Single Engine Air Tanker Manager

Duties

• The SEAT Manager position was developed to assist the Contracting Officer’s Representative administer the SEAT contract in the field, and manage the SEAT operations according to established interagency guidelines and procedures. A SEAT manager will be ordered for every SEAT that is mobilized to support incidents and will generally be under the supervision of the agency that mobilized the SEAT.
• Identifies differences between CWN and exclusive use contracts.
• Gathers information necessary to assess incident assignment and determines immediate needs and actions. (IC/Supervisor’s name, location and contact, current resource commitments, current situation: e.g. status of fire, fire size, fuel types, expected duration of assignment).
• Establishes agency contacts and identifies chain of command with Fire Management Officer and/or Aviation Manager, Dispatcher, Procurement person, Air Support Group Supervisor or other contact on incident.
• Develops logistical lines of authority for ordering supplies, transportation, human services: e.g. food, lodging, etc.
• Develops financial lines of authority for setting up equipment rentals, secures airport agreements, obtains charge codes, and identifies procurement authority.
• Establishes lines of communication with local dispatch incident dispatch radio frequencies, ordering authority, flight following responsibility.
• Conducts initial contractor inspection by validating cards (both pilot and aircraft), conduct pre-use inspections of aircraft and support/service equipment. Verifies pilot Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Establishes layout of SEAT base operations area (loading pit retardant drainage and retention area, fueling area/fuel sources, vehicle parking area, adequate space for expansion, jettison area for retardant, adequate runway operations, pilot/crew rest area, storage facilities).
• Initiates and completes Aircraft Contract Daily Diary throughout assignment.
• Confirms that air-to-air and air-to-ground communication procedures and frequencies are in place. (Establish flight following procedures and air traffic control procedures).
• Provides for the safety and welfare of assigned personnel during the entire assignment by recognizing potentially hazardous situations. Informs contractor of hazards. Ensures that special precautions are taken when extraordinary hazards exist. Ensures adequate rest is provided to all unit personnel. Develops/acquires and posts Flight Hazard Map. Identifies safety equipment needs (e.g. fire extinguishers) and appropriate locations. Discusses crash rescue procedures with support personnel.
• Identifies retardant and suppressant use restricted areas and brief pilot on environmental concerns; e.g. visual, congested areas, ecological concerns, e.g. wilderness and riparian areas.
• Conducts pre-flight and post-flight briefings with contractor for safety, operations and communications. Reviews work performance and provide feedback. Identify and implement adjustments in operations and weather forecasts.
• Attends daily briefings with agency/incident personnel on mission priorities, operations, and communications.
• Continuously monitors flight and/or duty hours of pilots, mechanics, and fuel truck drivers to ensure that hour limitations are not exceeded. Identify need for relief pilot (if available). Schedule and manage work to ensure limitations are not exceeded. Identify sunrise and sunset time constraints.
• Initiates and maintains administrative forms (OAS 23s, SEAT Daily Cost Summary, SEAT Tanker Log, Aircraft Contract Daily Diary, shit tickets and rental agreements).
• Maintains adequate supplies of water and retardants/suppressants at operation base by secure local water source. Schedule retardant/suppressant deliveries in a timely manner.
• Maintains quality control standards during mixing operations of retardants/suppressant products. Understands function of refractometer and its use. Understands mixing ratios of all products. Obtains and post MSDS sheets on products. Conducts and documents periodic inspections to maintain quality control standards for retardants and suppressants.
• Monitors all ground operations for safety. Loading procedures, crowd control, hazardous materials spill cleanup – proper disposal, “Hot” reloading, and “Hot” refueling.
• Coordinates and manages a safe flight environment. Maintains flight following procedures. Ensures sterile cockpit compliance. Obtains or develop a crash rescue plan.
• Provides for the logistical needs of the SEAT base facility (shade, sanitation facilities, meals, potable water (liquid refreshments), phones and transportation for pilots.
• Administers SEAT contract and agency guidelines. Ensures compliance with contract specifications as related t mission required equipment, systems and operation. Maintains contact with contracting officer. Establishes daily work schedules to ensure work limitations are not exceeded.
• Completes accident/incident reports as necessary and submit per agency requirements.
• Plans for demobilization and check-out. Receives demobilization instructions from agency/supervisor. Briefs contractor on demobilization procedures and responsibilities. Ensures that agency/incident demobilization procedures are followed.
• Conducts closeout inspection of aircraft and all support equipment.
• Ensures all procurement related records and documents are accurate and complete at demobilization. Turns in all documentation to agency authority. OAS 23s are completed and processed. Aircraft Contract Daily Diaries are up to date, completed, and processed. Completes and processes all SEAT Daily Cost Summary sheets. Completes and process all flight and duty day logs. Completes Evaluation Report on contractor performance.
• Supervises the restoration of the SEAT base of operations areas to pre-incident condition. Coordinates with fixed-base operators or airport managers for compliance. Demobilizes all rental equipment. Arranges for storage of all unused government owned retardants/suppressants.
• Conducts closeout with agency/incident. Debriefs with agency/incident dispatch (if necessary). Completes and submits ICS Form 221 (Demobilization Check-Out) if appropriate.

Position Knowledge and/or Requirements

• The mandatory training for a SEAT Manager is:
  • I-100 (Introduction to ICS)
    D-105 (Entry level dispatcher, Self-Study)
    S-110 (Basic firefighter)
    S-270 or S-217 (Basic Air Operations or Basic Interagency Helicopter Operations)
    S-273 (SEAT Manager)
• SEAT manager Qualification Prerequisites (suggested):
  The SEAT manager candidate should be qualified to serve as a Project Inspector (PI), as per agency guidelines, or familiar with the duties generally assigned to a PI working with aviation contracts.
• SEAT Manager experience requirements:
  Must have successfully completed the NWCG Task Book developed for the SEAT Manager position. After the completion of the required training, the prospective SEAT Manager will be issued a task book from the home unit, and serve in a trainee capacity while completing the tasks outlined in the task book. The home unit is responsible for ensuring the task book has been properly completed by qualified personnel prior to certifying the candidate as fully qualified.
• Agency certification:
  It is mandatory that fully qualified Seat Managers and trainees carry a red card or some type of agency certification documenting their qualifications on all assignments.
• Currency requirements:
  A qualified SEAT Manager must attend an approved bi-annual SEAT Manager’s workshop. In addition to the required bi-annual workshop, the SEAT Manager must successfully complete an assignment within a three (3) year period.