DASR Aircrew

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(1) - Categorisation (AUS)

Categorisation of aircrew describes the level of proficiency in a role.

Aircrew categories may include:

Category A – Select. Category A aircrew have:

a consistent standard of excellence and effectiveness of the highest levels practicable within a particular role (with  the aircraft and equipment in use) and, in particular, have displayed outstanding command, leadership and tactical  or instructional ability where relevant to the role

comprehensive and extensive professional knowledge in the role

extensive experience in the role.

Category B – Highly Proficient. Category B aircrew have:

a consistently high-level of effectiveness, particularly in respect of leadership and tactical or instructional ability where relevant to the role

comprehensive professional knowledge within the role

substantial experience in the role.

Category C – Proficient. Category C aircrew have:

achieved an intermediate level of effectiveness

an intermediate level of professional knowledge within the role

sufficient experience to function competently in all aspects of the role.

Category D – Qualified. Category D aircrew have:

achieved a Type Rating

a base-line level of professional knowledge within the role

a base-line level of experience to function competently in the role.

Category E or U – Uncategorised. Category E or U aircrew are:

undergoing Type Rating conversion, refresher or other training for the award of qualification or category

aircrew whose category has lapsed

aircrew whose category is no longer valid.

Other categories as nominated by Command.

Category Validity. Aircrew categories should be defined in Command OIP and address currency and recency requirements. Aircrew categories should remain valid for a 12 month period, unless a longer period is authorised.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(2) - Basic aircrew qualifications (AUS)

Basic Aircrew Qualifications should be defined in Command OIP and may include:

Flight Crew. The flight crew basic qualifications include:

Aircraft Captain

Co–Pilot

Flight Engineer.

Mission Crew. The mission crew basic qualifications include:

Airborne Electronics Analyst

Weapon Systems Officer

Maritime Patrol and Response Officer

Air Battle Manager

Aircrewman

Aircrewman Technician

Air Refuelling Operator

Crew Attendant

Flight Test Engineer

Loadmaster

Aviation Warfare Officer

Other aircrew nominated by the Command.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(3) - Additional Aircrew Qualifications (AUS)

Additional Aircrew Qualifications may include:

Aircrew Instructor

Assessor

Flight Test. Flight Test aircrew may include:

Flight Test Pilot

Flight Test System Specialist.

Unit Maintenance Test Pilot

Other qualifications as nominated by the Command.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(4) - Airborne Emergency Training (AUS)

All aircrew are required to operate aircraft proficiently in accordance with normal and emergency procedures prescribed in the aircraft flight manual. To gain proficiency in performing emergency procedures, aircrew require training and practice in emergency situations.

To the maximum extent practicable, emergency training should be conducted in a simulator. Where this is not possible due to the lack of a suitable simulator, or because of simulator limitations or inadequacies, airborne emergency training may be conducted in aircraft to the extent approved by the OIP.

Practice emergencies should be limited to simulating those events described in the aircraft flight manual (AFM) and conducted in accordance with the emergency procedures promulgated in the AFM. Practice emergency sequences designed to simulate emergencies not described in the AFM should be reviewed and approved in OIP prior to being conducted.

Practice engine failures – General. Training involving an actual engine shutdown should only occur during use of a FSTD. Airborne engine failures may be simulated during actual flight by retarding the throttle or power control lever to idle, or to a setting which simulates engine shutdown. Some engine emergency scenarios may involve an intermediate setting to simulate a limited power or power restriction scenario. OIP should document the procedures and limitations for the simulation of an engine failure and for subsequent actions, including engine operating limitations, committal and overshoot heights, and engine restart and warm-up procedures.

Practice engine failures – Single–engine aircraft. MAOs must not conduct the deliberate airborne shutdown or stopping of an engine in single-engine aircraft during emergency training. 

Practice engine failures – Multi–engine aircraft. A suitable education program that covers multi-engine theory, such as asymmetric aerodynamics, should be implemented to prevent serious incidents (See B-707 BOI recommendation). Procedures and limitations for asymmetric training in all multi-engine aircraft types under command should include:

methods to be employed for the simulation of engine failure(s)

procedures and limitations for asymmetric flying training, including double asymmetric training (if permitted)

aircraft type limitations for asymmetric training operations including minimum:

heights

speeds

weather criteria.

Multiple emergency training. The reliability of modern aircraft systems are such that the simultaneous failure of critical, independent systems should be rare. Accordingly, airborne emergency training involving multiple emergencies should not be required. A system failure that would normally lead to an associated failure and that cannot be safely practised should be described and discussed as part of emergency training.

Authorisation. Aircrew should not be permitted to perform unsupervised airborne emergency training without specific authorisation.

Weather. To the maximum extent possible, airborne emergency training should be conducted in VMC. In the case of emergency training involving failure of the pilot's primary attitude reference, flight in IMC is prohibited unless a qualified and current safety pilot is crew assigned to monitor full panel instruments and will occupy a control seat with fully-functioning dual controls.

Airborne emergency training should be conducted under the supervision of an Aircraft Captain with appropriate experience. In all practice scenarios, the crew should be briefed and familiar with appropriate emergency procedures prior to airborne emergency training being conducted.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(5) - Currency and recency requirements (AUS)

Currency requirements should be defined in OIP and may vary depending on the category scheme used.

