This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to maintain and manage situational awareness as pilot in command (PIC), in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and national operating standards.

It includes establishing and maintaining own and flight crew situational awareness, setting crew priorities and task management, and working with others in managing situational awareness.

This unit addresses aviation non-technical skill requirements (mental, social and personal-management abilities) of a PIC, and contributes to safe and effective performance in complex aviation operational environments.

Operations are conducted as part of commercial and military aircraft activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian aviation industry.

Work is performed independently and without supervision within a multi-crew environment.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit

Use for Defence Aviation is to be in accordance with relevant Defence Orders, Instructions, Publications and Regulations.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Establish and maintain situational awareness of self and flight crew

1.1

Continuous active monitoring (effective lookout) of all critical factors relevant to the safe progress of a flight is undertaken

1.2

Situational awareness is applied to own and others’ performance in accordance with relevant regulations and legislative requirements

1.3

Trends towards an unsafe situation are promptly recognised and appropriate corrective action is taken

1.4

Breakdown in flight crew situational awareness is identified and rectified promptly

2

Set crew priorities and manage tasks

2.1

Crew priorities and workload are allocated to ensure completion of all tasks relevant to the safety of the flight

2.2

Safe operation of aircraft is prioritised ahead of competing tasks

2.3

Critical events and tasks are anticipated and managed to ensure accurate completion within available time constraints

2.4

Technology is used effectively to reduce workload and to improve ability to safely perform mental and manipulative activities

2.5

Signs and symptoms of team fatigue are identified and actions are taken to manage fatigue of self or in others

3

Work with others in managing situational awareness

3.1

Collaboration with flight crew members is undertaken to ensure safe completion of flight operations

3.2

Effective and efficient crew communications and interpersonal relationships are established and maintained to ensure safe flight outcome

3.3

Flight crew members are encouraged to contribute to safe flight outcome

3.4

Appropriate actions are taken in conjunction with others to cooperatively correct identified unsafe situations that may develop at any point during the flight

3.5

Command decisions are communicated to other flight crew members to maintain and manage situational awareness

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

accepting responsibility for own performance

advising pilot flying of deviations from planned operations

analysing aircraft systems and flight environment information to identify actual and potential threats or errors

applying relevant aeronautical knowledge

avoiding fixation on a single task or function

being assertive

clarifying problems and making effective decisions

communicating effectively with others

cross-checking actions of other flight crew members

interacting with and delegating tasks to flight crew members

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

maintaining compliance with WHS/OHS requirements

maintaining radio listening watch

making effective decisions

managing a flight crew incapacitation event in accordance with published procedures

monitoring flight path, aircraft configuration and systems to achieve desired performance using a systematic scan technique

operating electronic equipment, including communications equipment, to required protocols

prioritising tasks to achieve safe flight performance

promptly identifying, reporting and rectifying problems

responding appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace

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

taking initiative and responding to changing situations

using visual systematic scanning technique with required attention to detail

using flight radio and inter-crew communications

using traffic information to establish and maintain situational awareness

utilising available resources to collect flight environment information and to modify planned operations as required.

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

CASR Part 61 Manual of Standards aeronautical knowledge relevant to the role of pilot in command

cockpit management:

crew coordination:

distribution of responsibilities

working with a crew concept

crew cooperation:

small group dynamics (norms, atmosphere, pressure, communication, structure)

conflict management

leadership, style of management:

concern for performance

concern for people

democratic versus autocratic style

encouraging inputs and feedback

optimising flight crew performance in flight

correcting crew coordination deficiencies

communication:

verbal and non-verbal communication

one and two-way communication

effects of different communication styles

miscommunication (including cultural misunderstandings)

effective decisionmaking processes:

identify problems and causal factors

assess component parts systematically and logically

employ analytical techniques to identify solutions and consider the value and implications of each

generate solutions and/or alternative courses of action

assess alternative solutions and risks with other flight crew members

determine course of action

communicate decision and delegate tasks to flight crew

monitor progress against agreed plan

evaluate decisions in line with changing circumstances

ensure decisionmaking is improvement-focused and directed towards achieving optimum outcomes

fatigue risk management processes:

proactive

predictive

reactive

hazard identification, risk analysis and control

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

judgement and decision-making:

pilot judgement concepts:

types of judgement

motor skills and human factors

aeronautical decision-making:

decision-making concepts

pilot responsibilities

behavioural aspects

identification of hazardous attitudes:

physical factors

psychological factors

social influences and interface between people

pilot judgement awareness:

risk assessment

cockpit stress management

applying decision-making concepts:

practical application

managing resources

safety awareness

relevant problems that may occur and actions to overcome them

procedures for maintaining situational awareness

procedures for transferring aircraft control between flight crew members

standard radiotelephony phraseology

systematic scanning techniques

task allocation and management

threat and error management (TEM) principles

use of navigational computers and equipment

workload, stress and time pressure management.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

acceptable means of simulation assessment

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

relevant materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry.