Q A_-_18_Mar_15.pdf

This is in reference to the Q&A posted on 17 March. We would like additional information concerning the last Q&A on the document that references 3.1.21.4.

The following is the Q&A in question:

Ref: 3.1.21.4 states “The service provider shall have three personnel on duty during local flying to meet minimum personnel for towing.”

Q. Does that mean that the service provider is not required to have three personnel on duty when the base assigned units are not flying local missions? Or, are three people required on duty whenever the airfield is open to facilitate towing/emergency response?

A. During local flying, three people are required as a minimum. It is otherwise incumbent on the Service Provider to determine on duty manpower, based on anticipated need and PWS requirements.

Question 1 - Could we please get a broader definition of “local flying”? Is this just base assigned aircraft?

Or, does it also include units staging from Tyndall that are deployed for weapons training and tenant units that do not have “base assigned” aircraft?

Answer 1 – Local flying is defined as aircraft flying sorties from Tyndall AFB, with the intention of returning to Tyndall AFB to complete their sortie. It is not just base-assigned aircraft, but also tenant units and aircraft here on temporary duty to support local units or participate in tenant programs, such as WSEP.

Question 2 – Your answer states that: "It is otherwise incumbent on the Service Provider to determine on duty manpower, based on anticipated need and PWS requirements".

(a) If we reduced our manning to less than 3 people because no aircraft were anticipated to come in and all base units/aircraft were in a stand down mode, what if an aircraft from another base diverted to Tyndall with an inflight emergency? Would we receive assistance from the base to remove the aircraft from the runway? If we received no assistance and our personnel on duty had trouble removing the aircraft from the runway, would we be in violation of the contract or otherwise be penalized?

Answer 2(a) - If an unexpected arrival occurred (and the pilot could not stay with the aircraft to ride brakes) then it is reasonable to seek assistance from other base military personnel. If no assistance was available and/or transient personnel were otherwise unable to move the aircraft from the runway immediately, transient services would not be in violation of the contract or otherwise be penalized for having less than 3 people on duty.

(b) If the contractor is the main crash recovery function at Tyndall, would it not be more prudent to require 3 people on duty at all hours that the airfield is open to possible traffic?

Answer 2(b) – The Transient Aircraft Services IS NOT the main crash recovery function at Tyndall. The Crashed, Damaged, or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) program is the responsibility of the 325th Maintenance Squadron at Tyndall AFB.