& Aviation Bachelor of Aviation (Flight) - Major in Drone Operations Bachelor of Aviation (Flight) - Major in Drone Operations This dynamic course equips you with the knowledge and skills required for a successful career in Drone Operations. Focused on emerging drone technologies, safety regulations, and practical applications, this course prepares you to operate remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) in industries like logistics, agriculture, surveillance, and environmental monitoring. Download A Course Guide Enquire Now Book A Call Intakes March & July Location Melbourne Duration 3 Years Full Time Government funding FEE-Help Eligible Course Entry Requirements No ATAR Required CRICOS CODE 112849H Table of Content Course OverviewWhat You Will StudyCourse DetailsCareer OpportunitiesEntry RequirementsStudent TestimonialsFees Apply Now Download A Course Guide Learn More About the Course No items found.

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Course Overview

Soar into a cutting-edge future with the Drone Operations major. Our Bachelor of Aviation - (Flight) - Major in Drone Operations is built for students who see themselves at the forefront of unmanned aviation. You’ll get hands on with both the theory and practice: Meet the requirements to earn key CASA licences (like RePL & ReOC), mastering remote aircraft systems, learning mission planning, regulation, safety, all while gaining business smarts to launch or lead drone operations in industries from agriculture to media.

What Sets This Course Apart

Full CASA licensure readiness Meet the requirements for Remote Pilot Licence, Remote Operator Certificate & beyond Practical drone and UAV mission training From flight labs & simulators to real-world drone deployments Regulation & safety in focus Compliance, risk assessment, emerging regulation across Australia & globally Industry insight & entrepreneurship Learn how to launch/operate a drone business, manage operations, specialise in applications like surveying, environmental monitoring, delivery & media What You Will Study This course consists of 24 units. 20 core units + 4 electives Year 1 HV1000 Flight Lab – Single Engine Piston

HV1001 General and Technical Aeronautical Knowledge

HV1002 Aviation Law

HV1003 Aerodynamics – Piston Aircraft

HC1041 Information Technology for Business

HV1004 Meteorology

AVT1001 Aeronautical Theory – RPL & PPL

AVP1001 Aeronautical Practice – RPL* Year 2 HV2000 Flight Lab – Advanced Piston Aircraft

HV2004 Aeronautical Navigation

HV2002 Human Factors in Aviation

HV2008 Introduction to Drones and UAVs

HV2005 Flight Planning, Performance and Loading

HV2009 Drone Operations Management

HV2010 Drone Operational Applications

Elective Year 3 HV3000 Flight Lab – Instrument & Turbine Procedures

HV3006 Drone Mission Planning

HV3007 Drone Information Systems

Elective

HV3131 Aviation Research Project

HV3001 Aviation Safety Management

Elective

Elective ‍ Flight Hours* Flight practical units are allocated a specific number of flight hours. Students requiring further training beyond these hours will be charged at additional cost beyond the tuition fees. Electives ‍Electives are chosen from the below options or sourced from other Undergraduate courses offered by Holmes Institute.

Please note: Elective/specialisation units are offered subject to demand and may not be offered in a given study period.

High Speed

Aerodynamics

Flight Deck Systems

Airspace Management Systems

Business Fundamentals

Advanced Air Mobility

Vertiport Development Need Advice? Our Admissions team is here to help.

Enquire Now Course Details How You

Will Learn Blended learning: Classroom theory, workshops, labs, drone flight practice, simulator use

Real-world mission scenarios: Mapping, inspection, environmental monitoring, delivery pilot studies





Collaboration with industry partners to ensure up-to-date tech & regulatory practice Industry Connections & Work Placements We offer a range of experiences to give you a competitive edge and help you graduate with more than a degree. With Holmes, you'll graduate with a professional footprint in the aviation industry.

You Will Experience

Project-based units with live drone missions; partnerships with companies using drones in agriculture, media, logistics, survey, environmental services

Internship or placement opportunity in Year 2 or 3 to log real flight hours, understand commercial operations Course Learning Outcomes By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to: Synthesise technical knowledge, problem-solving techniques, and hands-on skills in traditional and emerging areas of flight operations.

Validate a coherent understanding and application of the body of knowledge, specified by the regulatory bodies for flight crew.

