Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes, if a base can accommodate a federal airtanker or SEAT they shall use FLIGHT. 

NWCG is not working on updating courses outside of the Incident Position Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. Once the process is complete, they will look into updating other courses.

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.

Unavailability is assessed until either the aircraft is returned to contract availability by the AMI or at the end of the 14-hour availability period, whichever comes first. 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.

For lodging costs over the per diem rate the vendor needs to document on the AMD-23 the circumstances for going over the per diem rate, and the vendor needs to contact the Contracting Officer to notify.  If they go over the rate the vendor can go direct to the CO.

All current contract information should be on the BLM SEAT page.  Please contact the SECO, Angie Forbes (aforbes@blm.gov) if additional information is needed. The SECO also shares information through the State & Forest Service airtanker program managers.

Contact Justin Bohannan (justin.bohannan@usda.gov) or Kelly Mathis (kelly.mathis@usda.gov) with the USFS. Training announcements are generally shared through the airtanker base distribution list.  

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.

Reference the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, Chapter 16 for Airtanker Rotation information.

The home base of the SEAT contracts is their listed company location. Anytime they are away from that location they will receive per diem.

The SEAT Coordinator (SECO) will accept the Aircraft Daily Use Summary from FLIGHT, the BLM Daily Ops sheet, or air operations worksheet forms from the airtanker bases, as well.  

Contact the applicable Contracting Officer or Program Manager for the appropriate code.

Utilize the DLA rate at the location the airtanker is leaving to go to company headquarters. Contact the National DLA Air Card Coordinator to identify the rate.

You can find the Appendices on the SABO attributes page.

Utilize the Forest Service Contracted Airtanker Status Notification Form QR Code for any airtanker under a Forest Service Contract that is out of service. For the DOI/BLM notify dispatch, local Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC), Aircraft Maintenance Inspector (AMI), SECO, 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 will suffice. The same notifications need to be made when the airtanker has been returned to contract availability by the AMI.

The score of duties were weighted by the AD committee and was graded as such. They are being reviewed and could change.