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Helicopter Express's Bell 205A-1 maintains altitude and position, both critical, for veteran wildland firefighter rappellers to descend to a landing zone in the Perreau Creek area, during the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) National Helicopter Rappel Program’s Rappel Academy at Salmon Air Base, in Salmon, Idaho, on Thursday, May 15, 2014. This will enable graduates to operating in various roles of helibase operations and as aerially delivered firefighters. During the week of May 12 there will be 72 veteran rappellers from all over the nation, along with 30 additional support staff and three helicopters with flight crews coming to Salmon. The training will take place at the Salmon Air Base and participants will rappel into the Perreau Creek area. The annual training is delivered in accordance with the National Rappel Operations Guide; strengthen leadership, teamwork, and communications within the rappel community, and produces quality aerial delivered firefighters for use in fire and aviation operations. The USDA Forest Service National Helicopter Rappel Program’s primary mission is initial attack. Rappel crews may be utilized for large fire support, all hazard incident operations, and resource management objectives. (USDA Photo by Lance Cheung)

This image is a work of the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.