Recency requirements, if applicable, should be defined in OIP and may vary depending on the category scheme used.

Currency and recency requirements should include:

minimum currency criteria

methods of maintaining and regaining currency

identification of circumstances and authority for extension.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(6) - Method of recording qualification, competency and currency

The authority to award aircrew qualifications should be listed in the approved Command OIP.

All aircrew qualification awards should be recorded in accordance with DASR AIRCREW.80.

The recording method may be flying logbooks, electronic (soft copy) based solutions, or any other format that is determined to be enduring.

The competency management system should not be contained within operational documents.

The records of competency and recency are deemed OIP. As such, the provisions of DASR.AO.GEN apply.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(7) - Air Instructor training and standrds requirements

Defence flying training systems rely on the quality and integrity of aircrew instructors to implement authorised standards and procedures and achieve consistent and effective results. Aircrew instructors include airborne and non-airborne instructors associated with an airborne aviation system.

The maintenance of aircrew instructor standards is vital for the maintenance of both Defence air capabilities and aviation safety. By ensuring both the competency and standardisation of aircrew instructors, Defence can reduce variance in flying performance between individuals, and consistently deliver standardised flying training.

RAAF CFS is the Defence Centre of Excellence for airborne instructional techniques affording tri-Service standardisation of flying instruction techniques. CFS is also responsible for the competency assessment and standardisation of airborne instruction within Defence. CFS does not assess standards for tactical employment of service aircraft. This remains the responsibility of the appropriate MAO for particular aircraft types.

Aircrew Instructor. Certification as an Aircrew Instructor allows Defence employment in aircrew instruction and assessment. Aircrew Instructors should be subject to routine instructor competency assessments. Aircrew Instructors may include:

Flying Instructor

Flight Engineer Instructor

Mission Instructors

Simulator Instructor.

Assessor. An assessor may include:

Senior Instrument Rating Examiner (SIRE)

Instrument Rating Examiner (IRE)

Check Captain

Category Assessor.

Aircrew Instructors should be qualified using a Defence-recognised course.

Aircrew Instructors should be subject to routine instructor competency assessment.

Categories of Aircrew Instructor roles may be developed by the Command as part of the applicable service-based aircrew training system.

Non-Defence Aircrew Instructors deemed to meet equivalent Defence standards may be employed.

AMC AIRCREW.10.A(8) - Training and standards requirements

Training and standards requirements should reference the applicable Learning Management Plan.

Aircrew competency requirements should include:

competency for all aircraft roles and operations

training and assessment requirements for initial award and maintenance of competency

criteria that define a lapse in competency, including the requirements for requalification.

Pilot Instrument Rating. For a pilot to be operationally competent, the pilot is required to safely operate the aircraft by sole reference to the aircraft’s flight instruments. Therefore, a Pilot Instrument Rating Scheme (PIRS) should be established to support safe aircraft operation during IMC. PIRS controls should include:

Command responsibility to determine the conduct of an Instrument Rating Test (IRT), including consultation with CFS SME.

Experience, currency and recency and renewal requirements.

Flexible use of command to ensure that those pilots who, for various reasons, are not entitled to an Instrument Rating, may still fly under restricted conditions.

Employment strategy of relevant Assessors.

Flexibility provisions that can be authorised by the command chain.

A system to ensure complete documentation of all testing and qualification awards.

AMC AIRCREW.60.A - Aviation Safety Training (AUS)

The Defence Aviation Safety Manual provides the corporate solution for Aviation Safety Training.

AMC AIRCREW.65.A - Risk Management Training (AUS)

The Defence Aviation Safety Manual provides the corporate solution for Risk Management Training.

AMC AIRCREW.80.B - Logbook Entries (AUS)

When an aircrew member completes a conversion or an aircrew training course, the CO of the unit should annotate the appropriate section of the flying logbook.

When an aircrew member completes an approved aviation medicine training course, the medical officer conducting the course or delegate, should record the details in the appropriate section of the flying logbook.

Where Defence-approved electronic means have replaced paper-based flying logbooks and the electronic logbook employs a system to ensure that logbook entries are certified by an authorised person, there is no requirement for monthly certifications of logbooks nor completion of annual flying hour returns unless dictated by single-Service Instructions.

Monthly logbook certification

At the beginning of each month, an aircrew member is to summarise the total flying time for the previous month and record the hours by aircraft type in each column of the logbook.

All FSTD time should be totalled separately, in accordance with the applicable flying organisation’s Standing Instructions. The CO of a flying unit, nominated flight commander or, in the case of the CO the officer’s Deputy, should view and certify entries in aircrew flying logbooks as an accurate record of each aircrew member’s flying experience (this may include non-unit aircrew who have flown in unit aircraft).

End of tour and annual aircrew reporting

Aircrew should complete annual returns of flying hours, annual proficiency reporting and end of tour reports of flying hours and proficiency in accordance with single-Service instructions.

Protection of logbooks

To protect the record of a member’s flying experience, the aircrew flying logbook should not be carried in an aircraft in which the aircrew member is flying as a crew member.

Disposal of logbooks

When a member is discharged or appointed to non-flying duties, the member’s logbook normally becomes the member’s personal property.