Airtanker FAQs

You can find the Appendices on the SABO attributes page.

Use the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Large Fire Support code.

Use the NIFC Large Fire Support code.

If the Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) crew member has not flown a minimum of 30 minutes in a 15-day lookback period, the flight would be a revenue flight. If a relief crew member is coming in who is not proficient (same requirements as the CLIN) but the CLIN is, the flight would be a non-revenue flight.

If possible, have the crew come on prior to the start time and complete the proficiency flight. If they choose to not come in early and the airtanker receives a dispatch prior to the proficiency flight, the airtanker would be unavailable until the proficiency flight is completed. Call the airtanker COR (Contracting Officers Representative) listed on the most current Schedule of Items for additional clarification on proficiency flights.

Yes. Document the starting and ending fuel amounts and notify the COR and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)/Air program.

Notify dispatch, local Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC), Aircraft Maintenance Inspector (AMI), national aircraft/fixed-wing coordinator, National Airtanker Program Manager and COR. Dispatch and the GACC should be notified immediately and the remainder of the notifications need to happen as soon as practical. A group text or email would suffice. The same notifications need to be made when the airtanker has been returned to contract availability by the AMI.

Whether on 9- or 14-hour availability UA is assessed until either the aircraft is returned to contract availability by the AMI or the end of the 9- or 14-hour availability day whichever comes first. For 14-hour availability, if the aircraft is unavailable for any part of the 14 hours, even if the aircrews are not on site or even if it is well past sunset, UA will be assessed until the airtanker is returned to contract availability by the AMI.

Utilize the DLA rate at the location the airtanker is leaving to go to company headquarters.

State airtankers would be sent to state fires and may load and return without the federal airtankers being included in the rotation. Federal airtankers would be sent first to federal fires and the state airtankers may be added to the rotation. There is no requirement saying that either state or federal airtankers must be included in the rotation of the other agencies’ fires. You may contact your local GACC and request additional Alpha numbers for airtankers to be included in the rotation, but the ordering agency has the authority to deny the request.