PUA Fire and Emergency Aviation

Project scope

Given the increasingly unprecedented impact of longer and more dangerous bush fire seasons it is critical that Australia’s public safety agencies are equipped to use specialised aerial resources when fighting fires.

A review of aerial firefighting roles was commissioned by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) and the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in 2019 noted that the Fire Aviation Training and Assessment Framework (FATAF), which aims to achieve a national approach to the training and assessment of public safety agency personnel, in order to facilitate the sharing of resources across the country.

The Public Safety IRC will have oversight of this project, which will be facilitated by Australian Industry Standards (AIS) in consultation with industry stakeholders. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be formed for this project.

CASE FOR CHANGE

The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee (IRC) has developed a Case for Change relating to aviation roles in fire and other emergencies for the PUA Public Safety Training Package and would like your feedback.

To view the Case for Change and the supporting Review of Aviation roles in Fire and Emergency Management, click below:

CASE FOR CHANGE

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Deliverables

• Seven existing Units of Competency are to be reviewed and developed to incorporate new technical and safety developments.
  • PUAFIR209 Work Safely around aircraft
  • PUAFIR212 Rappel from a helicopter
  • PUAFIR311 Dispatch rappel personnel and equipment
  • PUAFIR312 Operate aerial ignition equipment in an aircraft
  • PUAFIR211 Undertake hover-exit operations from a helicopter
  • PUAFIR219 Undertake helicopter winch operations
  • PUAFIR519 Supervise incendiary operations during aerial ignition

• Seven new Units of Competency are to be developed to address high risk aviation roles and functions that are shared between jurisdictions in the fire and emergency services.
  • PUAOPEXXX Observe a non-fire emergency from an aircraft
  • PUAFIRXXX Observe fire from an aircraft
  • PUAFIRXXX Supervise aerial firefighting operations
  • PUAFIR00xx Supervise advanced aerial firefighting operations
  • PUAOPEXXX Manage aviation support operations at an air base
  • PUAOPEXXX Manage aircraft resources for an incident
  • PUAOPEXXX Manage aviation operations for a Level 3 incident

• Two new Units of Competency are to be developed to address mixing of aerial suppressants and loading into firebombing aircraft used across jurisdictions by the fire and emergency services.
  • PUAFIRXXX Undertake aerial fire suppressant mixing and loading
  • PUAFIRXXX Conduct aerial fire suppressant mixing and loading

• One new Unit of Competency is to be developed to address the operation of specialist aircraft mounted mapping equipment used to map the extent of an emergency such as fire and flood.
  • PUAOPEXXX Operate airborne mapping systems

• Two new Units of Competency are to be developed to address the coordination of the national aircraft fleet and associated support resources across jurisdictions and multiple emergencies at the state/territory level.
  • PUAOPEXXX Coordinate state/territory aviation readiness
  • PUAOPEXXX Deploy state/territory aviation resources

• One new Unit of Competency is to be developed to address the safe piloting of drones for emergency work where the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) does not require a licence.
  • PUAOPEXXX Pilot a drone without a licence

• One existing Skill Set to be reviewed to address the wider needs of public service agencies in air search observing.
  • PUASS00052 Air search observer

• One new Skill Set is to be developed for the safe piloting of drones for emergency work by unlicenced drone pilots.
  • PUASS000XXX Unlicenced drone pilot

• One new Skill Set is to be developed for emergency public safety agency personnel being inserted into remote areas by helicopter for fire and/or other emergency response activities.
  • PUASS000XXX Helicopter insertion into remote areas

• Twelve new Skill Sets are required for primary aviation related roles and functions in fire and emergency management.
  • Air observer non-fire
  • Air observer fire
  • Aerial suppressant mixing and loading team member
  • Aerial suppressant mixing and loading team leader
  • Air attack supervisor
  • Air attack supervisor (Advanced)
  • Incendiary operations supervisor
  • Air base manager
  • Aircraft officer
  • Air operations manager
  • State/territory desk air operator
  • State/territory aircraft coordinator

Timeline

The Case for Endorsement is expected to be submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee by 31 December 2020

How to get involved

A Technical Advisory Committee will be formed to provide expertise for this work. If you have any questions about this project, or are a subject matter expert and would like to be considered for the TAC for this project, please contact the Industry Manager.

Stakeholder feedback on draft training materials will be sought as part of the development phase of work.

Technical advisory committee

25 FEBRUARY 2020

INDUSTRY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS NEEDED

Work on the Fire and Emergency Aviation Project has commenced and the Public Safety IRC is forming a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

The purpose of the project is to develop and review the Public Safety Training Package materials that address the increasingly complex skills and knowledge required for aviation roles and functions in the fire and emergency sector.

Your industry expertise and insight is welcome to help develop and review relevant training package materials, including new Units of Competency and Skill Sets.

TAC nominations closed on Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

For more information about this project, please contact the Industry Manager.

Summary of development

Draft units, skill sets and/or qualifications are developed in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and industry stakeholders.

Initial drafting of Training Package material (Units of Competency, Skill Sets and/or qualifications) is being undertaken by a Technical Advisory Committee established by the IRC. Comprising people with diverse expertise and experience in Fire and Emergency Aviation, it has ensured that the draft Units are informed by the needs of industry.

Consultation

23 JUNE 2020

DRAFT MATERIAL

The Fire and Emergency Aviation TAC has finalised draft materials for this project and would like your feedback.

Feedback on draft materials closed on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 for consideration by the TAC.

Feedback will be collated and discussed at the next TAC meeting.

Consultation

6 AUGUST 2020

FINAL DRAFT MATERIAL

The Technical Advisory Committee has considered all stakeholder feedback and finalised draft Training Package materials for the Fire and Emergency Aviation project. This includes twelve new Units of Competency and five reviewed units.

The Public Safety Industry Reference Committee is seeking your feedback to validate these draft materials to ensure the proposed products meet industry needs.

Detailed mapping information, tracking changes to the existing Training Package, is also available to view.

Feedback on draft materials closed on Thursday, 20 August 2020 for consideration by the TAC.

For more information on this project, please contact the Industry Manager.