The Bachelor of Aviation (Commercial Pilot) will prepare you for a career as a commercial pilot. In this course, you will gain the aeronautical knowledge and experience required to achieve a Commercial Pilot Licence and Command Instrument Rating. In the first year of your study, you will fly solo in the circuit area and training area of the training aerodrome. You will learn about unmanned aerial vehicles as well as the physics of aviation and basic aeronautics. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of computer programming as well as the laws that are relevant to aviation. During your second year, you should be eligible to apply for your first pilot licence, the Recreational Pilot Licence, and start your navigation training. You will learn the aerodynamics, aeronautics, meteorology, navigation, flight planning and loading required by a commercial pilot. You will learn about the human factors that impact commercial pilots. Flight planning and navigation, both visually and using instruments, are also covered. Towards the end of the second year you should be eligible to apply for your Private Pilot Licence and start your Commercial Pilot Licence training. During your third year you will complete your Command Instrument Rating training and your Commercial Pilot Licence training and you should be eligible to apply for your Commercial Pilot Licence and Command Instrument Rating.
When you graduate with the Bachelor of Aviation (Commercial Pilot) you will meet the aeronautical knowledge and experience requirements for careers as a commercial pilot in the air transportation industry. You would normally be legally qualified to work as a commercial pilot and have access to aviation careers in the air transportation industry, or a cadetship/ traineeship offered by some airlines. With additional flight training you can explore opportunities in general aviation such as; flight instructing, tourism operations and agricultural operations such as mustering and crop spraying.
Duration | 3 years full-time |
---|---|
Credit Points that Must be Earned | 144 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BAv |
AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
|
Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
---|---|
International Students CRICOS Codes |
English Requirement
English Test
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no individual band score of less than 5.5
TOEFL Internet-based Overall score of 75 with no score less than 17
Pearson Test of English Academic Overall score of 54 with no score less than 46
Other requirements
An offer of admission into the course will be conditional on a student passing: a Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved Aviation English Language Proficiency Test; and obtaining a Class 1 Aviation Medical and an Australian Security Identification Card, in Term 1 of the first year. These must be obtained at the student's expense. Please visit the CQUniversity international student webpages for additional information.
OP English, Physics and Mathematics
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
---|---|
Exit Awards | CL06 - Associate Degree of Aviation CL11 - Diploma of Aviation |
Accreditation |
|
No Residential School for this course.
Not applicable |
Year | Number of Students |
---|---|
2024 | 6 |
2023 | 2 |
2022 | 2 |
2021 | 2 |
2020 | 1 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Examples are:
Examples are:
Examples are:
Examples are:
Examples are:
Examples are:
Examples are:
Students are required to hold a Class 1 Aviation Medical throughout the course.
Students are required to obtain an Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC) before commencing flying.
Students are required to hold the Australian Security Identification Card (ASIC) throughout the course.
Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | ||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 20 | Total credit points: 144 |
---|
The course structure is designed to allow you to complete the degree in two and a half years. You can elect to complete more of your flight training in the third year and finish in three years.
First Year
Available units | ||
---|---|---|
Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
AVAT11002 | Basic Aeronautical Knowledge | |
AVAT11003 | Basic Aeronautical Practice | |
AVAT11004 | Unmanned Aerial Vehicles | |
AVAT11005 | Flight Fundamentals | |
AVAT11006 | Commercial Pilot Licence Air Law | |
COIT11222 | Programming Fundamentals | |
AVAT12013 | Aeronautical Flight Practice 1 | |
AVAT12014 | Aeronautical Flight Practice 2 |
Second Year
Third Year
Available units | ||
---|---|---|
Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
AVAT13018 | Advanced Aeronautical Flight Practice 2 | |
AVAT13019 | Advanced Aeronautical Flight Practice 3 |
Additional costs not included in the course fee.
Additional enrolment costs
Your enrolment will be conditional on you obtaining the following during the First Term of the First Year, and before you fly solo:
An Aviation Reference Number (ARN) from the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
An Australian Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate from a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME)
An Australian Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC)
An Australian Aviation English Language Proficiency assessment at level 4 or higher
The cost of these items is approximately $1,000* and is not included in the course fee.
Additional study costs
You will be required to purchase the following:
Navigation equipment and a headset $700
Books $1,000
Uniform $400
Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) $1,000
The cost of these items is approximately $3,100* and is not included in the course fee.
Additional flight training costs
The course fee for the BAv (Commercial Pilot) includes flight training up to 227.3 hours total time (207.3 hours flight time and 20 hours simulator time), 100 hours of pilot in command time and 46 hours of instrument time. This should be sufficient to obtain your Australian Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and a Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating (MECIR). If you require extra flight hours to reach the required standard for each unit, they will be charged at approximately:
$500 per hour for single engine aircraft and,
$1000 per hour for twin engine aircraft.
The cost of the CASA theory examinations is not included in the BAv (Commercial Pilot) course fee. The cost for each CASA Examination is approximately $160* per attempt.[AM1]
Flight Provider
CQUniversity currently has one approved flight provider for international students in the following location:
Cairns - Queensland
*Flight training costs listed in the Offer Letter are estimates only.