An Air Dispatcher packs, rigs, loads/unloads and dispatches stores and equipment for air movement, including air drop and helicopter external lift, and who manually dispatches cargo from aircraft in flight. Air dispatchers are also trained as Basic Driver's (DVR).

Full time (FT) Air Dispatch personnel must also be volunteers for parachute training. The Supervisor Aerial Delivery (SAD) plans and supervises the packing, rigging, loading, unloading and dispatching of stores and equipment for air movement including air drop and helicopter external lift. The SAD also plans and oversees the deployment of Air Dispatch sub units allocated in support of other units and formations, and, where trained, may be employed as a ECN 381 Supervisor Transport (SPV TPT).

An Air Dispatcher packs, rigs, loads/unloads and dispatches stores and equipment for air movement, including air drop and helicopter external lift, and who manually dispatches cargo from aircraft in flight. Air dispatchers are also trained as Basic Driver's (DVR). Full time (FT) Air Dispatch personnel must also be volunteers for parachute training. The Supervisor Aerial Delivery (SAD) plans and supervises the packing, rigging, loading, unloading and dispatching of stores and equipment for air movement including air drop and helicopter external lift. The SAD also plans and oversees the deployment of Air Dispatch sub units allocated in support of other units and formations, and, where trained, may be employed as a Supervisor Transport (SPV TPT).

Duties

In addition to the basic driving, servicing and recovery duties performed as a driver, an Air Dispatcher is required to:

• Prepare, pack and rig vehicles, items of equipment and stores in an area of operations for air movement, air dropping, or as underslung loads.
• Load/unload and secures items of equipment and stores prepared for air movement, including underslung loads.
• Manually dispatch airdrop loads from aircraft in flight.
• Operate specialist vehicles and mechanical handling equipment (MHE).
• Maintain road transport and air transport documentation.
• Layout and clear Drop Zone (DZ)/Landing Zone (LZ) by day and night, in preparation for airdrop and helicopter operations.
• Comply with Commonwealth and State Legislation and Regulations pertaining to the safe handling of Dangerous Goods (DG) and explosives when preparing and consigning Dangerous Goods.
• Assist with the trailing of equipment for air drop and external lift.
• Use electric power tools to construct, to close tolerances, wooden platforms and components for airdrop loads.

Employment Training

The Basic Air Dispatch Course is conducted over 20 days at RAAF Richmond, NSW.

FT members are to complete the course over a four-week period. It is recommended that Part Time (PT) members attend the four-week course where possible. PT members may complete the course in two separate two-week sessions, depending on their availability. The course has been designed so it can be conducted in two sessions totaling 20 days (10 days per session). Module One and Module Two are each delivered over 10 working days (over a two-week period). Module One covers competencies 1.0 Dispatch Airdrop Loads and 2.0 Clear Drop Zones. Module Two covers competencies 3.0 Load Military Cargo Aircraft and 4.0 Rig Helicopter External Loads.

FT Air Dispatch personnel must also be volunteers for parachute training.

PT members are employable after completing one module and should achieve certification as an Air Dispatcher after one module.

Basic Parachute Course: 2 Weeks at the Parachute Training School, Nowra, NSW.

Employment Location

The Air Dispatcher will be posted to RAAF Richmond.

Pay

The pay levels for this employment are:

• Air Dispatcher Grade 1 PTE Pay Group 2.
• Air Dispatcher Grade 2 PTE-LCPL Pay Group 3.
• Crew Commander Air Dispatch LCPL-CPL Pay Group 3.
• Supervisor Aerial Delivery (SAD) CPL-WO1 Pay Group 4.
• Project Officer Aerial Delivery SGT-WO2 Pay Group 5.
• Chief Aerial Delivery WO1 Pay Group 2.

Civil Accreditation

This category's courses meet the requirements for both civilian and military authorities and will make you eligible for:

• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Road Transport) is granted to personnel as being assessed as competent as an ARA PTE.
• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service) is granted to personnel as being assessed as competent as an ARA PTE.
• Statement of Attainment towards the Certificate IV in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service) is granted to personnel as being assessed as competent as an ARA PTE -CPL .
• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service) is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA Corporal.
• Certificate IV in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service is s granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA SGT -WO2 .
• Diploma of Logistics Management is granted to personnel on being assessed as competent as an ARA WO2.