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 plan aircraft operations for incident management activities.

The unit applies to personnel such as Air Operations Managers, Aircraft Officers, Air Observers, Air Attack Supervisors, Airbase Managers and Incendiary Operations Supervisors who are required to contribute to the planning, development and review of the air operations portion of an incident action plan.

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.

PUAFIR209 Work safely around aircraft

PUAOPE013 Operate communications systems and equipment

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Plan aircraft operations 

1.1 

Operational objectives are obtained

1.2 

Air operations requirements are identified

1.3 

Requirements for support staff, equipment and consumables are identified

1.4 

Hazard assessment is undertaken and is conveyed to pilots

1.5 

Aircraft base location is selected, if required, in accordance with operational requirements

1.6 

Site hazards are identified

1.7 

Flight plans including operational requirements, weather, hazard identification and minimisation or abatement is established with pilots

1.8 

Aircraft resource suitability and performance capabilities and/or limitations are identified

1.9 

Areas at aircraft base location are designated and separated, in accordance with site features and specific operations being conducted

1.10 

Activity brief is planned, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.11 

Activity briefing is conducted with appropriate personnel, in accordance with organisational procedures, and operational information is displayed

2 

Interpret weather conditions in relation to flight operations 

2.1 

Appropriate weather data is obtained

2.2 

Assessment of immediate and forecasted weather conditions on air operations is undertaken

2.3 

Air operations are planned using available data

2.4 

Weather data is continually assessed for implications to planning and conduct of flight operations

3 

Establish communications procedures 

3.1 

Communication requirements are identified

3.2 

Factors impinging upon selection of communication system and frequencies within and outside controlled airspace are identified

3.3 

Communication system and frequencies between aircraft and operations is selected

3.4 

Communication procedures are implemented, in accordance with planning process and organisational procedures

3.5 

Appropriate flight following notification procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational requirements

3.6 

Pilots and support personnel are briefed on communications procedures

4 

Establish procedures for search and rescue of overdue aircraft 

4.1 

Circumstances requiring the implementation of Search and Rescue (SAR) processes are identified

4.2 

Appropriate SAR procedures are established, as required

4.3 

Appropriate authorities are identified

4.4 

SAR resources are identified, as required

4.5 

Organisational accident or incident response procedures are planned

4.6 

Post accident and/or incident procedures are identified and planned, in accordance with organisational procedures

5 

Complete operation 

5.1 

Debriefing is scheduled as soon as possible on completion of operation

5.2 

Debriefing is conducted with operational and support personnel, in accordance with organisational requirements

5.3 

Documentation related to the operation is recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational 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 PUAFIR408B Plan aircraft operations.

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
• collecting, collating and analysing information relating to aircraft operations
• conducting briefings and debriefings
• establishing and using procedures for search and rescue (SAR) of overdue aircraft
• gathering information on operational requirements
• identifying hazards
• implementing legislative requirements, codes of practice and industry standards
• obtaining and assessing weather information
• planning aircraft operations
• preparing and documenting information
• reading maps
• reporting accidents and incidents using Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration/logistics, Communication/control and Safety (SMEACS) plus questions
• selecting airbase locations using communications systems, channels and frequencies during operations
• working with organisational and emergency procedures including codes of practice, hazard policy and procedures, aircraft operations and deployment of resources, guidelines for safe use of equipment, resources and facilities and identifying and using flight notification and flight following procedures

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

• aircraft capability
• criteria for selection of aircraft base locations
• development of incident response plan
• display information
• emergency procedures including missing aircraft, crash, evacuation, ditching, external emergency (observed) and fire
• flight plans including aircraft performance and capability, communication procedures, flight planning checklists, identifying and explaining hazards, incident priorities, mission and task objectives, resource limitations and timing of operations
• hazards affecting aircraft operations
• legislation, codes of practice and regulations
• meteorological information
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• processes for briefings including using SMEAC and answering questions
• roles and responsibilities of aircraft personnel
• search and rescue procedures
• suitability of aircraft for task and performance including capabilities and limitations
• suitable aircraft base operations including agricultural airstrips and existing licensed airfields
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislated requirements including risk mitigation

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.

Resources for assessment must include access to

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

• appropriate to the flight situation

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