Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to carry out wireman duties from a rotary wing aircraft and includes personnel and equipment transfers, rescue net operations, stretcher lifts, double harness lifts and hi-line transfers. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Application of the Unit 

Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and national operating standards.

Use for ADF Aviation is to be in accordance with relevant Defence Orders and Instructions and applicable CASA compliance.

Operations are conducted across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian aviation industry.

Work is performed under limited supervision.

This unit of competency is nominally packaged at Certificate IV.

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Prepare for recovery /deployment 

1.1 Personal safety equipment is inspected, donned, connected and checked in accordance with organisational policy and procedures

1.2 Equipment/personnel to be winched are prepared, inspected, connected and checked in accordance with organisational policy and procedures

1.3 Personnel to be winched are briefed where necessary

2 Recover /deploy equipment /personnel 

2.1 Hand signals are used in accordance with established procedures and practices

2.2 Positive control of equipment/personnel is maintained during ascent/descent

2.3 Assistance for personnel is provided as required

2.4 Disconnection of equipment/personnel is conducted in accordance with organisational policy and procedures

2.5 Cable is earthed as required prior to completing descent

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge :

• Hoist capabilities and limitations

• Approved operational procedures and processes for different hoisting operations

• Occupational health and safety issues applicable to operations

• Aircraft safety

• Personnel safety

• Communication skills for signalling and briefing

• Correct hoist and equipment configuration

• Organisational policy and procedures in relation to performing wireman duties

• Abnormal/emergency conditions and responses

• Aircraft flight control operation

• Typical problems that may occur when performing wireman duties, actions and appropriate solutions

Required skills :

• Perform hoisting operations

• Perform equipment assembly

• Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills for signalling and briefing

• Complete hoisting recovery equipment operations

• Give and receive instructions related to performing wireman duties

• Maintain situational awareness

• Complete documentation related to performing wireman duties

• Communicate effectively with others when performing wireman duties

• Read and interpret instructions and procedures relevant to performing wireman duties

• Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

• Identify and use required communication technology

• Work collaboratively with others when performing wireman duties

• Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

• Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may occur when performing wireman duties in accordance with workplace procedures

• Implement contingency plans for unanticipated situations that may arise when performing wireman duties

• Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist when performing wireman duties

• Plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

• Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

• Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

• Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

• Operate and adapt to differences in communication equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

• The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:
• the underpinning knowledge and skills
• relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Resources for assessment include:
• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or
• access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace
• In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:
• relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment 

• Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation
• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:
• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or
• in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Aircraft may include:

• single or multiple engine
• rotary wing

Aircraft publications may include:

• checklists
• flight manuals
• organisational policy and procedures manuals
• aviation maintenance documentation

Work environment may include:

• by day or by night
• over land or over sea
• Prepared or Unprepared helicopter landing sites

Hoisting equipment may include:

• single rescue sling
• double lift harness
• rescue litter
• hi-line transfer equipment
• emergency slings
• rope harness sling
• rescue net
• double lift harness
• extension strop
• rescue strop
• transfer equipment and message bag
• stretchers

Preparation of personnel/equipment may include:

• assistance in the donning of personal equipment
• securing of items/loads/personnel

Hand signals may include:

• hoist in/out
• hoist up/down
• boom in/out
• emergency descent
• move left/right
• cease movement
• come up/down
• aircraft go around
• stop hoisting
• ready to be hoisted
• all clear

Personnel being winched may be:

• survivors
• emergency services personnel
• medical personnel
• rescue wireman
• aircraft crewmembers

Assistance for personnel during recovery/deployment may include:

• providing hoisting briefs to personnel
• aircraft entry/exit assistance
• clearance of obstructions such as foliage
• rigging and parachute shrouds

Environment for hoisting operations may include:

• over water
• over land
• forest/bush
• bushfire affected areas
• mountainous areas
• confined areas
• pinnacles
• ship/boat transfers

Abnormal/emergency situations may include:

• hoist equipment malfunction
• communication equipment failure
• aircraft system failure
• operator incapacitation
• hoistee incapacitation
• fouled cable
• fouled hoist
• runaway hoist
• intercom system failure during hoisting operations
• electrical/mechanical failure
• aircraft malfunction

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

• company procedures
• enterprise procedures
• organisational procedures
• established procedures

Information/documentation may include:

• relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations
• in Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions
• Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)
• Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
• charts
• operations manuals
• approved checklists
• workplace procedures and instructions and job specification
• induction and training materials
• conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

• relevant Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and Civil Aviation Orders
• in Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation
• relevant Australian Standards

Competency Field 

W - Equipment and Systems Operations