Personnel, Contractors

Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT)

SYSTEM: SEAT, Personnel (Contractors)

Sub-System	Hazards	Pre-Mitigation			Mitigation	Post-Mitigation
Sub-System	Hazards	Probability	Severity	Risk Level	Mitigation	Probability	Severity	Risk Level
Human Factors	Ground support personnel fatigue and workload	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Ensure contractor compliance with rest and duty limitations (DOT and contract) for ground support personnel so as not to overextend (company and agencies are both responsible to monitor closely). Utilize additional crew members as necessary. Monitor number of aircraft being loaded and mitigate additional workload per loader.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
	Pilot fatigue	Almost Certain	Critical	Extremely High	SEMGs work with vendor personnel to ensure adequate rest between shifts. Manage missions to be most effective for incident, with proper use of aircraft. Consider phase duty limitations as appropriate.	Unlikely	Moderate	Medium
	Pilot - poor decision making: multi-tasking, mission focus, sense of urgency, peer pressure	Almost Certain	Critical	Extremely High	Ensure that these items are addressed in the contract pre-work meeting and re-enforced in the daily air base briefings, post mission briefings or whenever the need is identified. All personnel involved in operations should recognize hazardous situations or behavior. Communicate issues or concerns. Recognize fatigue, hunger, illness or other issues that may be causing poor decision making and mitigate as needed.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
	Acceptance of high-risk missions and activities as normal	Likely	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Emphasize importance of situational awareness to recognizing risk. Consider providing risk management training for the pilot and crew. Re-address complacency and self-discipline in daily airbase briefings. Review risk management workbook and/or vendor SMS manual on a regular basis.	Possible	Critical	High
	Poor CRM with crew rotations; crew rotation may affect aircraft/equipment knowledge in-brief	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Make effort to ensure that contractor relief personnel arrive at base prior to relief cycle with sufficient overlap time to receive good in-brief from primary personnel.	Possible	Critical	High
	Single pilot workload may be considered to be excessive based on demands that he/she be able to operate several cockpit equipment items during mission performance (i.e., multi-tasking overload.)	Almost Certain	Critical	Extremely High	Complete thorough pre-flight planning. Minimize radio traffic. Follow sterile cockpit rules. Utilize aerial supervision if available to reduce cockpit workload. Utilize AFF. Allow time to program frequencies prior to launch. Conduct AARs, sand table and on ground CRM Exercises, incorporating operations personnel.	Possible	Critical	High
	Conflicting and/or difficult personalities	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	If individuals cannot professionally resolve differences, managers and supervisors must take immediate action. Brief/debrief, employ CRM, provide and receive honest and objective feedback, maintain positive attitude. Maintain professionalism and mission focus at all times.	Possible	Critical	High
Pilot Training and Experience	Lack of fire mission training and lack of proficiency flight time	Likely	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Vendors have instituted training programs such as CRM, risk management, and flight safety with the intent to standardize cockpit procedures. Develop training center for fire environment and make available for vendor use. Other training includes aircraft performance and limitations. Provide opportunities for new and experienced pilots to attend NAFA training.	Possible	Catastrophic	High
	High number of target fixation and tactical maneuvering errors	Likely	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Company training plans should address human factors including target fixation, situational awareness, task overload, and performance/tactical planning errors. Plan training simulations prior to and throughout fire season.	Possible	Critical	High
	Lack of training in firefighting strategy, tactics, terminology, basic ICS, frequency management, etc.	Likely	Critical	Extremely High	Establish training courses for pilots to meet basic level of firefighting knowledge for all contracts. Encourage contractors to take online basic wildland firefighting courses. Provide opportunities for attendance at NAFA. When available have a Level I pilot mentor a level II pilot.	Possible	Critical	High
	Inadequate flight experience	Possible	Catastrophic	Extremely High	Adhere to existing contract requirements requiring contractors to validate pilots' experience and training. SEMG must be familiar with the level of the pilot and their restrictions. Continue to provide opportunities for SEAT pilots to attend NAFA and other fire-specific aviation training. Develop, implement, and support a pilot mentoring program.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
Ground Support Training	Not all mixers, loaders and fuelers are adequately trained and qualified	Possible	Critical	High	Ensure that contractors provide adequate training to ground personnel on mixing of fire chemicals and fueling of aircraft prior to fire assignment. Provide training documentation to agency aviation managers during pre-work meetings.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium
New Technology	Lack of familiarity with technology, inability to utilize and operate equipment	Possible	Critical	High	Ensure all vendor personnel are trained in the function and operation of newer technology, equipment, and systems prior to implementation and utilization.	Unlikely	Critical	Medium

Download the Word version (docx) of this information and the Risk Assessment Matrix (pdf) to use with the Risk Assessment Worksheet (docx).

Modified / Reviewed: April 25, 2024

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

Updated, NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

Date: March 11, 2025
Contact: Fire Use Subcommittee
Wildland Fire Module Unit

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430 standardizes procedures and expectations for Wildland Fire Modules (WFMs). These standards are to be used by staff, supervisors, specialists, and technicians for planning, administering, and conducting WFM operations. These standards will also be used as a measure of WFM qualifications, capabilities, and expected performance, for both Type 1 and Type 2 WFMs.

References:

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Module Operations, PMS 430

NEW! NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Date: March 7, 2025
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee

The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, NWCG Standards for Airtanker Base Operations (SABO), PMS 508, and any applicable agency plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514

Incident Position Standards and Next Gen Position Task Books Now Available for Dispatch Incident Positions

Date: March 5, 2025
Contact: National Coordination System Committee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all six Dispatch positions:

Aircraft Dispatcher
Expanded Dispatch Coordinator
Expanded Dispatch Recorder
Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher
Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher
Initial Attack Dispatcher

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including the Expanded Dispatch Job Aid, J-601 and the Initial Attack and Aircraft Dispatcher Job Aid, J-602, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Aircraft Dispatcher Position Page

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Coordinator Position Page

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Recorder Position Page

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Supervisory Dispatcher Position Page

NWCG Expanded Dispatch Support Dispatcher Position Page

NWCG Initial Attack Dispatcher Position Page

NWCG Job Aids

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for DMOB, DOCL, and RESL

Date: February 28, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Demobilization Unit Leader (DMOB), Documentation Unit Leader (DOCL), and Resources Unit Leader (RESL).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions, including a job aid for RESL, were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Demobilization Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Documentation Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Resources Unit Leader Position Page

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 530-1

PMS 530-1

Personnel, Contractors

Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT)

SYSTEM: SEAT, Personnel (Contractors)

NWCG Latest Announcements

References:

References:

References:

References:

NWCG

National Wildfire Coordinating Group

PMS 530-1

PMS 530-1

Personnel, Contractors

Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT)

SYSTEM: SEAT, Personnel (Contractors)

NWCG Latest Announcements

References:

References:

References:

References:

NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group

NWCG

National Wildfire Coordinating Group