AVIY4056A
Conduct airborne rappelling operations

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required by airborne rappelling dispatchers to conduct airborne rappelling operations in a helicopter. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Application

Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and national operating standards.

Use for ADF Aviation is to be in accordance with relevant Defence Orders and Instructions and applicable CASA compliance.

Operations are conducted across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian aviation industry.

Work is performed under limited supervision.

This unit of competency is nominally packaged at Certificate IV.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Prepare helicopter and personnel for airborne rappelling operations

1.1 Helicopter and airborne rappelling attachment device are pre-flight checked to determine serviceability

1.2 Crew is briefed during mission brief

1.3 Airborne rappelling team leader is briefed in accordance with workplace procedures

1.4 Static ground rehearsals are conducted with personnel and equipment

1.5 Fitness of rappelling personnel to complete task is confirmed in accordance with established procedures

2Prepare for airborne rappelling operations

2.1 Ropes are attached to airborne rappelling attachment device and checked for security

2.2 Rappellers are restrained in aircraft prior to take-off

2.3 Fitting of rappellers' personnel protective equipment is checked in accordance with established procedures

2.4 Deployment checks are conducted prior to rope deployment

2.5 Helicopter safety hazards are communicated using workplace procedures

2.6 Airborne rappelling location and surrounds are assessed for suitability

2.7 Wind speed and direction are communicated

2.8 Approach and overshoot paths are communicated

3Perform airborne rappelling operations

3.1 Helicopter is directed to rappelling point

3.2 Ropes and rappellers are deployed in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3 Progress of the rappelling operation is communicated in accordance with workplace procedures

3.4 Rappelling ropes are recovered or released as required

3.5 Clearance for aircraft departure is provided by airborne rappelling dispatcher once all ropes are clear or secured

4Respond to airborne rappelling emergencies and abnormal situations

4.1 Airborne rappelling emergencies are identified, communicated and diagnosed in accordance with workplace procedures

4.2 Emergency and/or remedial actions are undertaken in accordance with aircraft flight manuals, organisational policy and workplace procedures

Required Skills

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Required knowledge:

Regulations, legislation, organisational policy and procedures in relation to conducting airborne rappelling operations

Occupational health and safety issues applicable to operations, aircraft and personnel safety

Approved operational procedures and processes for different airborne rappelling operations

Procedures and protocols for the use of communication systems during an emergency

Airborne rappelling verbal/non-verbal communication procedures

Helicopter capabilities and limitations as defined in aircraft publications/documentation

Airborne rappelling attachment device capabilities and limitations

Correct airborne rappelling safety equipment configuration

Airborne rappelling techniques

Airborne rappelling emergency procedures

Helicopter approach and overshoot considerations

Airborne rappelling risk assessment principles

Typical problems that may occur when conducting airborne rappelling operations and appropriate actions and solutions

Required skills:

Perform airborne rappelling operations

Complete airborne rappelling attachment device pre-flight serviceability checks

Use communication skills for helicopter control

Determine wind speed and direction

Operate airborne rappelling attachment device

Perform weight calculations

Apply airborne rappelling risk assessment principles

Interpret and follow flight and operational manuals and safety policies

Read, interpret and apply regulations, legislation, policies and procedures relevant to airborne rappelling operations

Complete documentation related to work activities when conducting airborne rappelling operations

Work collaboratively with others when conducting airborne rappelling operations

Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems, faults or malfunctions that may occur when conducting airborne rappelling operations in accordance with established procedures

Implement contingency plans for unanticipated situations that may arise when conducting airborne rappelling operations

Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist when conducting airborne rappelling operations

Plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

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

Operate and adapt to differences in communication equipment in accordance with established procedures

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of:

applying the underpinning knowledge and skills

following relevant legislation and workplace procedures

conducting serviceability pre-flight checks of helicopter and airborne rappelling attachment device

briefing crew and airborne rappelling team leader in accordance with workplace procedures

attaching and security checking ropes to airborne rappelling device

conducting fitting checks of rappellers' personnel protective equipment in accordance with established procedures

conducting deployment checks prior to rope deployment

assessing suitability of airborne rappelling location and surrounds

communicating helicopter safety hazards, wind speed and direction, approach and overshoot paths

deploying ropes and rappellers and recovery/release of ropes in accordance with workplace procedures

communicating rappelling operation progress in accordance with workplace procedures

providing clearance for aircraft departure once all ropes are clear or secured

identifying, communicating and diagnosing rappelling emergencies in accordance with workplace procedures

taking actions in a remedial and/or emergency situation in accordance with aircraft flight manuals, organisational policy and workplace procedures

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or

access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation

As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or

in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace


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.

Helicopter may include:

single or multiple engine

single or multiple rotors

other airborne vehicles

Airborne rappelling supervisor may include:

aircrewman

rescue crewman

airborne safety officer

loadmaster

observer

airborne team leader

chalk commander

Work environment may include:

by day or by night

over land or over sea

prepared or unprepared helicopter landing sites

Airborne rappelling emergencies may include:

aircraft emergencies

hung-up rappeller

unconscious rappeller

ropes/rappellers/s snagged in trees/obstacles rappeller falling from door after adopting exit position

airborne rappelling attachment device malfunction

Airborne rappelling variations may include:

single or multiple rappellers

basic airborne rappelling

advanced airborne rappelling

airborne fast roping

Rappeller characteristics may include:

beginners

advanced

size

weight

rappeller equipment variations

Airborne rappelling equipment may include:

eye goggles

hearing protection

head protection

rappelling harness

rappelling gloves

rappelling ropes

fast ropes

airborne rappelling attachment device

Helicopter safety hazards may include:

man-made structures

smoke

meteorological conditions

terrain

other aircraft

flora

fauna

ship structures and rigging

ship movements

loss of visual reference

foreign object damage (FOD)

Locations and surrounds may include:

helicopter landing site

unprepared helicopter landing site

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

standard operating procedures

Documentation may include:

relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations

in Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

charts

operations manuals

approved checklists

organisational policy and procedures manuals

aviation maintenance documentation

workplace procedures and instructions and job specification

induction and training materials

conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including workplace agreements and awards

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

relevant Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and Civil Aviation Orders

in Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

relevant Australian Standards


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Y - Aircraft Operation and Traffic Management


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.