Application
The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package. This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible. | |
Prerequisites
Prerequisite Unit/s | PUADEFCA006B Perform an individual free fall parachute descent PUADEFCA007B Perform an individual free fall parachute descent carrying combat equipment |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for a team free fall parachute descent | 1.1 Instructions to conduct a team free fall parachute descent are received and details are confirmed with supervisor as necessary 1.2 Appropriate equipment is selected, inspected for serviceability, fitted and packed, in accordance with standard procedures 1.3 Unserviceable equipment is quarantined and reported in accordance with standard procedures 1.4 Conduct of the descent is rehearsed with team members prior to boarding the aircraft |
2. Complete on board aircraft procedures | 2.1 Aircraft is boarded, and self and equipment are positioned and secured in accordance with standard procedures 2.2 Verbal and non-verbal communication is used effectively with other personnel on board 2.3 On board procedures and individual safety checks are carried out when instructed by authorised personnel, in accordance with standard procedures 2.4 Signs and symptoms of altitude induced conditions in self and others are monitored and any anomalies are reported to supervisor |
3. Exit from the aircraft and descend by free fall as a member of a team | 3.1 Approved team techniques are used to exit the aircraft within permitted tolerances 3.2 Stability in free fall flight is established and maintained 3.3 When necessary, instability is recovered during exit and free fall team environment 3.4 Relative position within the team is established and maintained 3.5 Situational awareness is maintained 3.6 Individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres are carried out in accordance with standard procedures 3.7 Verbal and non-verbal communication is used with other paratroopers as required |
4. Control a ram-air canopy descent | 4.1 Parachute is activated to open at a designated time or height in accordance with standard procedures and within permitted tolerances 4.2 Relevant drills are conducted to detect and rectify activation malfunctions and routine opening problems, in accordance with standard procedures 4.3 Descent is controlled using canopy control and manoeuvre techniques 4.4 Controllability checks and malfunction drills are conducted as required 4.5 Descent flight path is maintained within permitted tolerances using appropriate support equipment 4.6 Contingency and emergency situations are addressed and correct drills are applied by team members to rectify the situation |
5. Land on a drop zone | 5.1 Designated drop zone marking and wind indicators are identified and target approach is planned 5.2 Target approach techniques are applied in accordance with standard procedures 5.3 Combat equipment is lowered at the correct height during approach as required, and in accordance with standard procedures 5.4 Landing is completed in accordance with environmental conditions and within permitted tolerances 5.5 Emergency landings are completed in accordance with standard procedures 5.6 Harness release and drag procedures are applied in accordance with standard procedures and drop zone is cleared without adversely affecting other team members |
6. Complete free fall post descent procedures | 6.1 Post descent de-servicing of parachuting equipment is conducted in accordance with standard procedures 6.2 Performance during team free fall parachute descent is reviewed 6.3 Documentation is completed accurately and clearly in accordance with standard procedures |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
communicate effectively interpret instructions prepare individual parachuting and combat equipment for military free fall parachuting provide reports and appropriate documentation situational awareness |
Required Knowledge |
activation and malfunction drills application of problem solving procedures canopy control techniques controllability checks descent emergency drills design, characteristics, construction and capabilities of free fall parachutes effect of environmental conditions on parachuting effect of turbulence on the canopy exit techniques free fall positions and manoeuvres health and safety hazards of parachuting inspection procedure/routine landing techniques log books and descent folders malfunction and emergency drills safety checks signs, symptoms and treatment of: decompression illness hyperventilation hypothermia hypoxia stability recovery procedures theory of flight and canopy control verbal and non-verbal communication |
Evidence Required
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: perform at least five free fall parachute descents as part of a team carrying combat equipment, by day and night, onto known or designated drop zones with the descent being from an aircraft at an altitude below 12 000 feet above ground level carry, as a minimum, the following combat equipment (or the equivalent in weight and size): individual load carrying equipment field pack and cover personal weapon demonstrate the following individual free fall positions and manoeuvres to maintain relative position to other paratroopers in the team environment: box position poised pull position forward glide back slide turns left and right hard arch/wide spread position wave-off heading maintenance identify the team leader and other team members after activating the canopy adopt and maintain correct position within a team stack during canopy transit adhere to instructions and briefings including specified timings. Permitted tolerances are: achieving stability within 1 000 feet of exiting the aircraft achieving stability within 1 000 feet of becoming unstable during free fall completing exits with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the aircraft heading• completing turns within 45 degrees of the specified heading conducting the forward glide for a minimum of 5 seconds with no more than a 45 degree deviation off the specified heading free fall with a separation no greater than 25 metres of the stack line activating the ripcord at the planned opening height with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the specified heading under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 25 metres up and 25 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by day under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 50 metres up and 50 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by night landing safely within 25 meters of the team leader by day landing safely within 50 metres of the team leader by night. The five descents must achieve the following standards: exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated drop zone exit from an aircraft from the side door as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated drop zone exit from an aircraft from the side door as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with greater than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with greater than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or below 5 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone. Consistency in performance Competency must be demonstrated over a minimum of five team parachute descents carrying combat equipment supported by simulated opening problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies. Assessment should be conducted in a timeframe and in a range of contexts and conditions that allows for evidence to be gathered on the correct application of free fall parachute skills and techniques as part of a team, carrying combat equipment, consistent with the range statement and the operating environment. