Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 4:26 PM AWST

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Supervise aerial firefighting operations

Supervise aerial firefighting operations

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR012
State Code
OCZ95
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
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
16/06/2021
Nominal Hours
35
Description
This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to supervise aerial fire operations missions during an incident response. It includes applying principles of team resource management to aerial operations missions, assisting with the development of air operations plans, planning aerial operations missions, deploying to mission site, assessing proposed mission site, prioritising and coordinating aircraft assignments, reviewing, monitoring and adjusting aircraft strategy and tactics and concluding mission.The unit is applicable to airborne air attack supervisors, operating in a separate aircraft to the tactical aircraft, who observe the incident ground and activities of tactical aircraft. However, it should be noted that air attack supervisors may operate from the ground. Authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or agencies 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 Apply principles of team resource management to aerial operations missions
  • 1.1 Team Resource Management (TRM) principles are applied and roles and responsibilities for missions are confirmed
  • 1.2 Communication is maintained with appropriate ground and air team members, where appointed
  • 1.3 Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements are implemented
  • 1.4 Job hazards are identified and action is taken to eliminate, minimise or control them
  • 1.5 Legislation, regulations, contracts and organisational procedures for the mission are implemented
2 Assist with development of air operations plan
  • 2.1 Incident controller’s intent and incident management objectives are confirmed
  • 2.2 Strategies for aerial fire suppression to achieve incident management objectives are developed
  • 2.3 Most appropriate product is selected based on level of fire risk, types of fuels and any restrictions on use of specific products
  • 2.4 Resources to implement strategies are confirmed
  • 2.5 Assistance is provided for development of the air operations plan within the incident action plan, as required
3 Plan aerial operations mission
  • 3.1 Briefing is obtained from task supervisor on mission location and objectives
  • 3.2 Assessment of forecast weather conditions on aerial operations is undertaken in discussion with the pilot
  • 3.3 Operational and support resources for mission are confirmed
  • 3.4 Hazards are identified and assessed for effect on aerial strategies and tactics
  • 3.5 Information for the mission is collated
  • 3.6 Air communication and operational communication plans are obtained and contact arrangements for team members are confirmed
4 Deploy to mission site
  • 4.1 Briefing on situation, aerial mission, roles, command and communication arrangements, safety and identified hazards is delivered to pilots
  • 4.2 Communication equipment is tested for correct frequencies and functionality
  • 4.3 Where an air attack supervisor is airborne, pilot is requested to fly to mission site and flight following protocols are established and maintained
5 Assess proposed mission site
  • 5.1 Mission site is located and key topographic features and hazards are identified
  • 5.2 Communication is established and maintained with ground based commander and pilots of tactical aircraft assigned to mission
  • 5.3 Flight hazards within mission area are noted including topography, tall infrastructure, other aircraft, smoke and extreme fire behaviour
  • 5.4 Weather, fuels, fire behaviour and smoke in the mission area are monitored
  • 5.5 All aircraft flying in the vicinity of the mission area are identified
  • 5.6 Location of ground based resources and members of the public are identified
  • 5.7 Progress of incident and incident control activities are observed, noted and communicated
6 Prioritise and coordinate aircraft assignments
  • 6.1 Liaison is maintained with ground based commander to identify appropriate targets for tactical aircraft assignments
  • 6.2 Proposed assignments are prioritised on basis of incident management priorities and safety and effectiveness and are, where appropriate, allocated to individual aircraft
  • 6.3 Safety of ground based resources and members of the public in the mission area is assured prior to commencement and during assignments
  • 6.4 Pilots are briefed on their assignments including area hazards, targets, drop pattern and location of any people
  • 6.5 Activities of multiple tactical aircraft are coordinated
  • 6.6 Separation and stacking of tactical, observation, media and itinerate aircrafts are coordinated and maintained in consultation with pilots
7 Review, monitor and adjust aircraft strategy and tactics
  • 7.1 Aircraft and pilot performance are monitored and requests to modify tactics are made, as required
  • 7.2 Ground based commander, where appointed, is contacted to determine effectiveness of assignments
  • 7.3 Pilots are directed to cease assignments where mission is unsafe, ineffective or conditions are unsuitable
  • 7.4 Aircraft not achieving performance are stood down and replacements are requested, as required
  • 7.5 Changes to types of fire product being used is requested, as required
  • 7.6 Observed hazards or changes in operational conditions that pose a risk to people, property, assets or the environment are reported to ground based commander or operations officer
8 Conclude mission
  • 8.1 Aircraft pilots are advised when to cease operations and return to air base
  • 8.2 Ground based commander and members of mission team are provided with situation reports prior to departure of aircraft from fire site
  • 8.3 Notifiable incidents are reported in accordance with organisational procedures
  • 8.4 After action review is conducted with team members
  • 8.5 Details of aerial fire suppression mission are recorded in accordance with organisational procedures
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
OAY62 PUAFIR409 Develop air attack strategies Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
BEO0 PUA50519 Diploma of Public Safety (Firefighting Management) Qualification