Why Study/Key Benefits

The Associate Degree of Aviation is designed specifically for students who have already been accepted into an eligible airline or flight-instructor cadet training programme. It combines academic aviation study with professional flight training and is designed to prepare students for a professional pilot career. Swinburne states that the programme goes beyond the minimum licensing requirements established by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Key benefits include:

• Integrated academic and professional pilot training.
• Flight training from the first semester.
• Training in both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.
• Flight training delivered at CAE Melbourne Flight Training in Moorabbin.
• Access to a large aircraft fleet and advanced flight simulators through CAE.
• Aviation studies covering safety, human factors, airline and airport planning, aviation technology and operational concepts.
• Pathway towards Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Multi Engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement and Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory subjects.
• Multi-Crew Cooperation and Jet Orientation Course (MCC/JOC) available through an elective.
• Swinburne identifies longstanding industry partnerships with Qantas, Jetstar, AirAsia and China Eastern Airlines as helping inform its aviation training and industry alignment.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme requires 14 core units plus 2 elective units.

Current core units published by Swinburne include:

• Aviation Safety and Risk Management — AVA20023
• Human Factors in Aviation — AVA20025
• Airport and Airline Planning: Factors and Outcomes — AVA20028
• Current and Future Aviation Technologies and Operational Concepts — AVA30006
• Private Pilot Licence Practicum — AVF80001
• Commercial Pilot Licence Practicum 1 — AVF80002
• Commercial Pilot Licence Practicum 2B — AVF80003
• Multi Engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement Practicum — AVF80004
• Private Pilot Licence Theory — AVT10001
• Commercial Pilot Licence Theory 1 — AVT10002
• Commercial Pilot Licence Theory 2 — AVT20001
• Air Transport Licence Theory 3 — AVT30001
• Air Transport Licence Theory 1 — AVT30005
• Air Transport Licence Theory 2 — AVT30006

The programme therefore combines:

• Aviation safety and risk management
• Human factors
• Airport and airline planning
• Aviation technology
• Flight practicum
• PPL theory and practical training
• CPL theory and practical training
• Multi-engine instrument training
• ATPL theory

Disciplines/Specialisations

There are no separately listed majors or specialisations for the Associate Degree of Aviation.

The programme is focused on professional aviation and pilot training, particularly the integrated airline-cadet pathway.

Programme Highlights

• International-student-only course.
• 2-year associate degree.
• 200 credit points.
• 14 core units plus 2 electives.
• Flight training begins from the first semester.
• Training includes both single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.
• Professional flight training at CAE Melbourne Flight Training, Moorabbin.
• Access to aircraft and simulator-based training.
• PPL and CPL training components.
• Multi Engine Aeroplane Instrument Endorsement.
• ATPL theory subjects.
• MCC/JOC available as an elective.
• Designed around airline cadetship requirements.
• CRICOS registered under code 119364F.

Career Outcomes

The principal stated career outcome is:

• Professional pilot

The qualification and associated training are structured around professional pilot preparation, with the course incorporating PPL, CPL, multi-engine instrument training and ATPL theory.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The most important current special requirement is the cadetship condition.

A student cannot simply apply to the Associate Degree of Aviation as a conventional aviation degree without meeting the cadetship requirement. Swinburne states that admission is subject to acceptance into an eligible airline pilot or flight-instructor cadet programme.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying this programme in Australia, the relevant visa is generally the Australian Student visa (subclass 500), subject to individual eligibility.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs currently requires, among other things:

• enrolment in a full-time CRICOS-registered course;
• a valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE);
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies;
• evidence of English-language capability where required;
• satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement;
• health requirements;
• character requirements;
• a valid passport;
• an Australian Values Statement for applicants aged 18 or over;
• financial-capacity evidence where required.