Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant licence and aircraft rating requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and/or ADF; airspace control requirements and Day Visual Flight Rules; and aircraft control principles, regulations, safety codes, protocols and procedures required to lead or assume lead of an aircraft formation flight.

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

Operations are conducted within 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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Plan a formation flight

1.1 Formation flight tasking requirements are identified

1.2 Crews, briefing venue, timing and aircraft availability are coordinated

1.3 Task is analysed to determine manoeuvres and formations that ensure safe outcome

1.4 Flight route is planned to achieve formation outcomes in the time available and within performance capabilities of the flight

1.5 All air traffic, area limitations and navigation requirements are complied with

1.6 Actions in the event of abnormal or emergency situations involving the formation are planned

2Brief and de-brief formation pilots

2.1 Ground and flight manoeuvres are briefed and confirmed with formation crews

2.2 Timings, route(s), speeds and altitudes to be flown are specified

2.3 Deputy leader responsibilities are briefed and confirmed

2.4 Communication procedures, minimum fuel, abnormal and emergency procedures and method of return for landing are briefed and confirmed

2.5 Achievements and any faults or errors that occurred during the formation flight are identified

2.6 Guidance and feedback is provided to other formation members during the post-flight de-brief

3Lead a formation flight

3.1 Lead aircraft is manoeuvred using controlled corrective action to ensure a stable platform for pilots flying in formation stations

3.2 Formation is safely manoeuvred anticipating and allowing for formation size, proximity to obstructions, terrain, airspace limitations, weather conditions and air traffic, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements

3.3 Formation is directed and controlled using precise standard radio phraseology, hand and other signal procedures

3.4 Formation members' flight 'performances' and appropriate reactions to problems are monitored

4Manage abnormal and emergency situations whilst leading a formation flight

4.1 Control of aircraft and formation when leading is maintained

4.2 Abnormal or emergency situations are managed in accordance with standard operating procedures or Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook as flight leader

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

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

Required knowledge:

Relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and Civil Aviation Orders

In Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

Relevant OH&S and environmental protection procedures and regulations

Formation communication procedures (verbal and non-verbal)

Air traffic, area limitations and navigation requirements for formation flight

Planning and briefing requirements for formation flight

Post-flight de-briefing techniques

Formation manoeuvre safety limits considering formation size, proximity to obstructions, terrain, airspace limitations, weather conditions, air traffic and regulatory requirements

Deputy formation leader's responsibilities

Standard operating procedures for abnormal or emergency situations for formation flight

Required skills:

Determine formation members possess the appropriate qualifications and currency

Monitor formation pilots

Recognise environmental conditions that impact the performance of the formation

Conduct planning, briefing and de-briefing

Communicate effectively with others when performing formation lead

Read, interpret and follow instructions, regulations, procedures and other information relevant to performing formation lead, and prioritise workload

Complete documentation related to performing formation lead

Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

Work collaboratively with others when performing formation lead

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

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems that may occur when performing formation lead in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Implement contingency plans for unexpected events that may arise when performing formation lead

Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during the performance of formation lead

Monitor and anticipate operational problems and hazards and take appropriate action

Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

Modify activities dependent on differing workplace contingencies, situations and environments

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

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

Select and use required personal protective clothing and equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

Implement OH&S procedures and relevant regulations

Identify and correctly use equipment required to perform formation lead

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

planning formation flight including all sub-tasks and actions in the event of abnormal or emergency situations

briefing and de-briefing formation pilots including all sub-tasks and deputy leader responsibilities

manoeuvring lead aircraft using controlled corrective action to ensure a stable platform for formation stations

manoeuvring formation safely by anticipating and allowing for all aspects of formation flying including compliance with regulatory requirements

controlling and directing formation using precise standard radio phraseology, hand and other signal procedures

monitoring formation members' flight 'performances' and appropriate reactions to problems

maintaining control and formation while leading aircraft

managing as flight leader abnormal or emergency situations in accordance with standard operating procedures or Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook

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

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Tasks may be undertaken in:

variable weather conditions in accordance with Day Visual Flight Rules (VFR)

Night Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)

Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)

two or more aircraft

Performance may be demonstrated in:

single engine aircraft

multi engine aircraft

variable air traffic conditions

variable flight situations

abnormal situations

classes of airspace as designated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Aircraft may include:

fixed wing

helicopter

other commercial or military aircraft

Crew may include:

single pilot

multi crew

Instruments may be:

fitted flight instruments

heads up display

Limitations may be imposed by:

local noise abatement requirements and curfews

airspace endorsements

Abnormal or emergency situations may include:

loss of contact

aircraft collision

aircraft malfunction

Mode selected may include:

lateral

vertical combination

auto thrust

Dependent on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may be referred to as:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

standard operating procedures

Information/documents may include:

relevant sections of Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and Civil Aviation Orders pertaining to the navigation of aircraft

in Defence context, relevant Defence Orders and Instructions

Flight Manual/Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)

Manual of Standards - Pilot Licensing (MOS-PL)

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

En Route Supplement Australia (ERSA)

relevant sections of the Civil Aviation Advisory Publications (CAAP)

charts

operations manuals

approved checklists

workplace procedures and instructions and job specification

induction and training materials

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

relevant Bureau of Meteorology, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and/or World Meteorology Organization (WMO) publications

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

Performance includes tolerances specified in either of:

relevant licence and aircraft requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) such as:

Day VFR syllabus

Manual of Standards

Relevant defence documentation such as:

Defence Orders and Instructions

approved curricula and training documentation

Y - Aircraft Operation and Traffic Management

This unit contains employability skills.