THE EPITOME

FOR

PROFESSIONALISM

MEMBER OVERVIEW

Becoming an endorsed member of the Australian Feral Animal Aerial Shooters Association (AFAASA) is a significant achievement and is underpinned by a requirement to demonstrate absolute professionalism, safety, commitment and advocacy for the very best of industry standards and expectations.

Our members are fully accredited and are the epitome of industry operators. Membership with AFAASA is a commitment to leading best practices, industry standards, end user expectations and positive reflections for the specialist services delivered by professional aerial shooters.

Aircraft operators and end users should only use Aerial Shooters who are endorsed members of the Australian Feral Animal Aerial Shooters Association. Doing so is a commitment to maintaining a strong, safe and reputable industry standard for this specialist service. 

WHAT TO EXPECT OF OUR MEMBERS

EXPERIENCE

Our members must, as a minimum, demonstrate (with industry references) 2 years of occupational vertebrate pest control using firearms in a multi disciplined team environment.

In addition, our members bring a demonstrated history of managing invasive species in line with industry standards.

Our members are further required to demonstrate their capacity to work in a team environment, maintain strong leadership and communication capabilities. 

Critical to specifics for the role of an aerial shooter is a demonstrated history of working in an aviation environment, a comprehensive understanding for current animal welfare and relevant legal requirements.

Our members also are experienced in operational planning and are capable of filling the roles of a navigator, ground crew and other logistic requirements.

QUALIFICATION

Before membership is granted, the applicant must provide evidence for the completion the following qualifications and industry inductions:

1. AHCPMG304 – Use firearms to humanely destroy animals
2. PUAFIR209B - Work safely around aircraft
3. AHCPMG311 - Use Firearms for Pest Control Activities from Aircraft
4. Demonstrated industry induction for air crew working in a low level wire environment
5. Demonstrated industry induction for Crew Resource Management
6. First Aid

In addition to the above training requirements the applicant will have provided two industry referees and details of the training instructor for AHCPMG311 to validate the membership application.

SAFETY

Our members have demonstrated their capacity to work to industry standards as they relate to Work, Health and Safety. This includes comprehensive safety management systems, risk management strategies, identifying risks, managing risks and continually assessing risks. 

Our members also must possess and use essential safety equipment, which includes (but not limited to):

• Aviation helmet with integrated communication (in service)
• Aviation harness (in service)
• Aviation flight suit
• Aviation gloves
• UHF, VHF and other communication devices for ground to air and ground to ground communications.
• Personal emergency beacon
• Personal emergency survival/first aid kit
• Workplace First Aid kit 
• Firearm security and maintenance equipment

At all times live GPS location Mapping and recording software with property boundary overlays from folio data provided by landowners/managers is used to ensure operations remain within authorised locations only.

EQUIPMENT

In addition to the safety equipment requirements, our members maintain the essential equipment necessary to complete their role as a Professional Aerial Shooter, this includes (but may not be limited to):

• 2x Semi-Automatic 308 calibre centrefire rifles fitted with 1x magnification red dot optics 
• A minimum of 20x 20 round 308 magazines
• 1x Semi- Automatic or Pump Action 12 gauge shotguns fitted with 1x magnification red dot optics.
• Essential field maintenance equipment for both firearm platforms
• Transport and safe storage requirements for firearms and ammunition to comply with regulatory requirements.

INSURANCE

All of our members hold their own current Public Liability Insurance specifically covering aerial pest control using a firearm.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Our members are the forefront of our professional industry and as such bring to the operational environment:

1. A passion for what we do
2. A commitment to safety
3. A commitment to teamwork
4. Strong communication skills
5. Leadership skills
6. Planning skills
7. An absolute commitment to professionalism
8. Professional confidentiality (e.g: no social media posts)
9. A commitment to Industry Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures as they relate to Animal Welfare 
10. Customer Satisfaction