What is the role of the Airspace Control Authority (ACA) and airspace coordination in joint fires?

• A. To monitor weather trends and forecast firefighting conditions.
• B. To deconflict airspace use among different air and ground elements and prevent fratricide and mission delays.
• C. To set security procedures for air operations.
• D. To assign target priorities for fires.

Answer: (B)

Deconflicting airspace use and coordinating how air and ground elements operate in the same airspace is the central function. The Airspace Control Authority sets and enforces airspace control measures, coordinates flights, and sequences aircraft so that routes, altitudes, and times don’t clash. This prevents fratricide and reduces mission delays by avoiding conflicts that could ground, halt, or complicate fires. In practice, that means establishing control zones, restrictions, and clearances, then integrating all air operations with ground fires so air support can be delivered safely and when needed. Weather monitoring, security procedures, and targeting priorities are handled through other processes and aren’t the ACA’s primary focus.