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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. Prepare for free fall parachute descent
  2. Complete on board aircraft procedures
  3. Exit from the aircraft and descend by free fall
  4. Control a ram-air canopy descent
  5. Land on a drop zone
  6. Complete free fall post descent procedures

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required Skills

communicate effectively interpret instructions

provide reports and appropriate documentation

situational awareness

Required Knowledge

activation and malfunction drills

application of problem solving procedures

canopy control techniques

controllability checks

design construction characteristics and capabilities of free fall parachutes

effect of environmental conditions on parachuting

effects of turbulence on the canopy

exit techniques

free fall positions and manoeuvres

health and safety hazards of parachuting

inspection procedureroutine

instability recovery procedures

landing techniques

log books and descent folders

malfunction and emergency drills

safety checks

signs symptoms and treatment of

decompression illness

hyperventilation

hypothermia

hypoxia

theory of flight and canopy control

verbal and nonverbal communication

Evidence Required

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to

perform at least five solo free fall descents

parachute descents from an aircraft at an altitude below feet above ground level

demonstrate parachute activation at varying heights from the ground with at least one activation occurring within seconds of exiting the aircraft

demonstrate correct servicing fitting and setting of

automatic activation device

altimeter

audible altitude warning device

personal apparel

parachute

demonstrate the following individual free fall manoeuvres

box position

poised pull position

forward glide

back slide

fast fall

slow fall

track

turns left and right

hard archwide spread position

waveoff

identify and respond to the following routine opening problems

twists

end cell closure

slider hang up below the cascades

premature brake release

pilot chute hesitation

identify and respond to the following activation malfunctions

a high speed malfunction hard pull floating ripcord handle complete malfunction pilot chute in tow bag lock horseshoe malfunction streamer and premature release of the three rings

a low speed malfunction line over slider hangup above the cascades broken suspension line pilot chute over or in the front cell rip or tear in canopy brake lock broken steering line and two canopies flying

demonstrate the following canopy control and manoeuvre techniques

turns full glide half brake depression half brake fly off full brake rear riser and front riser

stalls steady state and dynamic and stall recovery

flying modes full glide half brakes full brakes front riser rear riser

demonstrate the correct drills to recover from a range of emergency situations which as a minimum must include uncontrolled or involuntary turns in free fall entanglement and collisions in free fall and under canopy

demonstrate the correct drills for an emergency landing on or in buildings trees wire and water

Permitted tolerances are

achieving stability within feet of exiting the aircraft

achieving stability within feet of becoming unstable during free fall

completing exits with a deviation no more than degrees off the aircraft heading

completing turns within degrees of the specified heading

conducting forward glide and the track for a minimum of seconds with no more than a degrees deviation off the specified heading

landing safely within metres of the target

activating the ripcord within feet of the planned opening height above ground level with a deviation of no more than degrees off the specified heading

Consistency in performance

Competency must be demonstrated over a minimum of five solo parachute descents supported by simulated opening problems malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies that could be expected in the workplace

Assessment should be conducted in a timeframe and in a range of contexts and conditions that allows evidence to be gathered on the correct application of free fall parachute skills and techniques consistent with the Range Statement and the operating environment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed during the preparation and performance of actual free fall parachute descents although due to safety limitations assessment of the individuals response to routine opening problems malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies will need to be undertaken in a simulated environment

Specific resources for assessment

Access to

aircraft and aircrew

parachutes

suitable air space

suitable land drop zone

parachute training facilities that provide adequate simulation

parachute packing facilitiesmatted undercover area

communications equipment

transport to and from airport and drop zone


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.

