This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to plan aircraft operations for incident management activities.

The unit applies to personnel such as Air Operations Managers, Aircraft Officers, Air Observers, Air Attack Supervisors, Airbase Managers and Incendiary Operations Supervisors who are required to contribute to the planning, development and review of the air operations portion of an incident action plan.

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

Plan aircraft operations

1.1

Operational objectives are obtained

1.2

Air operations requirements are identified

1.3

Requirements for support staff, equipment and consumables are identified

1.4

Hazard assessment is undertaken and is conveyed to pilots

1.5

Aircraft base location is selected, if required, in accordance with operational requirements

1.6

Site hazards are identified

1.7

Flight plans including operational requirements, weather, hazard identification and minimisation or abatement is established with pilots

1.8

Aircraft resource suitability and performance capabilities and/or limitations are identified

1.9

Areas at aircraft base location are designated and separated, in accordance with site features and specific operations being conducted

1.10

Activity brief is planned, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.11

Activity briefing is conducted with appropriate personnel, in accordance with organisational procedures, and operational information is displayed

2

Interpret weather conditions in relation to flight operations

2.1

Appropriate weather data is obtained

2.2

Assessment of immediate and forecasted weather conditions on air operations is undertaken

2.3

Air operations are planned using available data

2.4

Weather data is continually assessed for implications to planning and conduct of flight operations

3

Establish communications procedures

3.1

Communication requirements are identified

3.2

Factors impinging upon selection of communication system and frequencies within and outside controlled airspace are identified

3.3

Communication system and frequencies between aircraft and operations is selected

3.4

Communication procedures are implemented, in accordance with planning process and organisational procedures

3.5

Appropriate flight following notification procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational requirements

3.6

Pilots and support personnel are briefed on communications procedures

4

Establish procedures for search and rescue of overdue aircraft

4.1

Circumstances requiring the implementation of Search and Rescue (SAR) processes are identified

4.2

Appropriate SAR procedures are established, as required

4.3

Appropriate authorities are identified

4.4

SAR resources are identified, as required

4.5

Organisational accident or incident response procedures are planned

4.6

Post accident and/or incident procedures are identified and planned, in accordance with organisational procedures

5

Complete operation

5.1

Debriefing is scheduled as soon as possible on completion of operation

5.2

Debriefing is conducted with operational and support personnel, in accordance with organisational requirements

5.3

Documentation related to the operation is recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational requirements

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.

Fire

Fire