Interagency Single Engine Air Tanker Operations Guide - National ...

INTERAGENCY SINGLE ENGINE AIR TANKER OPERATIONS GUIDE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
IV. Operations from Airports and Air Strips.
The best utilization of SEATs requires that they be placed close to the
incident. This may best be accomplished by placing the SEAT operation at
the nearest airport or airstrip. Coordination with the local airport manager
or owner of the airstrip is crucial to the safe and efficient operation of this
resource. It is the responsibility of the local aviation manager along with
the SEMG to establish a working relationship with the airport manager.
Sometimes the procurement section of the user agency will be required to
set up rental agreements and payment schedules. The SEMG will be
responsible for the set up and day to day safe and efficient operation of the
SEAT base. Local airports are best for these operations because of the ease
of maintaining logistical support, and the close proximity of aviation fuel,
as well as the known runway capability.
V. Operations from Off-Airport (remote) Areas.
If it is determined that an off-airport operation is desirable, operations from
locations other than airports shall be at the sole discretion of the SEAT
contractor/operator. The proper and efficient use of remote landing areas
will take some pre-planning on the part of the user agency aviation
manager along with both the contractor and the SEMG. Always keep in
mind that even though a remote landing area is closer to the incident than
the established airport or airstrip, it may present logistical support
problems that preclude its efficient use.
SEATs may re-load out of an established remote SEAT base without the
presence of a SEMG providing the following requirements are complied
with:
• Must have a direct communication link with the incident or the dispatch
organization at all times.
• Hot loading the aircraft will not be permitted.
• No more than three SEATS are using the site to re-load.
• No more than one SEAT is allowed in the pit area at a time.
VI. SEAT Base Categories.
SEAT bases will be identified by the following categories:
• Category I Bases
Any established full service or bulk account Large Airtanker Base
published in the Interagency Air Tanker Base Directory that supports
SEAT Operations. Personnel are in place and continually staff base
operations during fire season.
-43-