This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to manage the transfer of trained personnel and equipment from a hovering helicopter to the ground. Helicopter hover-exit operations are undertaken primarily in areas where ground vegetation or terrain prevents a helicopter from conducting a full skid landing. The operation of aviation occurs in a heavily regulated environment.

The unit applies to personnel authorised to conduct helicopter hover-exit operations from a maximum height of 1.3 metres when a full skid landing is not possible. It is applicable to personnel responsible for the supervision and safety of hover-exit crews, specifically but not limited to hover-exit crew leaders, helicopter marshals and approved pilots.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Prepare for hover-exit operations

1.1

Hover-exit equipment is selected and prepared, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

1.2

Appropriate clothing and equipment are worn, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

1.3

Pre-flight checks on clothing and equipment are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4

Damage to firefighting and safety equipment is reported to the supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal

1.5

General helicopter safety briefing is obtained from pilot, flight crew, air base and/or helibase manager

2

Load hover-exit personnel and equipment into helicopter

2.1

Firefighting and safety equipment is assembled, weighed and recorded

2.2

Pilot is informed of firefighting equipment and personnel weights

2.3

Equipment is loaded into helicopter and secured under pilot or flight crew supervision

2.4

Instructions are obtained from pre-mission briefing and clarification of objectives and procedures is sought, as required

2.5

Personnel are secured in seatbelts, in accordance with organisational procedures and flight crew instructions

2.6

Pre-flight safety briefing is obtained from pilot or flight crew

3

Prepare to exit from hovering helicopter

3.1

Appropriate landing technique is selected and used, in accordance with ground and safety conditions

3.2

Following clearance from pilot and hover-exit crew leader instructions are received to prepare for exit

3.3

Seat belt is released and then resecured prior to moving towards the helicopter doorway, in accordance with organisational procedures and instructions received

3.4

Pre-descent checks are conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

3.5

Clearance is obtained from the pilot and hover-exit flight crew leader to disembark

3.6

Emergency procedures are conducted, as required

3.7

Emergency commands are responded to, in accordance with organisational procedures

4

Exit from hovering helicopter

4.1

Hover-exit operations are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements

4.2

Actions are undertaken to minimise uncommanded movement of the helicopter during transfer to the ground, in accordance with organisational procedures and instructions

4.3

Assembly point for individuals and equipment is identified and reached

4.4

All clear signal is communicated to pilot or flight crew when landing activity is complete

4.5

Under instruction from hover-exit flight crew leader, individuals and equipment are transferred between helicopter and ground, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.6

Emergency procedures are conducted, as required

4.7

Emergency commands are responded to, in accordance with organisational procedures

5

Undertake hover-entry to helicopter

5.1

Individuals and equipment are located at nominated assembly point in preparation for hover-entry

5.2

Following clearance from pilot and hover-exit flight crew leader, movement towards the helicopter is undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and instructions received

5.3

Actions to minimise uncommanded movement of the helicopter during transfer from the ground to the helicopter are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and instructions

5.4

Movement on board the helicopter and towards the helicopter seat is undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures and instructions

5.5

Seat belts are secured until clearance is obtained to commence movement within the helicopter, in accordance with organisational procedures, safe work practices and instructions from flight crew

5.6

Seat belts remain secured until helicopter has landed and clearance is obtained to commence movement within the helicopter

6

Perform maintenance on equipment

6.1

Equipment is inspected and maintenance is performed, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

6.2

Damage to equipment is reported to the supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal

6.3

Maintenance or damage to equipment is documented and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

general helicopter safety briefing must be conducted by

air base or helibase manager

crew person

pilot

pre-mission briefing must be given by

hover-exit crew leader

pre-flight safety briefing must be given by

air crew member

hover-exit operations must include

assistance from a helicopter for crew person

conducting hover-exit operations from helicopter approved by the organisation transfer of equipment and firefighting crew between the helicopter and ground

Fire

Fire