Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 9:43 AM AWST
23/07/2026 9:43 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Undertake hover-exit operations from helicopter
Undertake hover-exit operations from helicopter
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR216
PUAFIR216
State Code
WG114
WG114
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Transition (Replaced)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
07/11/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
07/11/2014
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit covers the competency 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. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for hover–exit operations
- 1.1 Hover–exit equipment is selected and prepared in accordance with organisational requirements.
- 1.2 Appropriate clothing and equipment are worn in accordance with organisational 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 relevant supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal.
- 1.5 General aircraft safety briefing is obtained from pilot, crew person, or airbase/helibase manager.
2. Load hover–exit personnel and equipment into helicopter
- 2.1 Firefighting and safety equipment are assembled, weighed and recorded.
- 2.2 Pilot is informed of 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 where required
- 2.5 Personnel are secured in seatbelts in accordance with workplace instructions.
- 2.6 Pre-flight safety briefing is obtained from pilot or aircrew.
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 Seatbelt 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 requirements.
- 3.5 Clearance is obtained from the pilot and hover–exit 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 work health and safety requirements.
- 4.2 Actions are undertaken to minimise uncommanded movement of the helicopter during transfer to the ground in accordance with workplace instructions.
- 4.3 Assembly point for individual/s and equipment is identified and reached.
- 4.4 All-clear signal is communicated to pilot or crew person when landing activity is complete.
- 4.5 Under instruction from the hover–exit crew leader, individual/s and equipment are transferred between the helicopter and the ground according to agency 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 Individual/s and equipment are located at the nominated assembly point in preparation for hover–entry.
- 5.2 Following clearance from pilot and hover–exit 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 workplace instructions.
- 5.4 Movement on board the helicopter and toward the helicopter seat is undertaken in accordance with workplace instructions and instructions received.
- 5.5 Seatbelts are secured unless clearance is obtained to commence movement within the helicopter in accordance with organisational safe work practices.
- 5.6 Seatbelts remain secured until the helicopter has landed and clearance is obtained to commence movement within the helicopter.
6. Perform maintenance on equipment
- 6.1 Equipment is inspected and required maintenance is performed in accordance with organisational or manufacturer requirements.
- 6.2 Damage to equipment is reported to relevant supervisor for repair, replacement or disposal.
- 6.3 Maintenance or damage to equipment is documented and reported according to procedures.
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
General aircraft safety briefing will be conducted by:
airbase/helibase manager
crew person
pilot
Pre-mission briefing will be given by either:
hover-exit crew leader
pilot
Pre-flight safety briefing will be given by either:
pilot
aircrew member
Hover-exit operations may include:
assistance from a helicopter for crew person
conducting hover-exit operations from various helicopter types approved by the organisation, the right or left side of a helicopter
transfer of equipment (chainsaws, rake-hoes, axes, other hand tools; personal rucksacks; food and drink containers) and firefighting crew between the helicopter and the ground
Emergency procedures may include:
aborted operation
descent or landing injury
emergency retrieval
engine failure
General aircraft safety briefing will be conducted by:
airbase/helibase manager
crew person
pilot
Pre-mission briefing will be given by either:
hover-exit crew leader
pilot
Pre-flight safety briefing will be given by either:
pilot
aircrew member
Hover-exit operations may include:
assistance from a helicopter for crew person
conducting hover-exit operations from various helicopter types approved by the organisation, the right or left side of a helicopter
transfer of equipment (chainsaws, rake-hoes, axes, other hand tools; personal rucksacks; food and drink containers) and firefighting crew between the helicopter and the ground
Emergency procedures may include:
aborted operation
descent or landing injury
emergency retrieval
engine failure
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
operate in accordance with work health and safety procedures, legislative and operational guidelines
prepare, inspect, carry and stow equipment prior to, during and following exiting from the helicopter
follow instructions and procedures within the helicopter
implement correct procedures for entering and exiting from the helicopter including correct sequencing of activities
demonstrate hover-exit procedures for exiting from different heights and from different helicopters.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed on-the-job or in a range of simulated hover-exit or -entry activities.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
equipment and materials
personal protective and safety equipment
area to conduct operations
helicopter/s
briefing reports
appropriate personnel.
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
operate in accordance with work health and safety procedures, legislative and operational guidelines
prepare, inspect, carry and stow equipment prior to, during and following exiting from the helicopter
follow instructions and procedures within the helicopter
implement correct procedures for entering and exiting from the helicopter including correct sequencing of activities
demonstrate hover-exit procedures for exiting from different heights and from different helicopters.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed on-the-job or in a range of simulated hover-exit or -entry activities.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
equipment and materials
personal protective and safety equipment
area to conduct operations
helicopter/s
briefing reports
appropriate personnel.
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WG136 | PUAFIR210B | Undertake hover-exit operations from helicopter | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAY95 | PUAFIR211 | Undertake hover-exit operations from helicopter | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZS5 | AVI30216 | Certificate III in Aviation (Rescue Crewman) | Qualification |
| J522 | PUA20613 | Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations) | Qualification |
| J523 | PUA20713 | Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) | Qualification |