coordinate with other agencies and lead the USFWS ability to manage the nation’s trust resources from the sky.

Our Laws and Regulations

The USFWS Aviation Program is regulated by a layer of laws and policies that start with Title 14 (Aeronautics and Space) of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). These are the policies developed and administered by the Federal Aviation Administration and apply to all aviation in the U.S. The Department of Interior has its own aviation policies, administered by the Office of Aviation Services, that apply to any aviation assets utilized in the furtherance of the Interior’s mission. These include Departmental Manuals, Operational Procedures Memoranda, Memorandums of Understanding, handbooks, guides, standards, and booklets. Finally, USFWS has its own polices, administered by the Branch of Aviation Management, that applies specifically to USFWS and are outlined in the Service Manual and the National Aviation Management Plan.

14 CFR - Federal Aviation Regulations

DOI Office of Aviation Services Document Library

USFWS Service Manual – Part 330 (Aviation Management Program)

Latest Stories and Topics

Stories
Ground level view of hangar under construction.
Alaska's Busiest Seaplane Base
History of Lake Hood and the hanger that shaped USFWS aviation operations in the region.
airplane coming in to land on a runway
Migratory Species
2022 WBPHS Field Report - Eastern Montana and Southern Alberta
On our first flight, we immediately noticed how dry conditions were in Montana north of the Missouri River. Many of the natural wetlands were dry, stock ponds were less than 20% of capacity, and there were few temporary wetlands present.
person stands in front of an airplane
Migratory Species
2022 WBPHS Field Report - Northern Saskatchewan/Northern Manitoba and Northwest Territories
It was great to be welcomed back to the north, where the folks are as sincere and genuine as the crystal-clear waters that feed the parkland and boreal waterfowl habitats.
2 people stand in front of an airplane
Migratory Species
2022 WBPHS Field Report - Northern Alberta and Northwest Territories
Only three short years ago I was busy submitting data I collected in southern Ontario and Quebec as an observer in the right-front seat of a USFWS-operated Kodiak aircraft. Little could I have imagined that in 2022, I would be back in that very same Kodiak, only this time I was in the left seat,...
2 people stand in front of an airplane
Migratory Species
Becoming a Pilot Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a career as a Pilot Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Pilot Biologists are some of the most unique and specially trained employees in the agency. There are numerous criteria and training requirements to become a Pilot Biologist,...
Aerial view of wetlands and white dots are pelicans
Migratory Species
2022 WBPHS Field Report - North and South Dakota
After a two year hiatus, we were once again able to conduct the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. It was an interesting year, mainly in that the conditions on the ground have changed dramatically just since March!
View All News