ASTAT Handbook Example 1
Author: jamianzalone

Aviation Safety and Technical Assistance Team
(ASTAT)
Handbook

Date

Safety Message

The aviation industry and land management agencies are embracing Safety Management System (SMS) as a proven philosophy to enhance aviation safety. SMS provides a systematic structure for a complete safety management program that is based on four main components: policy, risk management, safety assurance and safety promotion. The ASTAT key role is to provide a strong safety assurance component of which you are about to participate in.
Safety Assurance is key to verifying the mitigations in place to reduce risk in aviation operations are effective. Helping the field operate at that lower risk is as valuable to our safety culture as actually swinging a tool. I appreciate your efforts at helping the GB Area achieve our goal of zero accidents. Thank you for your commitment to aviation safety.
/S/ Joe Aviator
Chair, SWCG Aviation Committee

Purpose

Aviation Safety and Technical Assistance Team (ASTAT) Aviation Safety and Assistance Teams enhance safe, efficient, and effective aviation operations. An ASTAT provides assistance to unit and aviation managers, flight crews, and incident management teams for increasing, ongoing or declining incident aviation activity. ASTATs assist and review helicopter and/or fixed wing operations on wildland fires.

Safety Assurance—To provide information to the Regional Aviation Safety Manager and/or SWCG on the effectiveness of SMS for aviation operations
Assistance—To provide the field with assistance in operating at the lowest practical risk.

Philosophy

The ASTAT needs to present itself as a function of assistance and not compliance. You are not an SMS Evaluator.
Your role is to help them conduct THEIR operation at lower risk.
ASTAT visits are not inspections.
You are there to help and should approach folks that you meet as such.

Notifications

You are expected to make contact with the local unit Aviation Officer and/or the Air Operations Branch Director to let them know you will be in their area prior to your arrival.
In-brief to discuss the purpose of the ASTAT and see if they have concerns for you to address. This may be accomplished over the phone if agreeable to all parties involved.
Out-brief to discuss any issues and concerns addressed. No one should be surprised with ASTAT findings. Be sure to let folks know when you have completed your visit and are leaving the area.
*See in-brief materials

Expectations

Balance impact on the operation with being there long enough to be approachable and get a good feel for the operation.
Represent the Agencies with professionalism and respect towards individuals in the field.
If you tell someone that you will provide them with follow up, ensure that you keep your word.
Daily phone calls will occur to brief the ASTAT Coordinator on issues and concerns encountered. Major and immediate safety concerns identified will be discussed with the appropriate agency aviation manager when encountered and not wait until the next day’s check in.
You will operate within the authorities set forth in the Delegation of Authority.
You will provide the ASTAT Coordinator with a written report to document the types of issues encountered.
Final Report will be forwarded to Aviation Risk Management Subcommittee by the ASTAT Lead and/or uploaded to the NWCG ARMS webpage/Resources tab.
https://www.nwcg.gov/committees/aviation-risk-management-subcommittee

Nuggets of wisdom

Be aware of who is in the room when having discussions. Respect confidentiality.
In person briefings and de-briefings are better than over the phone.
Remember to take notes daily to aid you in the final report when you close out.

South West AV Call in information

Time	0930 MDT (NM Time)
Number	1-888-844-XXXX
Passcode	XXXXXX#

Logistics

You are expected to make your own lodging
reservations and be self sufficient for meals.
Government per diem rates will apply throughout your travels and do not expect to be reimbursed for charges above the Government rate.
Government vehicles and rentals are the preferred source of transportation. Tire replacement and oil changes are the typical vehicle issues encountered. Be sure you have a credit card for these types of repairs.

Emphasis Points

Write in the emphasis points for this
particular ASTAT assignment (In no particular order):
1) Aircraft dispatching (flight following, airspace deconfliction, etc…)
UAS Incursion protocol-Decision Tree
3) TFR and Aviation Freqs
4) Large Incident Air Ops. In general.
5) Airtanker Bases
6) Helibase
7) Return to Contract Availability
8) Misc. topics at all bases. 36/6 flight time, trigger points for ordering additional personnel.

Agreement

I agree to interact with others in a respectful, professional manner that
respects relationships within the Region and promotes aviation safety through SMS.
________________________________
Team Leader/Fixed Wing– Name
_________________________________
Aviation Safety– Name
_________________________________
AMI– Name
_________________________________
Dispatch– Name
_________________________________
Helicopter Operations– Name
_________________________________
Additional Member– Name if applicable

Overhead

Name	14th day	Replacement / ordered?

Overhead

Name	14th day	Replacement / ordered?

Schedule

Date	Location	Incident

Schedule

Date	Location	Incident

Contact List

Date	Name	Incident / Location

Contact List

Date	Name	Incident / Location

Notes

Notes

Notes

Notes

ASTAT Contact List
Name		Position		Phones				Email
				Work		Cell
Gary Daniel		Team Lead/Fixed Wing		N/A		480-980-5053		gdaniel2014@gmail.com
Mike Abrams		Aviation Maintenance		N/A		907-723-1909		mabrams@fs.fed.us
Kirk Rothwell		Aviation Safety		N/A		208-914-8483		mrothwell@blm.gov
Joe Rogan		Aviation Safety		N/A		208-871-7547		jrogan@blm.gov
Jeff Quick		Rotor Wing Ops		N/A		928-853-3027		jeffq1121@gmail.com
Kathryn Mount		Dispatcher		N/A		208-315-5677		kmount@fs.fed.us
RO Contacts
Brian Knapp		Helicopter Operations		505-842-3432		520-591-2704		bhknapp@fs.fed.us
Rob VanHorn		Aviation Maintenance		505-842-3356		505-362-7037		rvanhorn@fs.fed.us
Patrick Kane		Fixed Wing		505-842-3112		530-363-8028		pkane@fs.fed.us
Jim Morrison		Aviation Safety				801-540-5331		jmorrison@fs.fed.us
SWCG Aviation Committee
Dave Underwood		BIA Liaison		505-563-3376				ewing.underwood@bia.gov
Kris Damsgaard		USFS R3 RAO		505-842-3359		505-503-0675		kdamsgaard@fs.fed.us
Steve Sorensen		NPS IMR RAM		303-969-2567		720-626-0738		steve_sorensen@nps.gov
Darren Mathis		BLM NM/AZ SAM		602-417-9308		435-680-0816		dmathis@blm.gov
Kelly Castillo		SWCG Liaison		602-417-9550		608-689-6224		kcastill@blm.gov