Overview
It is strongly recommended that this unit be studied only after completing at least five hours of solo cross‑country navigation, thereby establishing an essential foundation of practical experience. Closely aligned with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Instrument Rating Examination (IREX) syllabus, the unit provides a comprehensive study of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures together with the associated domains of flight planning and aviation meteorology. As part of the learning experience, you will critically analyse a theoretical Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Instrument Approach Procedure that incorporates holding patterns and missed‑approach segments. The unit also explores pressure altimetry, aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and the principles of Performance‑Based Navigation (PBN), with particular emphasis on both ground‑ and space‑based instrument systems. Adequate preparation for the non-compulsory external CASA examination may involve developing additional knowledge and application skills.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: AVAT12006, AVAT12008, AVAT12009 AND AVAT12011. Recommended: At least five hours of solo cross-country navigation experience.
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 1 - 2026
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Explain the purpose and operational execution of procedures under instrument flight rules
- Evaluate contemporary instrument concepts of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN)
- Reflect on concepts of meteorology and flight planning related to instrument flight operations
- Critique an instrument approach procedure.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 3 - Presentation - 30% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
Aerodynamics, Engines and Airframe Systems for the Air Transport Pilot
- (2023)
- Authors: Aviation Theory Centre
- Aviation Theory Centre
- Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: 1‑875537‑80‑5
Instrument Rating Theory and Practice
- Edition: 7th (2024)
- Authors: Aviation Theory Centre
- Aviation Theory Centre
- Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: Print 978‑0‑949499‑70‑7 / Digital 978‑0‑949499‑71‑4
Aircraft General Knowledge – for the Private and Commercial Pilot Licences
- Edition: 2nd (2018)
- Authors: Aviation Theory Centre
- Aviation Theory Centre
- Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: 978‑1‑875537‑14‑3
Navigation – for the Private and Commercial Pilot Licences
- Edition: 2nd (2024)
- Authors: David Robson
- Aviation Theory Centre
- Victoria , Australia
- ISBN: 978‑0‑949499‑68‑4
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Video and Audio Recording Device (Camcorder, Digital Camera, Smartphone, etc.)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.copley@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Instrument Rating Theory (IREX)
Pressure Instruments
Air Data Systems on Modern Flight Decks
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Instrument Rating Theory (IREX)
Meteorology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Instrument Rating Theory (IREX)
Ground Based Aids
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Instrument Rating Theory (IREX)
Radar
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
IREX
Aviation Documents
IFR Departures and Enroute Operation
IFR Arrivals
Holding Patterns and Reversal Turns
Instrument Approaches
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Navigation
Area Navigation
INS
IRS
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Navigation
GNSS
Satellite Navigation
PBN
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Radio Waves and Communication
Radio Waves
Aircraft Communication
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Basic Gas Turbine Theory
Propulsion
Basic Gas Turbines
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Modern Aircraft Systems - RPT Jet Aircraft
Engines
Hydraulics
Electrical Systems
Pressurisation
Flight Deck instrumentation
Aerodynamics
Sub-sonic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Aerodynamics
Brief sub-sonic aerodynamic review
Transonic Aerodynamics
General Knowledge
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Aerodynamics and General Knowledge
Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are advised that some topics listed in the CASA CASR Part 61, Schedule 3 knowledge requirements for IREX cannot be covered due the delivery format of the unit.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
This assessment assesses the student's comprehension of the IREX related content from Weeks 1 to 4 inclusive.
You only have one attempt to complete this assessment. Please be mindful of the time frames, as you will not be able to take this assessment after the deadline has passed.
1
Other
Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle
The IREX assessment will cover all items discussed during the lectures and subsequent discussion
NOTE: This assessment is exempted from the 72-hour submission grace period and must be completed by the stated submission date/time.
NOTE: AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - NO AI You must not use Al at any point during the assessment.
- Explain the purpose and operational execution of procedures under instrument flight rules
- Evaluate contemporary instrument concepts of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN)
- Reflect on concepts of meteorology and flight planning related to instrument flight operations
2 Written Assessment
The Area Navigation written assessment will be a 2000-word assignment, appropriately referenced, on Area Navigation with the topic to be discussed during lectures.
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit Via Moodle
The student will be assessed conceptual and evolutional understanding of the navigation systems, their origins and incremental developments.
The student will be required to elucidate a professional view of latent and system shortcomings.
NOTE: AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas
- Evaluate contemporary instrument concepts of Performance-Based Navigation (PBN)
- Reflect on concepts of meteorology and flight planning related to instrument flight operations
3 Presentation
The final assessment requires students to critically assess an instrument approach and SID chart from a latent and 'on the day' perspective while operating as Pilot in Command on an IFR charter flight in a Category B aircraft.
Students will prepare a Power Point Slide deck, narrate their presentation, video recording it and uploading to Moodle.
Week 12 Thursday (4 June 2026) 11:59 pm AEST
Upload to Moodle
The student will deliver a critique of a designated IFR approach plate with emphasis on latent risk. This assessment will assess critical thinking and risk mitigation strategy applied by an IFR pilot in a Category B aircraft culminating with a recorded IFR Instrument approach brief.
NOTE: AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING
You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas
- Critique an instrument approach procedure.
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?
