NZQA expiringunit standard / 9546 version 5
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Title / Carry out aerial inspection of a gas transmission pipeline system
Level / 3 / Credits / 2
Purpose / This unit standard is for people working, or intending to work, in the gas transmission industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the purpose of aerial inspections of gas transmission pipeline systems, and the reasons for identifying third party interference and changing easement conditions; prepare for aerial inspection of gas transmission pipeline systems; and carry out an aerial inspectionof gas transmission pipeline systems.
Classification / Gas Industry > GasTransmission Operations
Available grade / Achieved

Explanatory notes

1Performance of the elements of this unit standard must comply with relevant site requirements, and the following legislation and standard:

Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;

Health and Safety in Employment (Pipelines) Regulations 1999;

Resource Management Act 1991;

NZS/AS 2885.1:1997Pipelines – Gas and liquid petroleum – Design and construction.

2Definitions

Company procedures refer to the documented methods for performing work activities and include health and safety, environmental, site requirements, and quality management requirements. They may refer to manuals, codes of practice, or policy statements.

Third party – may include but is not limited to – landowner, farmer.

Outcomes and evidence requirements

Outcome 1

Describe the purpose of aerial inspections of gas transmission pipeline systems, and the reasons for identifying third party interference and changing easement conditions.

Evidence requirements

1.1Purpose of aerial inspections of gas transmission pipeline systems is described in accordance with regulatory requirements.

1.2Reason for identifying third party interference on pipeline easements is described in accordance with company procedures.

1.3Reason for identifying changing easement conditions is described in accordance with company procedures.

Rangeslips, erosion, earthquakes, stock damage, encroachment, buildings, changes in land use.

Outcome 2

Prepare for aerial inspection of gas transmission pipeline systems.

Evidence requirements

2.1Area to be flown over and the route on alignment sheets are identified in terms of the aerial inspection.

2.2Specific observations required are established in terms of the area records.

2.3Materials for aerial inspection are collected in accordance with the established observations.

Rangecamera, recorder, paper, observation forms.

2.4Pilot is briefed about the area which is to be flown over and inspected, in terms of identifying reference points along the pipeline.

2.5Aircraft safety procedures are explained in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Rangehelicopter, fixed wing.

2.6Aircraft safety is discussed with the pilot in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – weather, power lines, authorities, emergencies, on-board safety, embarking and disembarking considerations, on-board communication, pilot responsibilities.

Outcome 3

Carry out an aerial inspection of gas transmission pipelines and easements.

Evidence requirements

3.1Flight details are communicated to appropriate persons in accordance with company procedures and regulatory requirements.

Rangepersons may include but are not limited to – airport control tower, company base;

flight details – departure time, estimated return time, civil aviation requirements.

3.2Easement locations are identified and noted from ground features in accordance with company procedures.

Rangeboundaries, roads, aerial markers, rivers.

3.3Changing easement conditions are identified and recorded in accordance with company procedures.

Rangeerosion, third party interference, encroachment, repairs, maintenance, flood damage, stock damage, slips, dead vegetation, buildings, land use changes.

3.4Flight completion is communicated to appropriate persons in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Rangepersons may include but are not limited to – airport control tower, company base.

3.5An observation report is compiled, and potential hazards and/or easement encroachments are reported, in accordance with company procedures.

3.6Follow-up actions are initiated in accordance with company procedures.

Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 9554were replaced by unit standard 30369.

This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the unit standard must take place by the last date for assessments set out below.

Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions

Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment
Registration / 1 / 6 February 1997 / 31 December 2020
Revision / 2 / 3 August 2000 / 31 December 2020
Review / 3 / 24 January 2002 / 31 December 2020
Review / 4 / 22 May 2009 / 31 December 2020
Review / 5 / 17 August 2017 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0014

This CMR can be accessed at

Please note

Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

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SSB Code 101542 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018