This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to facilitate an aerodrome emergency response, in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and national operating standards.

It includes preparing for an aerodrome emergency, responding to an aerodrome emergency, and taking appropriate actions to reinstate aerodrome operations.

This unit addresses aviation non-technical skill requirements (mental, social and personal-management abilities) related to safety management duties of ground operations personnel, and contributes to safe and effective performance in complex aviation operational environments.

Operations are conducted as part of recreational, commercial and military aircraft activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian aviation industry.

Work is performed independently or under limited supervision as a single operator or within a team environment.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Use for Defence Aviation is to be in accordance with relevant Defence Orders, Instructions, Publications and Regulations.

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Prepare for an aerodrome emergency 

1.1

Familiarity with aerodrome emergency response procedures and role of responding agencies is established

1.2

Aerodrome emergency equipment is checked and tested in accordance with workplace procedures

1.3

Emergency exercises and debriefing sessions are participated in as required

1.4

Hazards are identified, risks are assessed and hazard management is implemented

1.5

Responding agencies are escorted on familiarisation tours of airside facilities as required

2 

Respond to an aerodrome emergency 

2.1

Established emergency response procedures are followed

2.2

Forward command post (FCP) and other forward control areas are appropriately established

2.3

Wreckage is guarded and evidence is preserved

2.4

Command of initial emergency response is appropriately handed over to responding agencies

2.5

Responding agencies are assisted as required

2.6

Running log is maintained throughout an emergency

2.7

Media enquiries are appropriately handled

3 

Take appropriate action to reinstate aerodrome operations 

3.1

Assessment of continued aerodrome operational capability is correctly made and authorities are notified

3.2

Airside facilities are returned to service as required

3.3

Reports are completed, filed and disseminated to relevant authorities as required in accordance with workplace procedures

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Aerodromes must include one or more of the following:

• certified aerodromes
• registered aerodromes
• other (unclassified) aerodromes

Emergency response procedures must include:

• activating the Aerodrome Emergency Plan (AEP)
• implementing aerodrome emergency procedures
• reporting to Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
• reporting to local police service

Aerodrome emergency must include one or more of the following:

• aircraft crash off aerodrome
• aircraft crash on aerodrome
• explosive threat
• full emergency
• hazardous materials incident
• local standby
• major building fire
• medical emergency
• unlawful interference with aviation
• wildlife hazards

Aerodrome emergency equipment must include one or more of the following items:

• communications
• emergency lighting
• first aid equipment
• incident management kits
• spill response and control kits
• tools and equipment
• vehicles and trailers

Hazards will include one or more of the following:

• aircraft movements
• explosions
• fire and smoke
• foreign object debris (FOD)
• fumes
• hazardous/toxic materials
• other vehicles in the vicinity of the emergency
• personnel in the vicinity of the emergency
• slippery surfaces

Situations that require reporting must include:

• changes to temporary or permanent published aerodrome information
• emergency situations resulting in some or all of the aerodrome becoming unserviceable
• restoration of aerodrome serviceability

Relevant authorities for reporting purposes must include:

• aerodrome operator or delegated person
• aerodrome users
• Air Traffic Control (ATC)
• Australian Defence Force (Defence) Command for military bases
• CASA
• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Office (Airservices Australia)

Suitable means of reporting must include:

• NOTAM
• verbal communications
• written communication by fax or email

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

• adapting to differences in equipment and operating environment in accordance with workplace procedures
• applying relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• applying relevant systems such as aerodrome safety management system (SMS) and procedures to assess and/or mitigate risk that might arise while facilitating a response to an aerodrome emergency
• communicating effectively with others
• completing relevant documentation
• identifying and correctly using relevant equipment
• implementing work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures and relevant regulations
• interpreting and following workplace procedures and prioritising work
• monitoring and anticipating operational problems and hazards and taking appropriate action
• operating electronic communications equipment to required protocols
• reading, interpreting and following relevant instructions, regulations, procedures, information and signs
• selecting and using required personal protective equipment (PPE) conforming to industry and WHS/OHS standards
• working collaboratively with others
• working systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

• aerodrome environs including:

• areas surrounding navigational aids
• aerodrome works sites
• buildings
• drainage systems
• fences and gates
• obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS)

• aerodrome layout, including access routes:

• aerodrome movement area facilities including:
• apron
• clearway
• markers, markings and aerodrome lighting
• runway and runway strip
• runway end safety area
• taxiway and taxiway strip

• appropriate responses to emergency transmission:

• establishing priority of calls
• imposing radio silence

• critical messages including a distress message (MAYDAY call) and an urgency message (PAN call)
• operation of airband radio equipment as used to communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and/or pilots
• physical characteristics of aircraft:

• commercial charter aircraft
• commercial passenger aircraft
• emergency medical service (EMS) aircraft
• fixed wing and/or helicopters
• freighter aircraft
• general aviation/recreational aircraft
• military aircraft

• problems, safety hazards and risks that exist when facilitating an aerodrome emergency response and related risk assessment/management measures that may need to be taken
• purpose and application of aerodrome markers, markings and temporary lighting
• purpose and role of forward command post (FCP)
• radio equipment:

• airband/VHF radio
• non-operations/UHF radio

• relevant information/documents:

• Aerodrome Emergency Plan (AEP) and procedures to be followed for each aerodrome emergency
• Aerodrome Manual
• aerodrome SMS and safety/security polices and principles of risk assessment and risk management
• aerodrome Transport Security Plan (TSP)
• airline timetables
• airside driver handbook and/or airside driving requirements for the aerodrome
• Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs)
• conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards
• induction and training materials
• logbooks
• Manual of Standards (MOS) Part 139 – Aerodromes
• Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
• operational checklists
• plans and maps
• relevant forms and databases
• safety data sheets (SDSs)/material safety data sheets (MSDSs) for hazardous materials
• workplace procedures for facilitating an aerodrome emergency response

• relevant legislative and regulatory requirements relating to facilitating an aerodrome emergency response such as:

• identified in CASRs, CASA Manual of Standards
• identified in Defence Orders and Instructions
• Manual of Standards (MOS) Part 139 – Aerodromes
• standards and recommended practices (SARPs) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• workplace relations
• WHS/OHS and environmental, procedures and regulations including Drug and Alcohol Management Plan (DAMP)

• reporting procedures
• requirements for completing relevant documentation and/or incident reporting
• weather information and its implications for workplace operations.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• acceptable means of simulation assessment
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals
• relevant materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry.