PUAFIR311B Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment from a helicopter

Revision Number: 1

PUAFIR311B Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment from a helicopter

Modification History

Not applicable.

Unit Descriptor

Unit Descriptor	This unit covers the dispatching of operational rappel personnel and equipment from a hovering helicopter for fire suppression purposes.

Application of the Unit

Application of the Unit	The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package. This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not applicable.

Pre-Requisites

Prerequisite Unit/s	PUAFIR209B Work safely around aircraft PUAFIR212B Rappel from helicopter

Employability Skills Information

Employability Skills	This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.	Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Prepare operational dispatch equipment	1.1 Specialist rappel and dispatcher equipment is selected and prepared in accordance with the organisation's safe work practices 1.2 Appropriate rappel and safety equipment is donned in accordance with the organisation's requirements 1.3 Personal equipment pre-flight check is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements 1.4 Rappel and cargo ropes are loaded into the helicopter and secured 1.5 Equipment faults are reported to the relevant supervisor for rectification or replacement
2. Conduct helicopter pre flight check and preparation	2.1 Helicopter cabin area is prepared in accordance with the organisation's requirements 2.2 Emergency equipment is located and checked 2.3 Rappel rope attachment points are inspected and operational status 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 the 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 according to 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 the organisation's requirements
4. Conduct rappel site inspection	4.1 An overfly of prospective rappel site is undertaken in accordance with the organisation's 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 is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements 5.2 Pilot is directed to place helicopter over rappel site in accordance with the organisation's requirements 5.3 Pilot's approval to conduct a rappel is obtained 5.4 Rappel rope is attached and checked by dispatcher 5.5 Rappellers are directed to helicopter skids using relevant hand signals in accordance with the organisation's 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 the organisation's requirements
6. Retrieve personnel and equipment	6.1 Appropriate ropes and equipment for the retrieval of rappellers are prepared 6.2 Pilot is briefed on proposed retrieval operation 6.3 Equipment and personnel extraction is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements 6.4 Personnel extraction is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements
7. Complete rappel operations	7.1 Debrief of rappellers and pilot is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements 7.2 Relevant helicopter equipment is inspected and stowed and identified faults to helicopter equipment are reported to the pilot 7.3 Rappel equipment and rope attachment points are inspected in accordance with the organisation's requirements 7.4 Damage to rappel equipment is reported to appropriate personnel for assessment and/or repair/replacement or disposal in accordance with the organisation's procedures 7.5 Reports on operations are completed in accordance with the organisation's requirements

Required Skills and Knowledge

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.
Required Skills
confirmed competency as a rappeller operation of rappel equipment communication skill and signals lowering and retrieving (including static extraction) rappelling techniques
Required Knowledge
basic helicopter safety organisation rappel policy organisation operational rappel policy basic helicopter environment awareness aircraft conning procedures key roles and relevant responsibilities of helicopter crew weight distribution principles and effects upon aircraft emergency procedures

Evidence Guide

EVIDENCE GUIDE
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	For this unit it is essential that competence be demonstrated to: undertake operations in accordance with OH&S procedures, legislative and operational guidelines prepare, carriage and stow/seat equipment and rappellers prior to, during and following rappelling from the helicopter apply correct procedures and techniques for sequencing and controlling rappelling operations apply appropriate communication processes with crew persons and rappellers demonstrate inspection and maintenance procedures planning and deliver briefing/debriefing procedures Consistency in performance Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including: codes of practice hazard policy and emergency procedures flight instructions procedures relating to safe use of equipment house keeping procedures following workplace procedures action taken promptly - accidents and incidents reported within regulatory and organisation requirements work completed systematically in accordance with safe operating procedures to minimise risk of injury to self, others or damage to equipment
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Context of assessment Assessment will take place in a simulated environment followed by assessment by a certified operator on the job encompassing a number of scenarios Specific resources for assessment rappelling equipment and materials personal protective and safety equipment an area to conduct operations helicopter briefing reports and organisation procedural documentation appropriate personal emergency information
Guidance information for assessment	Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

Range Statement

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. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Rappel and safety equipment must comply with may include	organisation requirements and relevant Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulations
Emergency situations may include	power loss engine failure rappeller caught in tree damaged or kinked rope descent or landing injury defective equipment intercom failure loss of height aborted operation personnel extraction cabin fire aircraft impact ground rope attachment failure
Appropriate equipment will typically include	fully body rappel harness static Kernmantle rappel ropes organisation specific descent device wander harness steel karabiner fire equipment packs communications helmet organisation protective overalls protective gloves hook knives
Procedures and practices will typically include	organisation operations manual supplement civil aviation orders helicopter company operations manual supplement
Rappel site selection will be determined by	slope vegetation type and density canopy height weather conditions fire location hazards pilot ability
Dispatch of personnel and equipment may be conducted with	helicopter hovering above ground helicopter landed
Helicopter safety equipment will include	fire extinguishers emergency location beacon first aid kit survival kit emergency exits life vests
Communication systems may include	aeronautical radio intercom system organisation radio
Equipment checks are carried out	pre-flight pre-dispatch of rappellers pre-dispatch of equipment pre-retrieval of personnel and equipment post-flight
Reports to include	flight following crew safety, crew progress search and rescue

Unit Sector(s)

Not applicable.

Corequisite Unit/s

Co-requisite Unit/s	Nil