An Air Dispatcher (AD) (ECN 099) is an Australian Regular Army (ARA) or Army Reserve (ARes), RACT soldier who packs, rigs, loads/unloads and dispatches stores and equipment for air movement (including air drop, airland and helicopter external lift) and who manually dispatches cargo from aircraft while in flight. The Supervisor Aerial Delivery (SAD) may also be employed as a Project Officer Aerial Delivery (POAD) for aerial delivery and external lift projects once ADPO/ISO 9001 qualified. Additionally, all personnel employed in this employment category hold the basic driver competencies.

In addition to the 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.

The pay levels for this employment are:

• AD Grade 1/4 PTE Pay Group 2
• AD Grade 2/3 PTE (ARes) Pay Group 1
• AD Grade 4 PTE (ARes) Pay Group 2
• AD Grade 5 PTE-LCPL Pay Group 3
• AD Crew Commander Grade 1 LCPL-CPL (ARes) Pay Group 3
• AD Crew Commander Grade 3 LCPL-CPL Pay Group 3
• Aerial Delivery Supervisor Grade 1 CPL-SGT (ARes) Pay Group 4
• Aerial Delivery Supervisor Grade 1 CPL-SGT Pay Group 4
• Aerial Delivery Project Officer SGT-WO1 Pay Group 5
• Aerial Delivery Chief WO1 Pay Group 5.
• Aerial Delivery Chief WO1 Pay Group 6

Training

The Basic Air Dispatch Course is conducted over 20 days ARA or two sessions totalling 20 days for Ares. The course is conducted at RAAF Richmond, NSW.

Postings

The Air Dispatcher will be posted to RAAF Richmond.

The AD courses meet the requirements for both civilian and military accreditation and will make you eligible for:

• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Road Transport) is granted to personnel being assessed competent as a PTE.
• Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service) is granted to personnel being assessed competent as an PTE - CPL.
• Statement of Attainment towards the Certificate IV in Transport and Distribution (Aviation Ground Operations and Service) is granted to personnel being assessed competent as a SGT.

Detailed employment category information about the Air Dispatcher can be found within the Manual of Army Employment Defweb Access Only