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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Maintain situational awareness
  2. Assess situations and make decisions
  3. Set priorities and manage tasks
  4. Work with others in managing situational awareness

Range Statement

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

Factors relevant to the safe progress of a flight must include one or more of the following:

air traffic in the vicinity of a RPAS

becoming lost

changes in wind and weather conditions at destination

changes in wind and weather conditions en route

engine or equipment malfunction or failure

errors in navigation

exceeding nominated operating parameters and tolerances for RPAS

instrument or display malfunction or failure

running out of fuel/energy

security threat at RPAS control station

Managing tasks must include:

visual line of sight

visual meteorological conditions


Performance Evidence

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

adapting to differences in equipment and operating environment in accordance with standard operating procedures

applying aviation safety management system policies and procedures for remote pilot aircraft systems (RPAS) flight

applying precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate identified hazards

applying relevant legislation and workplace procedures

communicating effectively with others

completing relevant documentation

identifying and correctly using required equipment

implementing aviation risk management processes in RPAS contexts

implementing contingency plans

implementing work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures and relevant regulations

interpreting and following operational instructions and prioritising work

maintaining all necessary communications

maintaining compliance with WHS/OHS and regulatory requirements

modifying activities depending on workplace contingencies, situations and environments

monitoring and anticipating operational problems and hazards and taking appropriate action

monitoring work activities in terms of planned schedule

operating electronic communications equipment to required protocol

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

reporting and/or rectifying identified problems that may occur promptly, in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

responding appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace

selecting and using appropriate instruments, displays, communications equipment and aids

selecting and using required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and WHS/OHS standards

sourcing and interpreting aviation weather forecast products appropriate to flight planning and navigation procedures

transferring RPAS control between crew members as required

working systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment.


Knowledge Evidence

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

aeronautical communication procedures and protocols

aeronautical decisionmaking processes

air navigation techniques applicable to RPAS operations

air traffic rules and procedures

effective communication

error management, including error types, causes and consequences

fatigue risk management

human performance and its limitations, including the senses, memory and situational awareness

in a Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

operational hazards that may be identified when managing situational awareness and ways of controlling those hazards and associated risks

principles of flight relevant to RPAS operations

problems that may occur when managing situational awareness and action that can be taken to overcome these problems

procedures for maintaining situational awareness

procedures for transferring RPAS control between crew members

relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) and Civil Aviation Orders related to RPAS operations

relevant WHS/OHS and environmental procedures and regulations

risk identification, analysis and control

RPAS energy source usage rates

stress, workload and time pressure management

use of navigational computers and equipment.