Who is the only person who communicates with the ATU, with ground guide contacting ATU via FRCC frequency?

• A. Ground guide
• B. Paramedic in charge
• C. ATU pilot
• D. Incident commander

Answer: (A)

In aerial firefighting operations, a single ground liaison controls all communications with the aircraft. The ground guide is the designated point of contact for the Air Transport Unit, speaking to it over the FRCC frequency and relaying landing-zone details, approach instructions, and any hazards. This single-channel setup keeps radio traffic clear, prevents conflicting instructions from reaching the aircraft, and preserves the integrity of the incident command structure. The paramedic in charge focuses on patient care on the ground, the incident commander oversees overall strategy, and the aircraft crew (ATU pilot) operates the flight; they aren’t the ground liaison responsible for air-ground communications. Therefore, the ground guide is the only person who communicates with the ATU.