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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Conduct pre-flight actions
  2. Own fitness for flight and planned operations is self-assessed
  3. Operational aircraft type is determined for suitability for type of aerial application operation
  4. Aircraft and role equipment are checked and assessed for serviceability prior to commencing flight operations
  5. Required applicable maintenance documentation is compiled and checked for accuracy and completeness
  6. Role equipment calibration is checked and adjusted as required
  7. Planned aerial application operations are assessed for potential or actual hazards
  8. Fuel requirements are determined and established within aerial application management plans
  9. Logistical considerations are addressed within scope of application management plan including airstrip/aerodrome status, ground support requirements, personal supplies and air traffic service requirements
  10. Conduct planning and risk management
  11. Suitability of current and forecast weather is determined
  12. Application management plan is developed and used as the basis for aerial application operations
  13. Potential and actual hazards and operational requirements are identified, risks to aerial application operations are assessed and appropriate risk controls are implemented in accordance with the application management plan
  14. Treatment area map is correctly interpreted
  15. Command decision on the safety of the proposed application, including refusing to undertake an application where the risks are considered to be too high is made as required
  16. Appropriate selection of application pattern and direction of treatment is made, taking into consideration safety, efficiency, hazards and terrain
  17. Acceptable aircraft performance for aerial application operational conditions is confirmed through performance planning
  18. Normal and abnormal operational communications and signals are confirmed
  19. Perform operational area evaluation
  20. Aircraft is flown to aerial application operational area using appropriate flight and navigational techniques
  21. Operational landing areas are assessed for length, condition, approach/landing direction, hazard identification and meteorological conditions
  22. Issues relating to aircraft weight, performance, dimensions, load and meteorological conditions are identified and managed
  23. Landing areas suitable for conducting aerial application operations are selected
  24. Aircraft pre-landing/take off checks are performed in accordance with operational procedures
  25. Appropriate landing and take-off techniques are conducted during aerial application operations
  26. Appropriate dumping point for each take-off, including adequate safety buffers, is identified
  27. Oneway airstrip operations are safely applied, as required
  28. Safe helicopter operations from a marginal helicopter landing site (HLS) are demonstrated, as required
  29. Fly between operational and application areas
  30. Low-level navigation techniques from an operational area to an application area are used as required
  31. Most appropriate routes and heights between operational and application areas with considerations to terrain, stock, populated areas, housing and hazards are selected
  32. Operations at a certified or registered aerodrome are conducted as required
  33. Aerial application operations are performed in accordance with published regulations requirements
  34. Conduct an aerial survey
  35. Appropriate aerial survey plans are developed for conducting safe aerial application operations
  36. Operating area boundaries are established and environmentally sensitive areas are identified including areas that are noise sensitive, biologically susceptible, populated and urban, and restricted or dangerous
  37. Potential emergency or alternate landing areas are identified and/or established for contingency operations
  38. Environmental hazard factors affecting aerial application operations are considered
  39. Wind velocity and direction are assessed for effect on operations
  40. Application management plans are amended or modified based on aerial survey assessment results as required
  41. Operate within the vicinity of power lines
  42. Power lines within and outside the treatment area during an aerial survey are identified
  43. Power line infrastructure cues are interpreted to aid wire run identification
  44. Wire heights are accurately assessed to support safe operations in vicinity of power lines, including safe flying parallel to wires
  45. Other hazards relevant to operations near power lines, such as pole stays, crop height, fences or machinery that may pose a risk are identified and managed
  46. Safe command decision whether to fly over or under a wire is made
  47. Aerial application operations over wires, including adequate safety buffers for pull-up and let down and accurate cut-off and on-off application equipment are conducted
  48. Aerial application operations under wires, including assessment of safe clearance distances are conducted
  49. Application approaches towards power lines when passage beneath is unachievable, are terminated safely
  50. Human factors that may affect operations near power lines, particularly distraction, short-term memory limitations and inattention (perceptual) blindness are applied during aerial application operations
  51. Apply substances through aerial application
  52. Substances are applied safely in accordance with the application management plan
  53. Correct application height relevant to terrain, application type and meteorological conditions is established and maintained
  54. Appropriate airspeed and flight profile is controlled on entry or re-entry to operational areas
  55. Aerial application equipment is operated within scope of the application management plan
  56. Hazard areas are manoeuvred around with adequate safety margins during application operations
  57. Aircraft smoke dispersal equipment is routinely utilised to establish accurate wind velocity and direction
  58. Application flow rates, pressure and product quantities are monitored during application operations
  59. Decisions to suspend or continue safe aerial application operations are taken based on planned or actual operating conditions
  60. Clean up operations and hazard safety checks are conducted on completion of aerial application
  61. Conduct GNSS swath guidance equipment operations
  62. GNSS familiarity is applied to the appropriate level of operational requirement
  63. Sound judgement is applied during application treatment area pattern selection
  64. Correct swath relevant to aircraft, configuration and substance to be applied is selected
  65. AB line and C point is accurately placed as required
  66. Aircraft is accurately manoeuvred on correct swath line with reference to light bar and natural features
  67. Aircraft is operated at maximum permissible weights for aerial application operations in accordance with manufacturer and regulatory requirements
  68. Aircraft take-off weight is determined within requirements relevant to strip length and operating conditions
  69. Aircraft is operated safely and effectively at maximum weights during all phases of flight including taxi, take off and climb, approach and landing, application, turns and obstacle avoidance manoeuvres
  70. Jettison a load
  71. Full liquid load is jettisoned during take-off and control of aircraft is maintained
  72. Full liquid load is jettisoned during flight and aircraft pitch, roll, yaw and speed changes are controlled

