The 2021 National Park Service Aviation Awards

Forrest Rackham and Tyrel Matthews of Mesa Verde Helitack, 2021 Aviators of the Year, with their crew. NPS.

Aviator of the Year

For missions of significant consequence or valor, or for advancing NPS aviation.

Forrest Rackham and Tyrel Matthews, helitack lead and crewmember, Mesa Verde National Park

• On August 1, 2021, the Mesa Verde Helitack crew went to the Middle Fork Complex Fire on Oregon's Willamette National Forest, with its short-haul capability.
• On the afternoon of August 2, a firefighter scouting the fire line was trapped. With no safe way out on foot, a short-haul extraction — lifting a person out on a line beneath the helicopter — was the only option.
• The firefighter had dropped his gear and been dodging the fire for a long time, and was near exhaustion. Steep terrain, thick smoke, dense tree canopy and a moving target made him hard to find.
• Rackham and Matthews found him, talked to him by radio, guided him to an opening in the canopy, and lifted him out with the fire within 30 yards.
• When radio contact between spotter and short-hauler failed, they switched to hand signals and finished the rescue — almost certainly saving his life.

Tom Clausing Aviation All Risk (Hazard) Program Award

For innovation and professionalism in all-hazard aviation.

Doug Kraus, helitack foreman, Yellowstone National Park

Kraus had the park's A-Star 350 light helicopter always carry its full short-haul kit, whatever the mission. Less than 24 hours later he responded to a smokejumper hurt during initial attack on a nearby national forest. Thanks to the change, the quick response, his team's wilderness medicine and short-haul skill, the patient reached an air ambulance within 62 minutes of the call.

Excellence in Mentorship Aviation Award

For going beyond expectations to develop others in aviation.

• Jordan Black, wildland fire module lead, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: after qualifying as an interagency unmanned aircraft (drone) pilot and in aerial ignition, he began training other interagency drone pilots in those skills.
• Nathan Gilmore, Missy Schwarz and Cammy Roy, helicopter managers, BLM Alaska Fire Service: for years of mentoring Alaska NPS staff as helicopter crewmembers and managers.

Wright Brothers Aviation Safety Award

For promoting aviation safety and fixing deficiencies.

Ryan Thrush, North Rim district law enforcement ranger, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area: as the park's collateral-duty aviation manager, he trained staff to handle very difficult situations and shares his knowledge of aviation policy, procedures and safety with everyone who supports park operations.

Sources

Based on "2021 National Park Service Aviation Awards," National Park Service; a work of the United States government in the public domain.