DOI SEAT Contracts 

Flight Time FAQs

1. Q. Is flight time recorded for a Ramp move on an ordered flight?

A. No, when a SEAT repositions from GA/Day Off parking to the Retardant Loading Pit a Ramp

move is not recorded as flight time. See C22.1.1

C22.1.1 For purposes of this contract: “...moves under its own power for the purposes of

flight...” is defined as the time at which the aircraft begins taxiing to the runway with the intent to 

takeoff. Start times are the time at which the aircraft leaves the pit or begins taxiing from the

ramp on any government ordered flight.

2. Q. Is all time spent Hot Loading Retardant recorded as flight time under the new

contract Exclusive Use and On-Call Contract?

A. Depends. On the initial order for service, if the SEAT was parked out of the Loading Pit (I.E.

in day off parking) then the move from the parking area to the load pit and subsequent Hot

Loading for sortie/load #1 would not be considered flight time. However, upon return to base for

a load-and-return then the time spent Hot Loading is considered flight time. See C22.1.1 &

C22.1.2

C22.1.2 For purposes of this contract: “...“...when the aircraft comes to rest after landing...” is 

defined as the time at which the aircraft comes to a stop for the purpose of parking and shutting 

down the engine. Taxi time and time spent hot loading or hot refueling is considered flight time.

Engine cool down time after the airplane comes to a stop for the purpose of parking is NOT

flight time.

3. Q. Is all time spent Hot Refueling recorded as flight time?

A. No. A SEAT parked away from the operations area could start up, taxi to their fuel trailer and

Hot Fuel. After Hot Fueling the SEAT would taxi to the Retardant Loading Pit for a Hot

Retardant Load and upon exiting the flight time would begin. See C22.1.1

4. Q. Is the taxi time from the Retardant Loading Pit to the Fuel trailer for a Hot Refueling

recorded as flight time?

A. Yes, as long as the aircraft will be departing immediately on a government ordered flight

after either hot fueling or hot loading. C22.1.2 “...when the aircraft comes to rest after

landing...” is defined as the time at which the aircraft comes to a stop for the purpose of

parking and shutting down the engine. Taxi time and time spent hot loading or hot refueling

is considered flight time. Engine cool down time after the airplane comes to a stop for the

purpose of parking is NOT flight time.

5. Q. If a SEAT has been flying, and has to re-fuel at the airport...after he re-fuels when

does his time start? Do we pay him for the taxi time from the airport re-fueling to the pit?

A. If the government official approved the aircraft to hot fuel than the clock would not stop.

(Refer to question #4). If the aircraft shuts down to fuel than the time spent maneuvering the

aircraft from the fueling area after fueling to the pit would be non-revenue and not recorded

as flight time.

7. What is meant by “Taxi Time” in C22.1.2?
A. “Taxi Time” is the time spent maneuvering the aircraft from the runway after landing to park,

hot load or fuel.

8. Q. Who determines whether to either hot load or hot fuel?

A. Whether to conduct hot fueling and or hot loading retardant is the sole discretion of the

government.

7. Q. How do I record the flight leg on a Hot Reload and Hot Refuel sequence?

A. SEMG/Pilot will record the flight time on the Daily Ops Worksheet and the AMD-23E for each

load the contractor takes out of the pit. The sortie must be recorded to reflect the correct

refractometer reading, gallons delivered, correct charge codes for multiple fires, and to track

cumulative flight time. Remember no lumping of flights on either the Daily Ops Sheet or the

AMD-23E!

Example: How to document the flight time on the Daily Ops Worksheet and AMD-23E.

When a pilot departs the pit for the 1st load, the SEMG will record their start time in Line #1 of the 

Daily Ops Worksheet and the AMD-23E, and complete all the other required columns on that 

line. When the SEAT comes back into the pit for a second hot load of retardant, the SEMG will 

record the stop time for that line. 

The SEMG will use the same stop time recorded in Line #1 as their start time for Line # 2 or

the second sortie.

Daily Operations Worksheet Example
AMD-23E Example 

C22 (DOI Exclusive Use and On-Call Contracts) Flight Time

C22.1 Measurement of Flight Time. Flight Time will be measured when the aircraft moves under 

its own power for the purpose of flight and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing at 

an airport.

C22.1.1 For purposes of this contract: “...moves under its own power for the purposes of 

flight...” is defined as the time at which the aircraft begins taxiing to the runway with the intent to 

takeoff. Start times are the time at which the aircraft leaves the pit or begins taxiing from the 

ramp on any government ordered flight.

C22.1.2 For purposes of this contract: “...when the aircraft comes to rest after landing...” is 

defined as the time at which the aircraft comes to a stop for the purpose of parking and shutting 

down the engine. Taxi time and time spent hot loading or hot refueling is considered flight time. 

Engine cool down time after the airplane comes to a stop for the purpose of parking is NOT 

flight time. 

C22.1.3 Elapsed flight time will be measured in hours and tenths/hundredths of hours.