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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare operational rappel equipment
   • Rappel equipment is selected and prepared in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Appropriate rappel and safety equipment is donned in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Pre flight checks on clothing and equipment are undertaken in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Damage to rappel or safety equipment is reported to the relevant supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal
2. Load rappel personnel and equipment intohelicopter
   • Rappel personnel, rappel and operational equipment is weighed and recorded
   • Pilot is informed of weights
   • Equipment is secured into helicopter under pilot's or flight crew member's supervision
   • Seat position is assumed and seatbelt secured
   • Instructions are obtained from pre-mission brief with clarification of objectives and procedures sought where required
   • Pre-flight safety brief is conducted
3. Prepare to rappel from hovering helicopter
   • Rappel rope is attached and checked by dispatcher
   • Movement to helicopter skids is undertaken as directed by dispatcher
   • Pre-descent checks are conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Emergencyprocedures are conducted as required
   • Rappel rope is disconnected by rappeller and landing area is cleared in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Dispatcher emergency commands are responded to in accordance with the organisation's requirements
4. Rappel from hovering helicopter
   • Departure from skids is performed as per dispatcher commands and the organisation's procedures
   • Rappel rope descent is in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Landing is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Rappel rope is disconnected and landing area cleared in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Emergency procedures are conducted as required
   • Dispatcher emergency commands are responded to in accordance with the organisation's requirements
5. Retrieve rappel and fire fighting equipment
   • Area is cleared in preparation for retrieval of rappel and firefighting equipment in accordance with the organisation's requirements
   • Equipment is connected and retrieval is conducted in accordance with the organisation's requirements
6. Perform maintenance on rappel equipment
   • Equipment is inspected and required maintenance performed in accordance with the organisation's or manufacturer's requirements
   • Damage to fire and rappel equipment is reported to relevant supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal
7. Load rappel personnel and equipment into helicopter
   • Rappel personnel, rappel and operational equipment are weighed and recorded.
   • Pilot is informed of weights.
   • Equipment is secured into helicopter under pilot or flight crew member supervision.
   • Seat position is assumed and seatbelt secured.
   • Pre-mission briefing instructions are obtained from operations officer or rappel crew leader and clarification of objectives and procedures is sought where required.
   • Pre-flight safety briefing is obtained from pilot or aircrew.
8. Retrieve rappel and firefighting equipment
   • Area is cleared in preparation for retrieval of rappel and firefighting equipment in accordance with organisational requirements.
   • Equipment is connected and retrieval is conducted in accordance with organisational requirements.

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

operate rappel equipment in accordance with organisational operational procedures operate safely around a helicopter

Required Knowledge

characteristics and operating principles of rappel equipment documentation requirements and reporting arrangements emergency procedures factors that can effect rappel descents including canopy height slope vegetation type wind helicopter rappelling for the purpose of remote area fire suppression and training key roles and relevant responsibilities of helicopter crew including rappel dispatcher organisational operational rappel policy organisational requirements for rappel and safety equipment relevant regulations safe work practices when working in or around helicopters types of helicopters used by the agency for conducting rappelling operations

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria Required Skills and Knowledge the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Assessment must confirm the ability to operate in accordance with work health and safety procedures legislative and operational guidelines implement correct procedures and techniques for sequencing and controlling rappelling braking landing and disconnecting follow prerappel checks and equipment donning procedures undertake appropriate communication processes with crew persons and rappel dispatcher including demonstration of emergency hand signals apply equipment maintenance and inspection techniques for all rappel equipment apply relevant workplace and organisational procedures including codes of practice hazard policy and emergency procedures procedures relating to safe use of equipment housekeeping procedures adhere to briefing instructions take action promptly report accidents and incidents within regulatory and organisational requirements complete work systematically in accordance with safe operating procedures to minimise risk of injury to self others or damage to equipment Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Context of assessment Competency should be assessed verbally and by multiple practical demonstrations in a number of scenarios All rappel operations are conducted under pilot and rappel dispatcher supervision Each rappel descent once commenced is conducted without supervision Specific resources for assessment Access is required to rappelling equipment and materials personal protective and safety equipment area to conduct operations helicopters briefing reports and organisational procedural documentation appropriate personnel emergency information
Method of assessment	In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision andor mentoring which is typically recorded in a competency workbook Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agencyapproved simulated work environment Forms of assessment that are typically used include direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions

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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 equipment must include:	agency coveralls, protective helmet, earmuffs, chin strap, goggles agency specific descender devices and safety devices full body harness hook knife rappel gloves static Kernmantle rappel ropes steel karabiner
Air crew may include:	co-pilot rappel dispatcher other member of the air crew
Emergency may include:	aborted operation damaged or kinked rope descent or landing injury emergency retrieval engine failure loss of rappel control during descent rappel rope caught in tree rappeller caught in tree

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