Two Directives on Large Airtanker Use on Federally Managed Fires, 2007

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File Code: 5130/5700
Date: June 22, 2007
Route To:
Subject: Use of Large Airtankers and Related Issues
To: Forest Supervisors 

Due to a number of airtanker program safety concerns, the Forest Service will not approve the use of any airtanker for which airworthiness has not been determined. The agency and airtanker owners have been working together to develop appropriate airworthiness standards and inspection processes. Due to this effort, there are 19 federally approved airtankers currently available and authorized for use. The Forest Service is now working with NASA and other institutions to develop standards for a number of additional aircraft not currently approved for this use. However, until these aircraft meet airworthiness standards they will not be placed under Forest Service operational control except under conditions and situations described in the recent memo received from the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC). A copy of this memo is attached for your reference.

Outlined within this memo are principles that will be used to support decisions to use unapproved aircraft in emergency situations.

Following is the key principle and related definition:

•  “emergency circumstance”… “lives and property are immediately threatened, in the current burning period, by wildland fire on federal lands under federal protection…” (emphasis added)
• “(The) local federal line officer may, with state concurrence, take operational control over state contracted airtankers if sufficient federal aircraft are not available to protect the public.” (emphasis added)

The memo further requires that “The local federal line officer must obtain prior approval from their Fire Director, or Fire Director Designee”, and stipulates reporting requirements in the event this discretion is exercised. You, or your officially designated acting, are approved to exercise this discretion without prior approval of the FAM Director, subsequent to your careful consideration and application of the intent and principles expressed within the NMAC memo. Per the memo, you will provide documentation of any such use and supporting rationale to Regional Aviation Officer, Dennis Hulbert, as soon as practicable.

For further information, please contact Dennis Hulbert or Ed Hollenshead.

/s/ James M. Peña (for)
BERNARD WEINGARDT
Regional Forester

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National Interagency Fire Center
3838 S. Development Avenue
Boise, Idaho 83705
June 18, 2007

To: Geographic Area Coordination Group Chairs
From: National Multi Agency Coordination Group
Subject: Use of Large Airtankers and Related Issues

This memo will serve as direction regarding the use of Large Airtankers (LATs), and other retardant/suppressant aircraft, on federally managed wildland fires for the 2007 field season.

The following LATs and other aircraft are available and authorized for use on wildland fire operations managed by federal agencies:

• Those federally contracted LATs that have been awarded contracts under the Forest Service Airtanker Contract. These aircraft constitute federally approved airtankers.
• CL-215/215T/415s. For non-federally contracted water scoopers, agreements for use and payment must be in place prior to use on federally managed fires.
• MAFFS as mobilized by the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) or by a state.
• Single Engine Airtankers mobilized under the Interagency SEAT Contract or through agreements with cooperators.
• Helicopters contracted through USDA/USDI contracting processes and cooperator helicopters covered by appropriate use and payment agreements.

Related Issues:

Federal Lands under State Protection: States may use airtankers not identified above on federal lands, when and where the State has formal protection responsibility as long as the state maintains operational control of those aircraft.

Federal Firefighters on State Fires: Non-federally approved airtankers remain under State operational control regardless of the agency affiliation of the firefighters on the incident.

Federal Airtanker Base: Non-federally approved airtankers are approved to use, and load retardant at federal airtanker bases.

Contracting Oversight: No federal personnel may be assigned as a State Contract Officer’s Authorized Representative (COAR) on a non-federally approved airtanker contract. No federal employee may be assigned to a position that exercises operational control of a non-federally approved airtanker.

Federal Aerial Supervision: Federal personnel may provide aerial supervision, including “lead profiles”, to non-federally approved aircraft under existing standard procedures and agreements, only when operational control is maintained by the state or local agency. In the case of Very Large Airtankers (DC-10, 747ST), the leadplane or ASM providing aerial supervision must have received prior written approval for such operations from their respective agency.

In an emergency circumstance, where lives and property are immediately threatened, in the current burning period, by wildland fire on federal lands under federal protection, a local federal line officer may, with state concurrence, take operational control over state contracted airtankers if sufficient federal aircraft are not available to protect the public. The local federal line officer must obtain prior approval from their Fire Director, or Fire Director Designee. Any such use will be documented by the approving federal line officer, and the documentation will be forwarded to the agency national aviation headquarters within two weeks.

The following individuals are designated as approving officials for their respective Geographic Area:

Primary Contact Alternate

NR Eddie Morris 406-329-4918 Allen Edmonds 406-896-2912
RM Tom Landon 303-275-5740 Ivan Pupulidy 303-275-5711
SW Mike Rotonda 505-842-3359 John Selkirk 505-438-7431
GB Terry Cullen 801-620-1847 Claire Mendenhall 801-625-5511
CA Dennis Hulbert 916-640-1033 Paul Bannister 916-978-4437
NW Jon Rollens 503-808-2359 Brad Bernardy 503-808-6593
AK Ed Strong 907-356-5642 RAO (Vacant) 907-586-8837
EA Sandra LaFarr 414-297-3744 Wayne Bushnell 414-297-3682
SA Stephen Weaver 404-347-2726 Dave Broadnax 404-347-3735

The intent of this direction is to keep non-federally approved air tankers under the operational control of the sponsor agency. If needed, further clarification on these issues can be obtained from agency regional/national aviation and fire operations offices.

/s/ Tom Boatner
Chair, NMAC

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