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency must be assessed during the preparation and performance of actual free fall parachute descents as part of a team, carrying combat equipment, although due to safety limitations, assessment of the individual's response to routine problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies will need to be undertaken in a simulated environment. Specific resources for assessment Access to: aircraft with ramp and aircrew parachutes suitable air space suitable land drop zone parachute training facilities that provides adequate simulation parachute packing facilities/matted undercover area communications equipment transport to and from airport and drop zone. |
Guidance information for assessment | Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package. |
Range Statement
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below. | |
Equipment may include | Combat equipment: field pack and cover harness equipment single point release (HESPR) individual load carrying equipment light stick navigation aids night vision equipment personal radio personal weapon and sling operational sustainment requirements including: ammunition spare clothing and field equipment rations water weapon sleeve Parachute equipment: altimeter audible altitude warning device automatic activation device hook knife live drop parachute and reserve parachute personal apparel: boots coveralls or field uniform gloves goggles helmet |
Inspecting equipment for serviceability include | Servicing instruments Setting instruments |
Standard procedures may include | Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) manuals and regulations Defence instructions and publications Job guides, other publications Manufacturers' handbooks, industry specifications and technical instructions Occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations Operating procedures Procedure manuals Routine Orders Written and verbal orders |
Verbal and non-verbal communication may include | Aircraft visual and audible warning devices Hand signals Panels and markers Plot boards Radio communications Voice commands |
On board procedures may include | Fitting parachute equipment Performing drills or procedures directed by air crew or despatchers Safety checks Stop drop and aborted sortie procedures |
Individual safety checks may include | Arming the automatic activation device Automatic activation device pin check Individual and team parachute equipment in aircraft |
Altitude induced conditions may include | Decompression illness Hyperventilation Hypothermia Hypoxia |
Team techniques to exit the aircraft may include | Team from the ramp: in single file in staggered file in pairs Team from the side door: in single file from one side door in single file simultaneously from two side doors |
Permitted tolerances may include | Achieving stability within 1 000 feet of exiting the aircraft Achieving stability within 1 000 feet of becoming unstable during free fall Completing exits with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the aircraft heading Completing turns within 45 degrees of the specified heading Conducting the forward glide for a minimum of 5 seconds with no more than a 45 degree deviation off the specified heading Free fall within a distance no greater than 25 metres of the stack line Activating the ripcord at the planned opening height with a deviation of no more than 45 degree off the specified heading Under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 25 metres up and 25 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by day Under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 50 metres up and 50 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by night Landing safely within 25 metres of the team leader by day Landing safely within 50 metres of the team leader by night |
Situational awareness may include | Monitoring altitude/height Monitoring the position of team members, other teams and other paratroopers Orientation to target, aircraft and other paratroopers |
Individual and team free fall positions and manoeuvres may include | Back slide Box position Delta position Forward glide Hard arch/wide spread position Heading maintenance Poised pull position Team manoeuvres - single and in pairs Slow fall Fast fall Turns left and right Wave-off |
Activation malfunctions may include | A high speed malfunction: bag lock complete malfunction floating ripcord handle hard pull horseshoe malfunction pilot chute in tow premature release of the three rings streamer A low speed malfunction: brake lock broken steering line broken suspension line line over pilot chute over front cell rip or tear in canopy slider hang-up above the cascades two canopies flying |
Routine opening problems may include | End cell closure Slider hang up below the cascades Pilot chute hesitation Premature brake release Twists |
Canopy control and manoeuvre techniques may include | Flying mode: full brakes full glide front riser/trim tab half brakes rear riser Stalls: steady state dynamic Turns: half brake depression half brake fly off full brake full glide front riser rear rise |
Controllability checks include checking | If canopy requires more than 50% opposite toggle to counter a turn If canopy stalls/collapses after conducting left or right 90 degree full glide turn If canopy stalls prior to 50% brakes |
Malfunction drills apply when | Canopy is deemed uncontrollable |
Support equipment may include | Communications equipment Navigation aids |
Contingency and emergency situations may include | Collisions: in free fall under canopy Combat equipment moving or coming undone Emergency abandoning of aircraft Entanglements Loss of stability on exit or in free fall Tumbling and somersaulting during free fall Uncontrolled or involuntary turns in free fall |
Drop zone marking and wind indicators may include | Alphanumeric marker panels Geographic features Smoke Streamers and flags Wind sock |
Target approach techniques may include | High wind approach Standard approach |
Environmental conditions may include | Turbulence: variable altitude variable temperatures variable weather conditions Wind: high low |
Emergency landings may include landing in or on | Buildings Trees Vehicles Water Wire |
Drop zone may include | Known or designated Open country |
Post descent de servicing may include | Cleaning parachute and equipment Inspecting parachute and equipment, and identifying faults Rectifying or reporting defects with the parachute and/or combat equipment in accordance with standard procedures |
Reviewing performance may include | Obtaining feedback from supervisors and individuals on parachuting performance and taking corrective action Viewing video of flight and correcting faults |
Documentation may include | Descents folder Paratrooper log card |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.