Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting)

Overview

Concurrently undertaken with either the Bachelor of Aviation or Bachelor of Aviation / Bachelor of Business, the Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting) is a professional pilot course beyond the minimum specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Graduates are qualified to commence an aircraft type endorsement in either the charter or regular public transport airline sectors, or alternatively commence employment as a professional flight instructor.

Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting) students accept that if they cannot access CAE Melbourne Flight Training Services for any reason (outlined in CAE Melbourne Flight Training Services Agreement) they will be ineligible to graduate or get an award for the Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting) from Swinburne.

The first unit of study delivered will be a preparatory unit addressing practical skills for the Private Pilot Licence. Subsequent units of study will address the vocational requirements of a Commercial Pilot. Each unit of study will build on the knowledge already gained in each stage throughout the concurrent bachelor course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the Bachelor of Aviation or Bachelor of Aviation / Bachelor of Business, and upon additional completion of the Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting) graduates will be expected to be able to:

• develop both broad and specialised technical knowledge and skills within the field of professional pilot practice

• critically apply theoretical and practical skills as a professional pilot and to be able to analyse, evaluate and review to provide solutions to non ambiguous, ambiguous and novel complex flight scenarios

• apply knowledge and skills beyond the minimum specified in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Part 61 Manual of Standards to achieve the licencing qualification of Commercial Pilot (Aeroplane) 

• apply knowledge and skills beyond the minimum as specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to achieve the rating qualification of Instrument Rating Command Multi Engine Aeroplane

• apply knowledge and skills beyond the minimum as specified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to achieve either the rating qualification of Flight Instructor or achieve successful completion of a Multi Crew Cooperation Course

• initiate high level judgements within the professional pilot framework

• successfully communicate complex knowledge, skills and ideas with a variety of stakeholder audiences in a range of practical and technical and learning contexts 

• act according to professional standards that include responsibility and accountability with a pro-active professional pilot work ethic and recognise the need to engage in ongoing professional development

Course rules

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate of Aviation (Piloting), students must complete 4 units (50 credit points) minimum, comprising:

• three [3] core Aviation Practical Studies units (37.5 credit points)
• one [1] elective Aviation Practical Studies unit minimum (at least 12.5 credit points), with the option of undertaking additional electives from this group

Additionally, units of study from the Optional Additional Aviation Practical Studies may be undertaken to address substandard competency standards at the completion of the allocated training hours.

Note: Students must maintain an active enrolment in either the Bachelor of Aviation or Bachelor of Aviation/Bachelor of Business. It is expected that students (on completion of both their Bachelor degree and Graduate Certificate) will graduate simultaneously from both courses.

Professional recognition

The practical training will meet the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requirements for a Commercial Licence (Aeroplane) and Single Engine Command Instrument Rating. Additionally, the proposed course will have a number of electives such that a student may undertake additional CASA recognised ratings such as Flight Instructor and Multi Engine Gas Turbine.