What is the purpose of DOI Departmental Handbooks?

The purpose of DOI Departmental Handbooks is to specify detailed procedures and policies for aviation operations within the Department of the Interior. These handbooks serve as comprehensive guides that ensure consistency, safety, and compliance with regulations in aviation activities. By providing these detailed procedures, the handbooks facilitate the effective management of aviation resources, enabling personnel to conduct operations in a standardized manner that upholds the highest safety and performance standards.

In contrast, while voluntary procedures or general informative references may offer guidance, they do not provide the thorough, enforceable set of policies that the handbooks do. Furthermore, outlining historical practices, although valuable in understanding the evolution of aviation, does not serve the same immediate and practical function as specifying current operational procedures.