Diploma Of Aviation – Flight Instructor

The course provides a commercial pilot with the further skills, knowledge, competence and qualifications to train students as a Grade 3 flight instructor. Graduates can seek employment with flying schools, aero clubs and aviation education institutions ¹.

On successful completion of the full course, students will attain:

• an AVI50419 Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) – a nationally recognised qualification issued by Par Avion Flight Training as Registered Training Organisation (provider number 40601);
• a CASA Flight Instructor Rating with Grade 3 Aeroplane endorsement; ²   
• a design feature training endorsement for manual-propeller-pitch-control; and
• selected units compatible with the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment 7

The AVI50419 course provides the skills you need to effectively teach, assess and support students in the vocational sector, with a primary emphasis on student pilots. It combines contemporary learning in the education field with the best in aviation training. The course is comprised of 17 units of competency (12 core, and 5 elective):

• AVIM0003  Conduct aeronautical knowledge training and flight training
• AVIM0004  Conduct training for the issue of an endorsement
• AVIM0005  Facilitate non-technical skills instruction
• TAEASS401  Plan assessment activities and processes
• TAEASS402  Assess competence
• TAEASS403  Participate in assessment validation
• TAEASS502  Design and develop assessment tools
• TAEDEL401  Plan, organise and deliver group-based learning
• TAEDEL402  Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace
• TAEDES401  Design and develop learning programs
• TAEDES402  Use training packages and accredited courses to meet client needs
• TAELLN411  Address adult language, literacy and numeracy skills
• AVIF0026  Implement aviation risk management processes (elective)
• AVIF0027  Implement aviation fatigue risk management processes (elective)
• AVIM0008  Operate a simulator (elective)
• BSBCMM411  Make presentations (elective)
• TAEDEL301  Provide work skill instruction (elective)

The units cover all relevant competencies, knowledge and skills for:

• the CASA Flight Instructor Rating with Grade 3 endorsement; and
• training and assessment to industry standards in the vocational education sector.

The course is a blend of theoretical, practical and self-guided learning, together with assessment. The timetable is carefully designed to assist students to progress through the learning and assessment requirements in an achievable and meaningful way.

We keep our intakes for this course quite small—usually around 4-8 students at a time—to give each student significant individual attention and support. Our instructors take the time to understand the individual learning needs of students and assist with individualised instruction, support and flexibility to meet their learning needs and personal circumstances.

You will spend time in the classroom with other students and significant one-on-one time with your instructor – learning the craft of teaching and how to apply those skills effectively in aviation settings.

You will undertake dual training in the aircraft with our Grade 1 instructors, and you will spend time in the aircraft with fellow students (and/or Grade 3 instructors) — taking the role of student and instructor at different times. This provides ample time to practice and build your skills in an authentic and meaningful way. Your aeronautical knowledge will be greatly expanded and challenged as you learn to teach sequences from effects of controls to basic instrument flying, short field operations – through to advanced skills such as advanced stall recovery and spins.

A typical week of study generally involves:

• attending theory classes
• participating in dual flight training
• practicing in shared flight training practice with other students / instructors
• attending pre and post-flight briefings
• undertaking guided self-study and assessment preparation.

This course is offered as a full-time intensive over 20 full-time equivalent weeks (not including public holidays and scheduled breaks):

• study weeks are Monday to Friday (5 days per week)
• hours are generally 8:45 am to 4:30 pm each day
• classes and lessons are not scheduled on public holidays or in break weeks
• some one-to-one learning may be scheduled on public holidays, weekends, during break weeks or after-hours with individual students – if/as required. This is used as catch-up time and is negotiated with each student in advance
• further self-study outside these hours will be necessary.

• Flight Training including up to ^[3]:
  • 29.5 hours dual – Cessna 172
  • 2 hours dual – Cessna 206
  • 10 hours shared – Cessna 172
• Pre and post-flight briefings
• Landing fees
• Theory classes
• Use of student facilities and services
• Assessments, including the flight test ^[3]
• CASA fee for the Pilot Instructor Rating Exam – Common (PIRC) ^[3]
• CASA fee for the Flight Instructor rating and training endorsement ^[3]

FEES

NOTES ABOUT FEES:

• TUITION FEES cover all of the inclusions see above ^[3,4]
• EXTERNAL FEES approximately $120.00 for a required textbook (payable separately to an external provider).
• We assume you have the pilot gear, publications and uniform expected of a current commercial pilot. You must bring these to the course.
• You must bring your own tablet, notebook or laptop device to all classes (a smartphone is not sufficient).
• GST generally does not apply to this course and is only included where applicable
• Fee reductions for credit and recognition of prior learning: see the ‘Credit and recognition’ section below.

