The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of ripples in our lives and many of us simply want to return to normal.  We may never go back completely to our past business practices, but there are some things we can do to ease the transition.  Relying on the familiar to help us frame our new environment can make change easier – and communicating that change easier too!  With all the talk of what we need to do differently with COVID, let’s see how it actually compliments what we know and do:

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious public health risk and can cause mild to severe illness, especially in older adults or individuals with underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 is generally thought to be spread from person-to-person in close contact and through exposure to respiratory droplets from an infected individual. Initial symptoms of COVID-19 can show up 2 to 14 days after exposure and often include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and/or loss of taste or smell.

This new group of safety topics has been created by airtanker personnel and the Interagency Airtanker Base Subcommittee (IABS). The purpose of this topic is to address the hazards and safety considerations specific to airtankers and airtanker base operations.

Current list of topics include:

At times fixed-wing aircraft will land after dark and may require base personnel to marshal them with little or no visibility.

Discuss the low-light operations at your base utilizing the following points.

Throughout the year, airtanker bases will provide service for multiple types of airtankers with different capabilities and procedures for loading and fueling. Coordination between the Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM), ramp personnel, flight crews, loading personnel, and fuel providers is critical to ensure safe and efficient operations.

Discuss the following items as they pertain to your base:

Wing walking can be crucial to airtanker base safety when the Fixed Wing Parking Tender (FWPT) cannot see or judge the distances between the aircraft being parked and any obstacle nearby. Wing walkers add assurance to pilots as they taxi into parking areas, ensuring proper wing clearance to advance.

Discuss the following items before deploying personnel in this function.

An airtanker base can be exposed to minor and major spills of hazardous materials.

All base personnel should be prepared to rapidly and efficiently deal with any type of spill within their facility. Being prepared can help minimize the number and severity of these spills.

Discuss processes and plans for a hazardous materials spill.

SL+F is a relatively new process for airtankers, having been approved in 2014. When done correctly, it is very safe and reduces time spent on the ground, which makes delivery of fire retardant to the incident more expeditious. Only airtankers with nationally-approved risk assessments and procedures specific to SL+F will be allowed to take part in the procedure.

Each base that plans to take part in SL+F of airtankers must have a written plan approved by their regional/state Aviation Officer/Manager or equivalent.

Prop blast, jet blast, and rotor wash created by aircraft within your ramp area can cause serious injury to ramp personnel and, in some cases, cause damage to buildings, vehicles, and other aircraft.

Discuss ways to mitigate the effects of prop blast, jet blast, and rotor wash in your ramp area.

When hot loading is executed properly, it can expedite airtankers returning to an incident and save on turbine/jet engine starts. Hot loading is defined as loading an airtanker with one or more propulsion engines running. Each base must have an approved plan specific to hot loading. The Airtanker Base Manager (ATBM) will determine when hot loading is approved.

Discuss the procedures for hot loading specific to your base.