This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to prepare, operate and maintain aerial ignition equipment in an aircraft. Aerial ignition equipment is used to drop incendiaries, capsules or gelled petroleum, from fixed wing aircraft or helicopter.

Aerial ignition operations are undertaken to modify or reduce fuel loads in key areas and to decrease fire intensity and suppression difficulty at wildfires or prescribed burns.

The unit applies to personnel responsible for the safe, effective and efficient conduct of aerial ignition operations to a specified burn prescription and/or fire suppression operation and for liaising with ground and support crews including incendiary operation supervisors.

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 operations of ignition equipment

1.1

Personal protection clothing and equipment and other safety equipment is selected, inspected and tested, in accordance with organisational procedures, prior to operations commencing

1.2

Requirements for aerial ignition operations are identified and confirmed with relevant personnel

1.3

Activities are undertaken, in accordance with industry standards, legislation, organisational procedures, Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements

1.4

Incendiary device to be used is confirmed

1.5

Incendiary devices and associated consumable materials are stored and transported, in accordance with the organisational procedures and requirements

1.6

Ignition equipment is installed in aircraft, in accordance with the organisational procedures and aircraft operator requirements

1.7

Ignition equipment is inspected to ensure correct operation

1.8

Mixing operations for incendiary device are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures, manufacturers' guidelines and prevailing conditions

1.9

Incendiary devices are loaded into ignition equipment, in accordance with the organisational procedures

1.10

Ignition equipment is tested and adjusted, where required, to ensure correct operation

2

Conduct aerial ignition operations

2.1

Ignition equipment is operated, in accordance with organisational procedures and the manufacturers' specifications

2.2

Adjustments to ignition equipment are undertaken, as required, in response to changed conditions or alterations to burn plan

2.3

Emergency procedures are conducted, as required

2.4

Communications between pilot, navigator and ignition equipment operator are maintained throughout the operation

2.5

Ignition operations are conducted, in accordance with burn plan

3

Service, maintain and store incendiary equipment

3.1

Excess incendiary devices are disposed of, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Ignition equipment is serviced, maintained and repaired within scope of authority

3.3

Equipment faults are documented and forwarded to appropriate personnel for action

3.4

Ignition equipment is stowed and forwarded to appropriate personnel for maintenance

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.

ignition equipment must include

automated incendiary machines

hand held manual incendiary injection

helitorch aerial or drip torch

Fire

Fire