Explore Flight Training and Aviation

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Hello, my name is Paul Wyborn and I'm a senior flight instructor in the Associate Degree in aviation here at RMIT University. I've been instructing for almost 10 years, and prior to coming to RMIT, I trained airline pilots in the Cadet Program. I've been a flight instructor in this degree for just over two years, and I'm also the course coordinator for the Flight Instructor Rating Program within the Associate Degree. Flying and teaching is my passion, and I'm very proud to be able to inspire the future generations of flight instructors at RMIT flight training.

Today, I'm going to tell you a bit about RMIT suite of aviation programs. I'll explain some of the key learning outcomes of each degree, the structure of the program, and the kinds of projects you can expect to work on as a student. These programs are world renowned, and allows students to work across a variety of disciplines to replicate the real world experience they will need once they start their careers. It's my privilege to be able to be part of the education community at RMIT. And I'd love to welcome you to one of our programs.

Before I start, I'd like to acknowledge the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the Eastern Kulin nations on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the university. RMIT respectfully acknowledges their ancestors and elders past, present and emerging. And while we conduct our work remotely, I want to pay my respect to the wider unceded lands of this nation. Aviation is a vast sector industry. It covers military, civil, and general aviation and all the enabling infrastructure, including airports and air traffic control. The largest sector, civil aviation; connects people, goods, and countries, and is recognized to provide a vital role in both social and economic development.

In 2019, commercial airlines logged over 45 million flights and carried over 4.5 billion passengers. That's more than half the world's population. This was made possible by approximately 5,000 airlines operating 25,000 civil aircraft over a global route network of several million square kilometers. I hope that's motivation enough to get you involved in this vast and exciting industry through one of our aviation programs. Enrollment in either the Bachelor of Applied Science, Pilot Stream, or Associate Degree in Aviation (professional pilots) on this slide opens up opportunities to becoming either a professional pilot or undertaking an exciting career in a range of operational, managerial, and planning roles.

RMIT have been involved in aerospace and aviation for over 75 years. RMIT flight training have been training pilots for over 25 years. With this rich history, we are able to offer a practical and industry focused approach, which provides graduates with the skills and behaviors they need to be effective and successful. One of the ways we deliver this industry focused approach is through our partnerships you see on the right of your screen. Our partnership with Qanatas is a two year mentoring program, which I'll talk about later in this presentation. And our partnership with Jetstar means that eight of our aviation and aerospace engineering students may find themselves on a summer placement program.

I'll talk a little bit now about the entry requirements for the Associate Degree for domestic students. The ATAR requirements require an average of between 45 and 52, depending on which campus we're looking at, Point Cook or Bendigo. You must have successfully completed an Australian year 12 or equivalent, including units three and four, and a study score of at least 25 in English as an additional language. Or at least 20 in English, other than English as an additional language and units three and four with a study score of at least 20 in any mathematics.

There is also a medical examination and importantly, this is required to be undertaken, to be assessed at class one level. This is recommended to be done prior to enrollment. So you don't waste time and money only to find that you, in very rare cases, may have some underlying disqualifying condition. The medical examination is done by a designated aviation medical examiner, and the full list is available on the CASA website.

For the Associate Degree for international students, the entry requirements, again for the ATAR, is the same as domestic. Again, you must have successfully completed an Australian year 12 or equivalent with a minimum average of 65%. If you completed the RMIT foundation studies program or recognized post-secondary diploma in the relevant disciplines, this can be included in the equivalent qualifications. There are also English language proficiency requirements listed on the screen and some additional prerequisites. The main thing is the medical examination, which again, is required to be assessed at class one. And once again, recommended to be completed prior to enrollment. So again, you don't waste time and money in case there are any underlying disqualifying conditions.

Entry requirements for the Bachelor Degree for domestic students. The ATAR requirements, typical entry is around the mid 70s, and you must have completed an Australian year 12 or equivalent, including units three and four. A study score of at least 30 in English as an additional language. Or at least 25 in English, other than English as an additional language, and units three and four with a study score of at least 25 in any mathematics.

For international students in the Bachelor Program. Again, the typical ATAR entry is in the mid 70s and the rest you can see on screen. One item that is not mentioned there is that if you are coming through the Piloting Stream, again, there is a medical examination requirement, which is recommended to be taken before enrollment.

I'll talk a little bit about the course structure for the Associate Degree, which is divided into four semesters. Two semesters in the first year, two semesters in the second year. In the Associate Degree first year, there's Theory and Flying to the Recreational Pilot License or RPL, and a couple of other subjects to be completed. The Recreational Pilot License is the entry level pilot license, which allows you to fly locally and has some restrictions.

In semester two, you'll be covering the Theory and Flying to Private Pilot License, plus Human Factors in Aviation, and then Intro to Commercial Pilot License. The Intro to Commercial Pilot License involves more flying and more theory. The Private Pilot License teaches students navigational aspects of aviation required to fly from one destination to another. At RMIT, we don't actually issue the Private Pilot License because the Commercial Pilot License supersedes this. However, students can request to undertake the flight test should they prefer to have a Private Pilot License.

The Commercial Pilot License teaches students behavioral aspects of aviation required to operate in a commercial environment. So this is not just navigation, but also critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, teamwork, and threat and era management. All which are desirable behavioral aspects to operate in a professional commercial environment.

In semester four, there is a fork in the road and students can take either one of three options. Option one is the ATP or Air Transport Pilot License theory clusters one and two. Plus theory and flying to the instrument rating. The instrument rating allows students to navigate solely by use of instruments. Option two is a university elective, plus theory and flying to instructor rating. The instructor rating is learning the theory and flying to be able to teach as an instructor. Option three is the ATPL theory clusters one and two again, plus airport and airline operations, and a university elective.

