This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required Skills

identify celestial bodies

basic mathematics

distance travelled

velocity x time

pace length x number of paces

elapsed time

rate of apparent movement of sun degreeshour x solar angle subtended

rate of apparent movement of night sky around the celestial pole degreeshour x angle subtended by nominated celestial body

Required Knowledge

angles in degrees

basic physics velocitydistancetime

cardinal points

magnetic

true

earths orbit and rotation in relation to the sun and night sky including the celestial pole phenomenon

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to navigate

km within a solar day which may be broken into legs of not less than km but must include at least four legs as part of a navigation circuit on completion navigators are to submit a vector diagram detailing their final position relative to their start point accurate to within percent of distance and direction

km within hours at night which may be broken into legs of not less than km but must include at least four legs as part of a navigation circuit on completion navigators are to submit a vector diagram detailing their final position relative to their start point accurate to within percent of distance and direction

Assessment must also confirm the ability to

Day make adjustments for the shadow arc dependent upon the time when using only a partial segment of a solar day maximum minute fix to locate the cardinal points and to indicate true north to within percent with a sun compass using a minute fix

Night implement contingency skills when there is partial cloud in the night sky and to employ five different celestial body indication techniques to locate the cardinal points either directly or through extrapolation via the celestial pole

Consistency in performance

Competency must be demonstrated at least once in a simulated survival situation

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to navigate using celestial aids doing so in a survival situation is crucial consequently it is strongly recommended that holistic assessment be conducted with other associated survival units

Assessment under simulated survival conditions should include

food restrictions food should be restricted to half the recommended daily caloric intake

the absence of normal living conditions and amenities such as showers beds and bedding warmth to be provided by fire kitchens etc with the attendant levels of personal discomfort and fatigue

a significant period of time the recommendation is four days

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a suitable assessment area with no artificial navigation reference points that would assist the individual such as towers and power lines and paper and pen

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

Associated cardinal points include

Quick shadow stick method includes

Celestial bodies may include

Celestial pole may be

Recognisable features may include

Way points may include

Constant estimated velocity includes

Physical navigation movements include

Return vector includes