Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to dispatch operational rappel personnel and equipment from a hovering helicopter for fire suppression purposes. It applies to personnel who supervise others rappelling from a hovering helicopter. This work involves adherence to rappelling policies, regulations, protocols and procedures required for these activities.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

It is essential that the prerequisite units listed below are obtained prior to the issuance of this unit to individuals within the fire sector or the units contributing to the attainment of a fire qualification.

PUAFIR212 Rappel from helicopter

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Prepare operational dispatch equipment 

1.1 

Specialist rappel and dispatch equipment is selected and prepared, in accordance with organisational procedures and safe work practices

1.2 

Appropriate rappel and dispatch equipment is donned, in accordance with organisational requirements

1.3 

Personal equipment pre-flight check is conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

1.4 

Rappel and cargo ropes are loaded into the helicopter and secured

1.5 

Equipment faults are reported to supervisor, for rectification or replacement

2 

Conduct helicopter pre-flight check and preparation 

2.1 

Helicopter cabin area is prepared, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

2.2 

Helicopter emergency equipment is located and checked, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3 

Rappel rope attachment points are inspected and operational status is confirmed

2.4 

Rappel ropes are attached to rope attachment points

2.5 

Helicopter communications system is tested and operational status confirmed

2.6 

Helicopter equipment faults are reported to pilot

2.7 

Pre-mission brief details are confirmed with appropriate personnel

3 

Load rappellers and equipment into helicopter 

3.1 

Weight of rappel personnel, rappel and firefighting equipment is obtained

3.2 

Equipment is secured in helicopter, in accordance with organisational procedures and weight and balance requirements

3.3 

Rappellers are appropriately secured in seats

3.4 

Personal attachment to helicopter is confirmed

3.5 

Pre-flight operational checks and briefs are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

4 

Conduct rappel site inspection 

4.1 

Overfly of prospective rappel site is undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

4.2 

Hazard assessment of proposed dispatch site is undertaken

4.3 

Pilot and rappel crew leader are informed as to site suitability

4.4 

Possible escape routes from fire are identified and conveyed to rappel crew

5 

Dispatch rappel crew and their equipment 

5.1 

Pre-dispatch checks of rappellers, attachment to rappel ropes and equipment are conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

5.2 

Pilot is directed to maintain helicopter over rappel site, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

5.3 

Pilot’s approval to conduct a rappel is obtained

5.4 

Rappel rope is attached and checked, in accordance with organisational procedures, prior to commencing the dispatch

5.5 

Rappellers are directed to helicopter skids using relevant hand signals, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

5.6 

Rappeller and equipment descent and landing are monitored

5.7 

Communication is maintained with rappellers, pilot and control organisation

5.8 

Emergency procedures are invoked, as required, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

6 

Retrieve personnel and equipment 

6.1 

Appropriate ropes and equipment for the retrieval of rappellers are prepared

6.2 

Pre-retrieval checks of rappellers, attachment to rappel ropes and equipment are conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

6.3 

Pilot is briefed on proposed retrieval operation

6.4 

Equipment and personnel extraction is conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

6.5 

Personnel extraction is conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

7 

Complete rappel operations 

7.1 

Debriefing of rappellers and pilot is conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

7.2 

Helicopter equipment is inspected and stowed and all identified faults are reported to the pilot

7.3 

Rappel equipment and rope attachment points are inspected, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

7.4 

Damage to rappel equipment is reported to appropriate personnel for repair, replacement or disposal, in accordance with organisational procedures and practices

7.5 

Report on operation is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

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

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAFIR311B Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment from a helicopter.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

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

• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements
• conducting helicopter pre-flight check and preparation
• communicating with crew and rappellers through communication system
• completing rappel operations including finishing reports
• completing extractions of personnel and equipment
• following legislative and operational guidelines
• dispatching rappel crew and specialist equipment
• operating helicopter emergency equipment
• performing rappel site inspection
• preparing and stowing equipment
• reporting accidents and incidents including transmitting reports required during rappel operations
• retrieving personnel and equipment through implementation of lowering and retrieving including use of static extraction and rappelling techniques
• seating rappellers prior, during and following rappelling from helicopter
• sequencing and controlling rappelling techniques and operations
• selecting a suitable site
• transmitting reports required during rappel operations
• using hand signals
• weighing equipment and personnel
• working with organisational procedures including codes of practice, hazard policy, emergency procedures, flight instructions, safe use of equipment, housekeeping processes, utilising safe operating procedures, implementing equipment inspection and maintenance process and planning and implementing briefing and debriefing processes

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and includes knowledge of

• communication systems and techniques
• extraction and retrieval methods
• factors to consider when assessing site suitability
• helicopter conning
• helicopter environment awareness
• helicopter safety including emergency equipment
• industry standards, organisational requirements and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations
• key roles and responsibilities of helicopter crew
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• pre-flight checks
• reports required during rappel operations
• specialist rappel despatch equipment
• weight distribution principles and effects on a helicopter
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including risk mitigation and emergency procedures

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 industry approved simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Competency should be assessed in a simulated environment followed by an assessment by a certified operator on the job that encompasses a number of scenarios.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• rappelling equipment and materials, personal protective and safety equipment, area to conduct operations, helicopters, briefing reports and organisational procedural, documentation, appropriate personnel and emergency information

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.