The next intakes for this course are listed below. You can apply for an intake up to 28 days before the start date, but we recommend you apply as early as possible. There are limitations on how many students we accept per intake.

To apply for this course you must:

• be at least 18 years of age by the date you intend to complete the course – evidenced by an official birth certificate; and
• have the academic ability to undertake the course, evidenced by ONE OF the following:
  • a Year 12 / senior-secondary school certificate that verifies your attainment of a senior-secondary qualification, and a transcript of your subject results (note: your results must confirm your literacy / English and numeracy / maths abilities to at least the minimum levels required for attainment of the senior-secondary qualification in your state/territory)
  • OR an Australian Qualifications Framework Certificate IV or higher qualification (where the language of instruction is English) – evidenced by a Testamur (certificate or diploma) and a Record of Results
  • OR you are prepared to demonstrate your competence in both reading and numeracy through an approved Language, Literacy and Numeracy test which we provide for you*;
• have a valid Unique Student Identifier issued by the Australian Government; and
• meet the CASA licensing requirements by having:
  • at least 200 hours flight time as pilot and 100 hours flight time as pilot in command (in aeroplanes);
  • OR a Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) which was attained in an integrated (150 hour) course – such as our AVI50215 or CPL-I course.

About the documents you provide as evidence

• We will verify each of your documents is valid, complete, and accurate – including checks with the original producer of the document.
• Certified copies of documents are preferred, but not essential.
• Interim / non-final versions of education qualifications are not acceptable.

If your application has been accepted, we will ask you to participate in entry selection activities. The activities will require approximately 3 hours of your time. We use information from the activities to assess your suitability for the course. This stage must be completed as early as possible before the start date for your selected course-intake.

This stage may include a Language, Literacy and Numeracy test, but only if you require this test to meet the academic entry requirement (see ‘Application requirements’ above for guidance).

If you successfully proceed though entry selection, we will send you a Letter of Offer and a Student Agreement, which includes your conditions of enrolment. You can become fully enrolled and commence this course once all of these conditions have been met. 

• have an Aviation Reference Number (ARN)
• have a current Class 1 Aviation Medical
• meet the eligibility criteria for your selected method of payment (including VET Student Loans, if applicable).

The following pathways are available with us following completion of the Diploma:

• Flight instructor training endorsements, such as: Grade 1, Grade 2, multi-engine rating, instrument rating (and others).
• Attainment of the Cert. IV Training and Assessment qualification by national recognition and further training/assessment. 

1 Attainment of the Diploma and issuance of the rating certify that you have all the necessary competencies to seek employment as a Grade 3 Flight Instructor. The Diploma and the rating do not guarantee employment.

2 Attainment of the Diploma and issuance of CASA licences/ratings/endorsements (as applicable) ensure you have the necessary competencies to seek employment as a commercial pilot. Your employment is not guaranteed.

3 Fees are based on average requirements for attainment. Fees are the minimum to attain the qualification and cannot be reduced, refunded or transferred in any way at the completion of the course. Where a student requires additional flying time, or more that one attempt at theory or flight tests to achieve the required standard, additional fees will apply.

4 Fees are valid for the stated intake only. Fees for future years displayed on this page and in our applications system are provisional and subject to change.

5 RPL processing and assessment fees are included in the estimated fee reductions shown. Actual fee reduction is dependent on the units attained by the applicant in the prior qualification.

6. VET Student Loans are available to approved domestic students who meet eligibility requirements. Approved provider: Airlines of Tasmania Pty Ltd, trading as Par Avion Flight Training, RTO 40601

7. Some (but not all) of the units in this diploma and the Certificate IV Training & Assessment qualification are in common. 

8. Provision of this course and each intake are subject to our cancellation policy. 

9. This course is provided under the auspices of the VET Quality Framework. Enrolled students are entitled to use our complaints procedure.