Licence to operate a commercial helicopter

Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 11:22 PM 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.

Unit of competency

National Code
AVILIC0004

State Code
OBC63

TGA Status
Current

DTWD Status
Approved

Current Release Number
2.00

Current Release Date
20/10/2022

View on TGA

State Implementation and Classification

Approved Date

17/12/2019

Field of Education

031505 - Aircraft Operation

Original Release Date

17/12/2019

Nominal Hours

Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to obtain a commercial pilot licence (helicopter) in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and national operating standards.It addresses the following competency standards in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASRs) Part 61 Manual of Standards Instrument:Common standardscommunicating in the aviation environmentperform pre- and post-flight actions and proceduresoperate aeronautical radiomanage fuelmanage passengers and cargonon-technical skills 1 (manage a safe flight)non-technical skills 2 (recognise, direct and manage threats and errors).Navigation and instrument flying standardsradio navigation - en routefull instrument panel manoeuvreslimited instrument panel manoeuvresoperate at a controlled aerodromeoperate at non-towered aerodromeoperate in controlled airspaceoperate in Class G airspace.Aircraft rating standards: helicopter categorycontrol helicopter on the groundcontrol helicopter in lift-off, hover and landingtaxi helicoptertake-off helicopter and approach to hovercontrol helicopter in normal flightcontrol helicopter during advanced manoeuvresmanage abnormal situations and emergencies - helicopter.If the Manual of Standards is amended after the publication of this unit of competency, the delivery of the unit must be in accordance with the latest Manual of Standards as published by CASA.This unit addresses aviation non-technical skills and knowledge requirements (mental, social and personal-management abilities) related to commercial pilot duties and contributes to safe and effective performance in complex aviation operational environments.This unit addresses aviation technical skills and knowledge requirements (physical, mental and task-management abilities) related to commercial pilot duties and contributes to safe and effective performance in complex aviation operational environments.Operations are conducted as part of commercial or military aircraft activities across a variety of operational contexts within the Australian aviation industry.Work is performed independently or under limited supervision within a single-pilot or multi-crew environment.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Notes

Elements and Performance Criteria

1 Communicate in an aviation environment

1.1 Effective face-to-face communication techniques are applied in accordance with general English language principles
1.2 Aeronautical radio is operated using appropriate operational communication aviation phraseology and terminology

2 Perform pre- and post-flight actions and procedures

2.1 Pre-flight actions and procedures are completed
2.2 Pre-flight inspection is performed
2.3 Post-flight actions and procedures are completed

3 Operate aeronautical radio

3.1 Radio equipment is operated
3.2 Radiotelephone equipment malfunctions are managed
3.3 Aircraft transponder is operated during normal, abnormal and emergency situations

4 Manage fuel

4.1 Fuel plan requirements are determined
4.2 Fuel system is managed
4.3 Aircraft refuelling procedures are correctly completed

5 Manage passengers and cargo

5.1 Passengers are managed
5.2 Passengers are aided and assisted as required
5.3 Cargo is managed

6 Manage a safe flight

6.1 Effective lookout is maintained
6.2 Situational awareness is maintained
6.3 Situations are assessed and effective decisions made
6.4 Task priorities are set and tasks managed
6.5 Effective communications and interpersonal relationships are maintained

7 Recognise, direct and manage threats and errors

7.1 Threats are recognised and managed
7.2 Errors are recognised and managed
7.3 Undesired aircraft states are recognised and managed

8 Navigate aircraft

8.1 Documents and flight plans are prepared
8.2 Airspace procedures are complied with while navigating
8.3 Departure procedures are conducted
8.4 Aircraft is navigated en route to waypoint or destination
8.5 Aircraft is navigated at low level and in reduced visibility
8.6 Lost procedure is performed as required
8.7 Diversion procedure is performed as required
8.8 Instrument navigation systems are used to navigate under visual flight rules (VFR) or instrument flight rules (IFR)
8.9 Arrival procedures are executed

9 Control helicopter on the ground

9.1 Engine is started and stopped
9.2 Rotor is engaged and stopped
9.3 Main rotor disc and anti-torque system are controlled