The Bachelor of Applied Science is a three year program. So in other words, six semesters, two per year. For the aviation management stream, there are 24 courses over the three years, which is six per semester. The management stream allows considerable flexibility through a total of six electives, that enable you to follow a particular thing; such as developing language skills, should you so wish. The piloting stream has 17 such courses, supplemented by seven practical flying courses taken with RMIT flight training at Point Cook. The Piloting Program allows students to gain an RPL, PPL and CPL, similar to the Associate Degree, in addition to the Bachelor's Degree itself.

Let's look at some of the facilities. Flight training is conducted out of either one of two campuses. I'll talk a little bit about Point Cook first. These are modern facilities which include three state-of-the-art flight simulation training devices. The facilities are located at the oldest operating air force base in the world, and they occupy part of the Royal Australian air force buildings.

Apart from the occasional military and civil aircraft, RMIT flight training are the main users of the airport, giving RMIT students a unique advantage over the type of airspace usage he might find at other airports. RMIT flight training has a modern fleet of aircraft with approximately 22 Cessna and Piper type aircraft with glass cockpit display. And that is where information is provided to the pilots through LCD monitors, similar to what you might see in a larger jet aircraft.

At our Bendigo campus, recent local government investment in the airport has seen the upgrading of airport facilities, including the terminal building as well as a brand new 1500 meter long runway. Our campus features a 2,500 square foot hangar and classrooms. And the same technology seen at Point Cook campus to deliver theory classes, either remotely or face to face. Newly acquired Cessna 172 aircraft with glass cockpits, and again, with a state-of-the-art simulator.

We use the Bundoora campus for the Bachelor of Applied Science Aviation. At that campus, there's lots of space with modern lecture theaters and lots of open space lending itself for opportunities to fly drones outdoors. The simulators are primarily there for research purposes.

Let's now take a look at one of our students, Kerri Phillips, and her experience of undertaking the course. Kerri took part in an Airbus sponsored, Fly Your Ideas competition. Her team made the finals in France. They had proposed a novel firefighting aircraft based on the Airbus, A400M. They were flown to Toulouse and hosted by Airbus. And after all five groups had presented their concept studies, Kerri's team came second. There was a cash prize and lots of kudos for the students at RMIT. She's now chosen the piloting stream and is working towards her Commercial Pilot License.

Kerri is a STEM advocate, which aims at promoting the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to members of the community whom are underrepresented in those disciplines. She is also a Women in Aviation advocate, which aims at the promotion of women's involvement in aviation, from aero clubs to airlines. Kerri is also involved in the educational promotion of STEM through indigenous peoples.

I'll talk now a little bit about our industry partners. We have industry partnerships whom we work with at various levels. You can see the extensive list on this screen. Through these partnerships, the Bachelor Program often will invite guest lecturers take part in professional events and run promotional events.

Our partnership with Qanatas is through the Qanatas Future Pilot Program, or QFPP. A two year mentoring program, giving eligible candidates exposure to Qantas personnel, from the chief pilot of QanatasLink, captains and first officers of the Q three and 400 operations, through to flight operations personnel. They run development programs throughout the duration of your course. Successful candidates who meet the eligibility criteria may be offered an opportunity to attend the Qanatas Airline Transition course. And upon successful completion, they may end up with a letter of offer for employment at QanatasLink. The list of industry partners you see is not an exclusive list, as new partnerships occur at any time.

One emerging industry in both civil and defense is the drone industry. With Bundoora campus, having so much open space, it provides plenty of opportunities to fly drones outdoors. RMIT's recent partnership with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, means that we are the preferred training provider for transport safety investigator qualifications required to work in the Bureau as an accident investigator.

I'll talk a little bit about our global opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities to study abroad through our global mobility program. There are costs involved, but this is an exciting opportunity to get involved, and get some overseas experience. Our Career Aerospace University International Summer Program takes place in year two in the Bachelor Program through mid semester break. And that is conducted in Seoul, in South Korea.

The new Colombo plan funding worth 7,000 each is available to allow up to five aviation students to study at our partner institute, VTC in Hong Kong, in year two, semester two. Again, and that is in the Bachelor Program. And again, in the Bachelor Program, RMIT has returned hosted five students from VTC Hong Kong, who take one semester of the RMIT Aviation Program here in Melbourne.

I'll take a little bit of time now to discuss career outcomes. Pre COVID, Boeing forecast over 220,000 new commercial pilots will be required by 2034 in the Asia Pacific region alone, and over 600,000 globally. Industry recovery will get underway in the next two years, and domestic demand is likely to recover first. So now is a great time to launch your career in aviation. Opportunities can extend from pilot, to chief pilot, to airline management and airport planning. These programs create great pathways into some very exciting careers in aviation.

Turning now to some of our alumni, I'd like to introduce you to Zach Cattlin. He's now graduated with the Bachelor. He has a CPL and is now working towards his multi-engine command instrument rating. He's the first indigenous student to complete the Aviation Bachelor's Program. He took the piloting option, as you can see in the picture. He's now looking towards a career in charter, and then airlines further down the track. He's a real advertisement for what young indigenous students can achieve.

So now just for some important dates to note. You'll note the different start dates for the higher education, i.e. the Bachelor, compared to the vocational education dates, which is for the Associate Degree. The Associate Degree starts about three to four weeks before the higher education sector. In other words, they don't run concurrently due to the number of flying hours that need to be completed in the Associate Degree.

Let me end by saying thank you for taking the time to hear about our fantastic aviation programs at RMIT. For more information about teacher education at RMIT, check out our website or call study-at-RMIT on 9925 2260. Take care and have a nice day.

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