AO

Question 1

What is a nautical mile? What is the conversion to km?

Answer 1

One nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude and 1.852km (round to 2)

Question 2

What is a Knot?

Answer 2

Is horizontal speed in nautical miles per hour, for aircraft and wind speed

Question 3

What is elevation?

Answer 3

The vertical distance of a natural feature above mean sea level. Ie contour line or peak

Question 4

What is height?

Answer 4

The vertical distance of an object or aircraft above ground level - AGL

Question 5

What is altitude?

Answer 5

The vertical distance of an aircraft above mean sea level as read on an aircraft altimeter

Question 6

What conditions will dictate how a flight is conducted?

Answer 6

Aircraft capability
Weather
Mission
Location
Time of day
Complexity of flight
Last light considerations
CASA requirements

Question 7

List 11 common flight hazards

Answer 7

Air traffic (itinerate aircraft)
Low visibility
Power lines
Radio/tv/phone masts
Rising ground
Stags
Turbulent winds
Wires
Airspace restrictions
Extreme fire behaviour

Question 8

What are 8 hazards to low level aerial suppression operations?

Answer 8

Flight hazards
Buoy lines
Fences around dams
Floating pumps
Power feeder lines to pumps
Public on entry and exit lines
Property owners
RPAS

Question 9

List 7 hazardous situations to firefighters to notify the ground of

Answer 9

Erratic weather changes
Changed of wind direction (especially if not forecasted)
Spot fires
Hop overs
Blow ups
Potential dead man zones
Crew burn overs

Question 10

List 3 meteorological factors that’s influence aircraft performance

Answer 10

Density altitude, temperature, visibility

(Plus turbulence, wind, cyclones, downdraughts, thunderstorms, humidity, cold fronts, troughs)

Question 11

Where can information regarding landing sites be obtained?

Answer 11

ERSA, West Australia Country Airstrip Guide, Local Government, DFES Helicopter Landing Site Reference Book, Oz Runways

Question 12

What is the call sign and primary use for a Twin Engine FW AC?

Answer 12

Birddog

Recon, Air Observation, AAS

Question 13

What is the callsign for a fixed wing fire bomber?

Answer 13

Bomber

Question 14

What is the ac type and primary use of call sign Firebird?

Answer 14

Type 3 Helicopter
Recon, AOB, AAS, Aerial Ignition, Sling Load, Air Intel

Question 15

What is the call sign and role of an IFR twin engine FW ac?

Answer 15

Firescan

Infra line scanning

Question 16

What aircraft may have the call sign Firespotter?

Answer 16

Single engine fixed wing aircraft

Recon, aerial ignition, AOB, AAS

Question 17

What is the call sign and primary use of type 1 and type 2 helicopters?

Answer 17

Helitak

Firebombing, rappel, personnel transport, sling load

Question 18

Explain runway designation makers?

Answer 18

Numbers are painted at the ends of runways to help pilots identify the runway they are landing on.

They consist of a two digit number derived from the magnetic bearing of the runway centre line when viewed from the direction of approach rounded to the nearest ten degrees.

Single digits will have a zero placed in front. If it is a 3 digit number the last zero is omitted.

Parallel runways have L C or R for left centre of right

Question 19

What is the P in PAFTACS?

Answer 19

Position and Property Threatened

Question 20

What is the A in PAFTACS?

Answer 20

Area - Size of Fire

Question 21

What is the F in PAFTACS?

Answer 21

Fuel Density and Type - Estimated ROS

Question 22

What is the T in PAFTACS?

Answer 22

Time to Control

Question 23

What is the A in PAFTACS?

Answer 23

Assistance Required

Question 24

What is the C in PAFTACS?

Answer 24

Communication and Control Point

Question 25

What is the distance and time for arrival at the incident?

Answer 25

10 nautical miles or 5 minutes inbound

Question 26

What is the order of priority for threat to lives?

Answer 26

1) The most severely threatened 2) The largest number being threatened 3) The remainder under threat 4) Adjacent, exposed areas being threatened

Question 27

What information can assist firefighters on the ground regarding risks?

Answer 27

Access routes Escape routes Low fuel area, firebreaks Turn around points for appliances Water supplies Approaching wind shifts Changes in fire behaviour Changes in fuel loading Changes in terrain Location of hot spots Spot fires and hop overs Development of tongues of fire Entrapment possibilities by terrain or fire

Question 28

Describe Highs on meteorological charts

Answer 28

Highs basically control the regions climate They consist of a mass of falling air which whirls in an anti clockwise direction as it spreads down towards the ground

Question 29

How does atmospheric stability affect bushfires?

Answer 29

Most major bushfires burn when the atmosphere is unstable because this promotes a strong convective column over a fire resulting in strong in droughts, long distance spitting and the formation of fire whirl winds

Question 30

What conditions indicate unstable atmosphere?

Answer 30

Gusty, erratic winds Clear visibility Cumulus cloud Vertically rising smoke

Question 31

What conditions indicate stable atmospheric conditions?

Answer 31

Steady, constant winds Flat, layered stratus clouds Hazy, low visibility conditions Smoke rising then spreading horizontally

Question 32

What causes thunderstorms and why are they dangerous to firefighters?

Answer 32

Caused by unstable moist air which is forced to rise to great heights, indicated by towering columns of cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds. Below thunderstorms bushfires behave erratically, unpredictably and are dangerous anywhere around the fires perimeter

Question 33

What are the two types of fuel used in aircraft involved in fire operations?

Answer 33

Jet A1- colourless or straw coloured for use in turbine engine aircraft Avgas 100 - green coloured for use in piston engine aircraft

Question 34

What band are CTAF and FCTAF?

Answer 34

VHF AM Radio Band

Question 35

What does CTAF stand for? Where are they defined? Where do they normally extend to?

Answer 35

Common Traffic Advisory Frequencies CTAFs are defined around provincial aerodromes. Eg Jandakot 118.1. They normally extend 5 nautical miles around the aerodrom to a height of 3000fr AGL