Analyse and develop responses, exercising a high-level of professional judgement, to ethical issues in the aviation industry from both national and international perspectives.

Review the application of theoretical knowledge within the field of Aviation and communicate this effectively, with justification, to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Analyse and evaluate operational situations and problems, related to aviation operations, and devise and apply appropriate solutions to achieve safe, effective and compliant outcomes. ‍ Career Opportunities Graduates With This Major Can Pursue Roles Including Commercial Drone Pilot / Remote Pilot

Drone Operations Manager / Chief Remote Pilot

Aerial Surveyor / Geographic Information Systems Analyst

Precision Agriculture Operator

Media & Cinematography Drone Pilot

Environmental Monitoring Specialist

Logistics / Delivery Drone Operator

Emergency & Rescue Drone Operator

(Longer term) Regulatory roles, consultancy or founding a drone services business Entry Requirements To Be Considered For Admission All Applicants Must Be eligible for admission as defined in student entry requirements below and

Have lodged an application for admission to Holmes Institute

Successfully obtained a CASA Class 1 Medical Certificate

Be eligible for Aviation Security ID Card

Attend interview and complete a skills assessment with Holmes Institute ‍ Academic Requirements To be eligible for admission applicants must have: Successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (senior high school), a Certificate IV or equivalent; or

Successfully completed an approved Tertiary Preparation Program, or a Foundation Year program offered by an accredited Institution of Higher Education; English Requirements To be eligible for admission applicants must have: Successfully completed studies in English (Language or Mode of Instruction) such as Year 12 at Australian High School or an Australian Diploma or higher qualification; or

Successfully completed studies at a recognised Australian educational institution at an equivalent study level based on at least a 50% pass rate in a recent semester of study; or

IELTS Overall 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5;

CASA also requires a General English Language Proficiency test prior to issuance of a licence. This test will be undertaken prior to initial flight training. Further information can be found here. ‍ Assumed Knowledge Year 12 - Mathematical Methods or equivalent Student Testimonials Don't just take our word for it I'm most excited about just meeting people, flying the beautiful machines in the air,



exploring, flying, testing my capabilities, and just enjoying life in the air. ‍ Jack Aviation Student Melbourne I'll be the first pilot in my family and obviously my parents are very supportive and proud of me which is really good.

I would want to represent more women in the aviation industry. It was a long process but at the same time I'm glad that I've made the right decision. ‍ Urooj Aviation Student Melbourne Fees Total Course Fees: $89,000 This includes 31.5 Hours of Flight Training plus 1 hour of Simulator Training ‍ You may be eligible for FEE-HELP You may be eligible to apply for a FEE-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of your tuition fees up to the HELP loan limit of $186,544 (2026 indexed rate). This course is eligible for the higher loan limit.

Please contact a course advisor to determine your eligibility. ‍ Flight Hours Included The table below outlines the allocation of flight hours per unit of study: Unit Code Allocated Flight Hours AVP1001 Aeronautical Practice 1 RPL 24.5 Dual Hours, 5 Solo Hours, 1 Simulator Hour, 1 Flight Test Materials and other fees information Students who undertake flight training will incur additional costs, which are detailed in the sections below. Prices are indicative only and are paid to bodies outside of Holmes Institute. All CASA licence fees and first attempt at all CASA Theory Examinations are included in the course cost.

Fees & Equipment 2026 Fee Class 2 Medical Exam (First Issue Only) ~ $500 Processing of medical exam results (Civil Aviation Safety Administration – CASA) $75 Aviation Security Identity Card $300 David Clark Headset $695 Uniform (Pilot Shirt, Navy Pants, Tie) $250 Textbooks 2025 fee Bob Tait RPL & PPL Study Guide Vol 1 & 2 $220 Additional Flight Hours (if required) 2025 fee C152 Solo hire per hour $300 Flight Simulator dual hire $280 Flight Instructor Hourly Rate $220 Holmes Institute Processing Fee $110 All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars ($AUD) and are inclusive of GST where applicable. Course availability is subject to minimum numbers.

Holmes

Institute reserves the right to change course structure, content or fee scales any time without notice. It is expected that there will be a 4% to 5% increase per year. No items found. No items found.

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📌 Bachelor of Aviation (Flight) - Major in Drone Operations (Melbourne)
🏢 Holmes Institute, Australia
📍 Melbourne