Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:27 PM AWST

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Undertake helicopter winch operations

Undertake helicopter winch operations

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR015
State Code
OCR95
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
08/02/2021
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
16/06/2021
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
16/06/2021
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge for personnel and their equipment, where required, to be winched in and out of a hovering helicopter during an incident in accordance with civil aviation orders. It includes preparing for winch-exit operations, loading personnel and equipment into helicopter, preparing to winch-exit from helicopter, winching-exiting from a helicopter, winching on board helicopter and documenting maintenance of equipment.The unit is applicable to personnel who undertake helicopter winch exit-entry as a part of their duties. Operations are typically conducted within a team environment. 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.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare for winch-exit operations
  • 1.1 Equipment, where required, is appropriate to helicopter winch-exit operations and is selected and prepared
  • 1.2 Personal protective clothing and safety equipment is selected and worn during winch-exit operations
  • 1.3 Checks on personal protective clothing and equipment are undertaken
  • 1.4 Instructions of pilot and/or air crew are followed during helicopter activities including emergencies
2 Load personnel and equipment into helicopter
  • 2.1 Personnel and equipment, where required, are assembled, weighed and recorded
  • 2.2 Pilot or air crew is informed of equipment, where required, and personnel weights
  • 2.3 Equipment, where required, is loaded into helicopter and secured under supervision of pilot or air crew
  • 2.4 Personnel boarding helicopter are secured with seatbelt in accordance with instructions from pilot or air crew
  • 2.5 Pre-flight safety briefing is obtained from pilot or air crew
3 Prepare to winch-exit from helicopter
  • 3.1 Following clearance from pilot or air crew, instructions are received to prepare for exit
  • 3.2 Winch cable is attached and checked
  • 3.3 Pre-descent checks are conducted
  • 3.4 Seat belt is released in accordance with instructions received from air crew
  • 3.5 Movement towards helicopter door and assumption of winching position is undertaken
  • 3.6 Clearance is obtained from pilot or air crew to commence helicopter winch-exit
  • 3.7 Emergency procedures are conducted, as required
  • 3.8 Emergency commands are responded to, in accordance with organisational procedures
4 Winch-exit from helicopter
  • 4.1 Winch operations are conducted in accordance with legislation, regulations, organisational procedures and Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/ Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
  • 4.2 Actions are undertaken to minimise uncommanded movement, spinning or swaying during descent to ground
  • 4.3 Appropriate landing technique is selected and used in accordance with ground and safety conditions
  • 4.4 Winch equipment is detached and the all clear signal is communicated to pilot or air crew when landing activities are complete
  • 4.5 Assembly point is identified and reached
  • 4.6 Emergency procedures and commands are followed
  • 4.7 Emergency commands are responded to in accordance with organisational procedures
5 Winch on board helicopter
  • 5.1 Individuals and equipment, where required, are located at assembly point in preparation for winching on board
  • 5.2 Winching equipment is donned and attached to winch cable and the all clear signal is communicated to air crew
  • 5.3 Actions to minimise uncommanded movement, spinning or swaying during ascent are undertaken
  • 5.4 Movement on board helicopter and towards allocated seat is undertaken
  • 5.5 Seat belt is secured until clearance is obtained to commence movement within helicopter
  • 5.6 Winch cable is detached under instruction and handed to air crew
  • 5.7 Seat belt remains secured during landing until helicopter has landed and clearance is obtained to commence movement
6 Document maintenance of equipment
  • 6.1 Damage to equipment is reported for maintenance, where required
  • 6.2 Damage to equipment is documented, where required
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
OAY92 PUAFIR219 Undertake helicopter winch operations Unit of competency