Airtanker Pilot-in-Command (AKP) shall possess:

• FAA Commercial Certificates
• Class II Medical Certificate valid through the contract mandatory, pre-season and post-season periods.
• FAA instrument rating for airplanes
• Category. Class and Unrestricted Type Rating in aircraft to be flown.
• Recent flight experience: Airtanker Pilot-in-Command requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61.58(a) and instrument currency requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61.57 (c), (d), or (e) proficiency check.
• Proof of completion of the Forest Service Airtanker Pilot Training Program or completion of the National Aerial Firefighting Academy course.
• Proof of qualifications to meet Federal Aviation Regulation Part 137.53 for congested areas. Applicants not meeting FAR 137.53, congested area requirements, may be issued an AKP card provided the limitation is noted on the card by the pilot inspector and a qualified Initial Attack Pilot is assigned to every mission.
• A current Forest Service or OAS Agency Pilot Qualification Record Card issued by a USDA/USDI approved Inspector of Pilots.
• Following flight experience:

- Total time-all aircraft		1500 hours
- Pilot-in-Command-airplanes		1200 hours
Pilot-in-Command Breakdown
Make and model to be flown		25 hours 1
Category (airplane) and class (multi-engine) to be flown		200 hours
Multi-engine aircraft over 12,500 lbs, if applicable all time must be accumulated after receiving type rating		100 hours 2
During preceding 12 months-airplanes		100 hours 3
Actual or simulated instrument time (minimum 50 actual)		75 hours
Night flying to include at least three takeoffs and landings to full stop during the 90 days preceding annual Pilot approval in category and class over 12,500 lbs		100 hours
Typical terrain and landing facilities-mountain and low level		200 hours
During 60 days prior to annual agency Pilot inspection		5 hours 4
	In make and model, to include five takeoffs and landings performed from the left seat
	Demonstrate dropping one full load of water in typical terrain under the observation of a designated Pilot Inspector in a minimum of one make and model airtanker to be flown
NOTES: The 25 hours of Pilot-in-Command required must have been within the past 5 years with an Unrestricted Type rating in make and model to be flown. (The time must be accumulated after the issuance of the type rating.) The time in the make and model to be flown may be reduced to 10 hours provided the pilot holds an initial attack rating and completes training in maneuvers simulating Airtanker operations. Pilots who have flown as Co-Pilots in multi-engine Airtanker operations may count 50 percent of that time toward the 100 hours Pilot-in-Command requirement (left seat) to a maximum of 50 hours. or, performed as Airtanker Pilot (AKP) during the preceding 12 months. Initial Attack Training Pilots may perform the make and model experience requirements from either the left and/or right seat. Dropping loads of water for the Initial Pilot Inspector shall be demonstrated from both the left and right seat, with a minimum of two full loads total dropped.

Co-Pilot (AKC) shall possess:

FAA multi-engine rating. FAA instrument rating-airplane. FAA Commercial Certificate. Class II Medical Certificate valid through the contract mandatory, pre-season, and post-season periods. A current Forest Service or OAS Agency Pilot Qualification Record Card issued by a USDA/USDI approved Inspector of Pilots. Meet the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation Part 61.55 and 61.56. The following flight experience:
- Pilot-in-Command-airplane	800 hours
- Flight hours the preceding 12 months-airplane	100 hours 1
NOTES: or, performed as an airtanker Co-Pilot/Pilot in the past 36 months and accumulated 100 hours of Pilot/Co-Pilot time on firefighting missions and documented observation of that performance by a designated Pilot Inspector, or received a Type rating in the make and model to be flown in the past 12 months.