Parachute equipment may include

Automatic activation device

Altimeter

Audible altitude warning device

Hook knife

Parachute

Personal apparel:

boots

coveralls

gloves

goggles

helmet

Inspecting parachute equipment for serviceability include

Servicing instruments

Setting instruments

Standard procedures may include

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) manuals and regulations

Defence instructions and publications

Job guides, other publications

Manufacturers' handbooks, industry specifications and technical instructions

Occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations

Operating procedures

Procedure manuals

Routine Orders

Written and verbal orders

Verbal and non-verbal communication may include

Aircraft visual and audible warning devices

Hand signals

Panels and markers

Plot boards

Radio communications

Voice commands

On board procedures may include

Carrying out drills or procedures directed by air crew or despatchers

Exit procedures

Fitting of parachuting equipment

Safety checks

Stop drop and aborted sortie procedures

Individual safety checks may include

Arming the automatic activation device

Individual parachute equipment checks in aircraft

Pin checks

Altitude induced conditions may include

Decompression illness

Hyperventilation

Hypothermia

Hypoxia

Approved techniques to exit the aircraft may include

From the ramp:

back off

dive

pivot

From the door:

back off

dive

pivot

Permitted tolerances include

Achieving stability within 1 000 feet of exiting the aircraft

Achieving stability within 1 000 feet of becoming unstable during free fall

Completing exits with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the aircraft heading

Completing turns within 45 degrees of the specified heading

Conducting forward glide for a minimum of 5 seconds with no more than a 45 degrees deviation off the specified heading

Landing safely within 25 metres of the target

Pulling the ripcord within 250 feet of the planned opening height above ground level with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the specified heading

Situational awareness may include

Monitoring altitude/height

Monitoring the position of other paratroopers

Orientation to target and/or aircraft

Individual free fall positions and manoeuvres may include

Back loop

Back slide

Box position

Delta position

Fast fall

Forward glide

Hard arch/wide spread position

Heading maintenance

Poised pull position

Slow falls-track

Track

Turns left and right

Wave-off

Malfunctions may include

A high speed malfunction:

bag lock

complete malfunction

floating ripcord handle

hard pull

horseshoe malfunction

pilot chute in tow

premature release of the three rings

streamer

A low speed malfunction:

brake lock

broken steering line

broken suspension line

line over

pilot chute over or in the front cell

rip or tear in canopy

slider hang-up above the cascades

two canopies flying

Routine opening problems may include

End cell closure

Premature brake release

Pilot chute hesitation

Slider hang up below the cascades

Twists

Canopy control and manoeuvre techniques may include

Flying modes:

half brakes

full brakes

full glide

front riser

rear riser

Stalls:

dynamic

steady state

Turns:

half brake depression

half brake fly off

full brake

full glide

front riser

rear riser

Controllability checks include checking

If canopy requires more than 50% opposite toggle to counter a turn

If canopy stalls/collapses after conducting left and right 90 degree turns

If canopy stalls prior to 50% brakes

Malfunction drills apply when

Canopy is deemed uncontrollable

Contingency and emergency situations may include

Collisions:

in free fall

under canopy

Emergency abandoning of aircraft

Entanglements

Equipment moving or coming undone

Loss of stability on exit or in free fall

Tumbling and somersaulting during free fall

Uncontrolled or involuntary turns in free fall

Correct drills to rectify contingency and emergency situations include

Collisions in free fall and under canopy

Emergency landing on or in buildings, trees, wire and water

Entanglement

Uncontrolled or involuntary turns in free fall

Drop zone marking and wind indicators may include

Alphanumeric marker panels

Geographic features

Smoke

Streamers and flags

Wind sock

Target approach techniques may include

High wind approach

Standard approach

Landing may include

Half brake parachute landing roll

Dynamic stall landing (flared landing)

Environmental conditions may include

Turbulence

Variable altitude

Variable temperatures

Variable weather conditions

Wind:

high

low

Emergency landing may include landing in or on

Buildings

Trees

Vehicles

Water

Wire

Drop zone may include

Known or designated

Land or water

Open country

Post descent de servicing may include

Cleaning parachute and equipment

Inspecting parachute and equipment, and identifying faults

Rectifying or reporting defects with the parachute and/or equipment in accordance with standard procedures

Reviewing performance may include

Obtaining feedback from supervisors, and individuals on parachuting performance and taking corrective action

Viewing video of flight and correcting faults

Documentation may include

Descents folder

Paratroopers log card