CQUniversity Unit Profile
AVAT12010 Commercial Pilot Licence Flight Planning
Commercial Pilot Licence Flight Planning
All details in this unit profile for AVAT12010 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with the knowledge required to plan a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight in a small commercial aircraft. You will learn how to interpret small commercial aircraft performance data. From meteorological forecasts, you will determine the appropriate route, altitude, and alternate aerodromes. You will also learn how to conduct a weight and balance assessment for a flight.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 12
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.25

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Students must meet all requisites: 1. AVAT11002 Basic Aeronautical Knowledge OR (AVAT11012 Aviation Practice AND AVAT11013 Introduction to Aviation); AND 2. AVAT11005 Flight Fundamentals; AND 3. AVAT11010 Aviation Safety Fundamentals OR AVAT11007 Flight Planning, Performance, and Operation.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2025

Cairns
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 40%
2. Examination
Weighting: 60%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from UC

Feedback

Change of lecturer midway through the term affected smooth delivery of the unit.

Recommendation

The availability of the casual lecturer should be confirmed before the commencement of the term.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Interpret small commercial aircraft performance data
  2. Critically analyse appropriate route, altitude, and aerodromes using forecast meteorological conditions
  3. Calculate weight and balance and prepare a load sheet for a small commercial aircraft
  4. Prepare a small commercial aircraft Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan, including navigation plan and fuel plan
  5. Exercise judgement in the flight planning process for small commercial aircraft.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Examination - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

Recommended Book

Aircraft Operation, Performance & Planning for the Private & Commercial Pilot Licences 

Publisher:  Aviation Theory Centre 

SKU : ATB42-03; Barcode: 9781875537273

 

Supplementary Book: 
CPL Performance (2017), Authors: Bob Tait
Bob Tait's Aviation Theory School
Redclife, Queensland, Australia
ISBN 978164136590-1
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

No referencing style set.

Teaching Contacts
Aruna Ranganathan Unit Coordinator
a.ranganathan@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Aerodrome ERSA, Take off,  landing charts

Take off, landing charts, TORA, TODA, LDA, ASDA

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Take off performance, pressure height, density height, ground effect

Landing performance, Echo take off landing charts, Speed limitations

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1

Week 3 Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

En route, climb performance, wind calculation

Climb and descend performance

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Fuel policy, range and endurance 

 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Echo aircraft 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

ETP, PNR 1

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 3

Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

ETP, PNR 2

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Flight Planning - Part 1
Determining operational weights 

Chapter

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 4

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Flight Planning - Part 2
Calculate weight and balance data for various loading systems Alpha, Bravo, Charlie as CoG limits using loading and P charts

Chapter

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Flight Planning - Part 3

ECHO Loading weight and balance performance and CoG limits

ECHO weight and balance restrictions and adjustments of CoG using various methods practice questions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Flight Planning
Airworthiness and Equipment

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Flight Planning and Loading - Overall Review

Chapter

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Revision

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Mr Kelvin Yu is the lecturer for this unit. 

Email : b.yu@cqu.edu.au

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Fortnightly Quizzes

Task Description

1. Four quizzes (fortnightly) will be conducted, each worth 10 marks (weightage 10%). Each quiz consists of multiple-choice and short-calculation questions.
2. Schedule of the Quizzes: Quiz 1 (in Week 2); Quiz 2 (in Week 4); Quiz 3 (in Week 6); and Quiz 4 (in Week 8).
3. The syllabus will cover the concepts taught during the lectures of the preceding two weeks. Reviewing the lecture recordings before attempting the quiz is strongly recommended.
4. If you experience issues with the online quizzes, notify the lecturer (Mr. Kelvin Yu) as soon as possible (b.yu@cqu.edu.au). 
5. The details of the dates and timings of the fortnightly quizzes will be promulgated in Moodle in Week 1 (after the first lecture).
6. Please ensure your availability for these four quizzes. Only one attempt is allowed. Absentees will not be given another chance.
7. Total marks: 40 (10 for each quiz); Weightage 40% for overall grade.

NOTE: “This assessment is exempt from the 72-hour submission grace period and must be completed by the stated submission date/time”

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - NO AI

You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.


Number of Quizzes

4


Frequency of Quizzes

Fortnightly


Assessment Due Date

This quiz will be held on the second teaching period of week 6 times to be advised.


Return Date to Students

Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The Learning Outcome Assessed: Demonstrate competencies on the Flight Planning and Performance components of CPL (Commercial Pilot License); as detailed in Schedule 3 of Part 61, MOS (Manual of Standards) of CASR (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations).
The Quizzes will be MCQ type for assessment of the understanding of the concepts and applications of Flight Planning and Performance procedures taught during the lectures.
Correct numerical answer or selection of the best answer among the available multiple-choice options.


Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Online TEST through Moodle. Conditions Use minimum mark or grade?

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Interpret small commercial aircraft performance data
  • Critically analyse appropriate route, altitude, and aerodromes using forecast meteorological conditions
  • Calculate weight and balance and prepare a load sheet for a small commercial aircraft
  • Prepare a small commercial aircraft Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan, including navigation plan and fuel plan
  • Exercise judgement in the flight planning process for small commercial aircraft.

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
60%

Length
150 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
Condition (Minimum %) 50%

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?