4.1 This guide establishes the minimum standard for training a Helicopter SAR Technician, who is a crewmember with focus on the general, field, and search and rescue specific knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to function within a helicopter in support of an inland search and rescue operation. A person trained to this guide shall be recognized as a Helicopter SAR Technician crewmember.

4.2 Every person who is identified as a Helicopter SAR Technician shall meet the requirements of this guide.

4.3 This guide is to be used by individuals and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) that wish to identify the minimum training standards for Helicopter SAR Technician.

4.4 This guide is the first level of training for Helicopter SAR Ttechnician and as such, only establishes the minimum knowledge and skills required to perform during helicopter operations.

4.5 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is an outline of the topics required for training or evaluating a Helicopter SAR Technician, and it can be used to develop a training document or program.

4.6 This guide does not stand alone and must be used with the referenced documents to provide the specific information needed by a Helicopter SAR Technician.

4.7 Though this guide establishes the minimum standards, it does not imply that a Helicopter SAR Technician is "in training," "on probation," or in any other similar AHJ member status. It is up to the AHJ to determine the requirements and qualifications for member ratings.

4.8 The knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements presented in the following sections are not presented in any particular order and do not represent any specific training sequence.

4.9 A Helicopter SAR Technician shall meet the ASTM standards for the environments for which the technician will be working and shall be able to interface with ground SAR resources.

4.9.1 In order to operate safely around or in a given sub-environment within this area of specialization (Helicopter SAR Technician), the AHJ shall consider the applicability of requiring additional knowledge, skills, and abilities specific to a problem, hazard, technical challenge or environment.