10 Control helicopter in lift-off, hover and landing

10.1 Aircraft is lifted off to hover and hover checks are performed
10.2 Helicopter is hovered in cross and tail wind conditions
10.3 Turns around the mast are performed
10.4 Turns around the nose and tail are performed
10.5 Sidewards and backwards flight manoeuvres are performed
10.6 Aircraft is landed from the hover
10.7 Mishandled landings are managed
10.8 Mishandled lift-offs are managed

11 Taxi helicopter

11.1 Air taxiing manoeuvres are performed
11.2 Air transiting manoeuvres are performed

12 Takeoff helicopter and approach to hover

12.1 Pre-take-off checks are carried out
12.2 Aircraft take-off is performed
12.3 Approach to hover is performed
12.4 Go-around procedure is performed

13 Control helicopter in normal flight

13.1 Helicopter is climbed while maintaining indicated airspeed (IAS) for cruise climb and best angle of climb (Vx) or best rate of climb (Vy)
13.2 Straight and level flight is maintained
13.3 Helicopter in descent is conducted under varying combinations of direction, speed and aircraft configuration
13.4 Helicopter is turned from a known heading to a nominated heading, track or geographical feature
13.5 Helicopter is controlled at any speed within approved flight envelope
13.6 Helicopter circuits and approaches are performed
13.7 Airspace requirements are complied with

14 Control helicopter during advanced manoeuvres

14.1 Helicopter is turned steeply through level flight and descending flight profiles
14.2 Autorotative flight is performed
14.3 Helicopter is landed on and lifted off sloping ground
14.4 Helicopter is landed, manoeuvred and taken off within confined areas
14.5 Limited power take-off, approach and landings are executed

15 Manage abnormal situations and emergencies

15.1 Forced landing from level flight, after take-off or on approach is managed
15.2 Engine failure at the hover or during taxi is managed
15.3 Tail rotor malfunction is managed
15.4 Jammed flight control system is managed
15.5 Flight in adverse aerodynamic conditions is managed
15.6 Helicopter operating system malfunction is managed

16 Operate using full instrument panel

16.1 Serviceability of flight instruments and instrument power sources is determined and monitored
16.2 Full instrument panel manoeuvres are performed
16.3 Upset situations and unusual aircraft attitude recovery is performed using full instrument panel

17 Operate using limited instrument panel

17.1 Attitude indicator and stabilised heading indicator failures are recognised
17.2 Limited instrument panel manoeuvres are performed
17.3 Upset situations and unusual aircraft attitude recovery is performed using limited instrument panel
17.4 Visual flight is re-established

18 Navigate using radio navigation aids and systems

18.1 Radio navigation systems are operated and monitored
18.2 Aircraft is navigated using navigation aids and systems

19 Operate at non-towered aerodromes

19.1 Preparations for non-towered aerodrome operations are conducted
19.2 Aircraft is taxied at non-towered aerodrome or landing area
19.3 Non-towered aerodrome or landing area departure is performed
19.4 Non-towered aerodrome or landing area arrival is performed

20 Operate in Class G airspace

20.1 Aircraft is operated in Class G airspace
20.2 Correct tolerances are applied and maintained
20.3 Aircraft radio procedures are implemented as required
20.4 Operations are conducted in accordance with suitable charts
20.5 Correct actions are performed in abnormal operations and emergencies

21 Operate at a controlled aerodrome

21.1 Preparations for controlled aerodrome operations are conducted
21.2 Aircraft is taxied at controlled aerodrome
21.3 Controlled aerodrome departure is performed
21.4 Controlled aerodrome arrival and landing are performed

22 Operate in controlled airspace

22.1 Aircraft is operated in controlled airspace
22.2 Airways clearance requirements are complied with
22.3 Tracking and altitude tolerances are maintained when operating on an airway clearance
22.4 Separation standards are applied between instrument and visual flights within controlled airspace
22.5 Abnormal and emergency response actions are implemented as required
22.6 Air traffic control (ATC) directions, instructions and requirements are adhered to within controlled airspace

No information

Replaces

State Code	National Code	Title	Type
AVX38	AVILIC0002	Licence to operate a commercial helicopter	Unit of competency

State Code	National Code	Title	Type
BET5	AVI50319	Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter)	Qualification
BIA5	AVI50322	Diploma of Aviation (Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter)	Qualification