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Airtanker Base Operations Unit

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ABOU decorative banner. An airtanker sits on the tarmac of an airtanker base while people look at the burning mountains in the distance.
Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The Airtanker Base Operations Unit (ABOU) provides national leadership in all areas of interagency airtanker base operations. The ABOU develops and disseminates operational standards that promote safe, secure, effective, efficient airtanker base operations. These standards include facility and equipment requirements, operational and administrative procedures, and personnel qualifications and training.

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Primary Objectives

planes on a runway

  • Provide technical assistance regarding airtanker base operations.
  • Promote cooperation and standardization in interagency airtanker base operations.
  • Identify airtanker base issues, develop solutions, and recommend corrective actions to the National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC).
  • Support standardized training for airtanker base operations and provide leadership in training course development, implementation, evaluation, and revision.
  • Ensure that airtanker base standards are consistent with member agency procedures, practices, and expectations.
  • Serve as a central source of information, guidance, and support for national and geographic area airtanker base decisions and operations.
  • Provide contracting technical assistance and support as requested.
     

Save the Date

Airtanker Base and SEAT Manager Workshop scheduled at NAFRI in Tucson on February 17th – 20th, 2026

2025 ABOU Update

 ABOU (formerly IABS) Update 2025 PowerPoint Presentation 

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Airtanker Frequently Asked Questions

Read our airtanker frequently asked questions.

Guidance Documents

ABOU (formerly IABS) 2024 Standard Operating Procedures

Airtanker Ground Maneuvering and Parking Considerations

Forms

Comments for PMS 507 and PMS 508:

Comments for Six Minutes for Safety 

USFS Airtanker Program – QR Code Menu

Interagency Aviation Training: https://www.iat.gov/

BLM SEAT/Fire Boss (Single Engine Scooper) Inspectors (updated 07/24)

2025 Airtanker AMI Return to Contract Availability List (updated 01/25)

Air Base Risk Assessment GAR

Airtanker Risk Assessment Rollout Sheet

Airtanker Overfilling or Overloading Direction

Interagency Aviation Lessons Learned 17-06 Equipment Foul Lines and Foul Boxes at Airtanker Bases

How to read mass flow meter printouts

Enterprise Geospatial Portal - Used for FLIGHT and the NWCG Airtanker Base Directory, PMS 507

U. S. Forest Service and Interagency Aviation Publications

CAL FIRE 8300 Handbook

NWCG Aircraft Dispatch Form

Airtanker Loading Procedures and Risk Assessments

ABOU Risk Assessments

10 Tanker Air Carrier Documents

Aero-Flite, Inc. Documents

Coulson Aviation Documents

Erickson Aero Tanker Documents

Neptune Aviation Services Documents

ABOU thanks 10 Tanker Air Carrier, Aero-Flite, Inc., Coulson Aviation, Erickson Aero Tanker, and Neptune Aviation Services for allowing NWCG to post this material

Chair: Justin Bohannan

NWCG Coordinator: Dave Schultz

Parent Committee: Interagency Airtanker and Scooper Operations Subcommittee

Meeting Schedule: TBD

Page Last Modified or Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

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 

Next Generation Position Task Book and Updated Incident Position Description Now Available for Operations Section Chief Complex

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC) has a Next Generation NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 and an updated Incident Position Description.

These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

References:

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Position Page 

NWCG Operations Section Chief Complex Incident Position Description 

NWCG Position Task Book for Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC), PMS 311-108 

2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, Now Available

Date: February 27, 2025
Contact: Incident Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the 2025 NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461, is now available. Visit NWCG's website to learn about the major updates and changes in the 2025 version of the IRPG. The NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES is available electronically and will be available from Great Basin Cache by early summer 2025.

All hard copy materials, including the IRPG, are ordered through the Great Basin Cache (GBK). Information on the ordering process can be found in the National Fire Equipment System (NFES) Catalog.

References:

2025 IRPG Information 

NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), PMS 461 

NWCG Guia de Respuesta de Incidente de Bolsillo (GRI), PMS 461-ES 

NWCG NFES Catalog - Part 2: Publications, PMS 449-2 

2025 Professional Reading Program

Date: February 18, 2025
Contact: Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program (WFLDP)

The Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program is announcing the 2025 Professional Reading list! The goal of the annual reading list is to promote the reading and discussion of the books throughout the year.

The five books chosen for this year are: Surf When You Can by Brett Crozier, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke, Simply Managing by Henry Mintzberg, and Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Metcalf.

References:

Professional Reading Program