Performance Evidence

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

applying relevant aeronautical knowledge

applying short field/strip landing and take-off techniques

assessing airstrip/aerodrome suitability:

approach and landing direction

airstrip/aerodrome hazards

meteorological conditions

operational length

surface condition and restrictions

assessing and checking aircraft and role equipment for flight serviceability

assessing identified environmental hazard factors

assessing own fitness for flight and planned operations

assessing relevant wind velocity and direction

compiling applicable maintenance documentation

conducting pre-flight operational planning

determining aircraft take-off weights relevant to strip length and operational conditions

determining landing area suitability for normal and contingency operations

determining relevant aircraft type suitability

developing, amending and modifying application management plans

establishing and implementing safe operating condition margins during aerial application operations

establishing operational fuel requirements for normal and contingency operations

flying aircraft to/from aerial application operating areas

identifying aerial application hazards

identifying logistical considerations for application management plan:

airstrip/aerodrome status

air traffic service requirements

ground support requirements

personal supplies and life support

identifying potential contingency and alternate landing areas

jettisoning full liquid load and maintaining aircraft control:

during take-off prior to lift-off

immediately after take-off

during flight and control pitch change to maintain altitude (+100/-0 ft) by adjustments of elevator and power

reading, interpreting and following relevant regulations, instructions, procedures, information and signs

setting local or area barometric pressure adjusted for sea level (QNH) at appropriate stages of flight.


Knowledge Evidence

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

aerial application human factors:

heat stress and dehydration

in-flight distractions

maintaining situational awareness

mental and physical fatigue

aerial application role equipment

aircraft configuration and flight characteristics for the aircraft being flown during maximum weight flight and load jettison operations

aircraft flight manual, performance, engine and systems

applicable regulations that relate to conducting a safe aerial application operation

aviation risk and fatigue risk management processes

CASR Part 61 Manual of Standards Schedule 3 Aeronautical Knowledge relevant to aerial application operations

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) exemptions with regards to maximum take-off weight and applicability of other aircraft limitations

factors to be considered when determining payload weights for aerial application

flight control and throttle actions required to maintain control of aircraft being flown when jettisoning a full load

global navigation satellite system (GNSS) equipment and operator procedures

low-level flight safety hazards and risks

meteorological factors affecting aircraft flight performance during low-level flight

relevant aerodynamics and aircraft performance

terrain following techniques.