This project will review and update the Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) to help address the current shortage of flight instructors that is having a knock-on effect on new pilot numbers
ISA and its Aviation Strategic Workforce Planning Committee, following consultation with the Australian Flight Training Industry Association and key industry stakeholders, initiated this project to enhance industry recognition and usability of the Diploma of Aviation – Flight Instructor.
The project will review and update the qualification to include current industry practices and better align it with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) licensing requirements.
Flight Instructors’ role includes highly technical and non-technical tasks underpinned by a sound knowledge of educational theories and practices. As part of the project, superseded Training and Assessment (TAE) Units of Competency that are contained as core and elective units in the qualification will be updated.
The flight training industry faces significant challenges due to a shortage of instructors and trainers, particularly experienced staff such as senior instructors and flight examiners
Closer alignment with the CASA’s licencing, standards, and resources will enable consistency in training outcomes and reduce costs for learners.
The project will review and update:
This project will also:
Industry Skills Australia (ISA) will engage with stakeholders throughout the life of the project and consider all ideas, opinions, and feedback to the revised training products to ensure they meet the needs of industry. A consultation log containing a high-level summary of all feedback and ISA’s response will be maintained and available on our website.
ISA will facilitate a webinar following endorsement of the materials to support stakeholders in understanding the changes and how they will affect them.
Industry Skills Australia has established a Technical Committee (TC) for this project. The Committee comprises 17 subject matter experts from Industry, RTOs, regulators and Peak Bodies.
The Technical Committee held its first introductory meeting on 2 September 2024.
Public Consultation closed on Friday, 1 August 2025.
We are seeking your feedback on revised draft training products relating to the Diploma of Aviation Flight Instructor, aimed at addressing shortages of instructors and trainers which is presenting the industry with significant challenges.
A Technical Committee of subject matter experts has reviewed and updated the Diploma to include current industry practices and better align it with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) licensing requirements, specifically the Principles and Methods of Instruction. This will enable consistency in training outcomes, reduce costs for learners and enhance industry usability of the qualification.
The qualification has undergone major changes including:
The following training products have been updated:
Public Consultation closed on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.
Draft updates to the Diploma of Aviation (Flight Instructor) and associated products have been developed to address the current shortage of flight instructors, and Industry Skills Australia would like your feedback.
The flight training industry faces significant challenges due to a shortage of instructors and trainers, particularly experienced staff such as senior instructors and flight examiners. This is having a knock-on effect on new pilot numbers.
A Technical Committee of subject matter experts has reviewed and updated the Diploma to include current industry practices and better align it with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) licensing requirements. This will enable consistency in training outcomes and reduce costs for learners and enhance the industry recognition and usability of the qualification.
As part of the project, superseded Training and Assessment (TAE) Units of Competency that are contained as core and elective units in the qualification have been included.
The following training products have been updated:
Industry Skills Australia (ISA) has submitted the final draft training products for the Diploma of Aviation – Flight Instructor Project to the Assurance Body.
These final draft products include updates to 1 Qualification, 6 Units of Competency and 3 Skill Sets.
The Assurance Body submission and training products submitted can be viewed here:
Companion Volumes: AVI Release 12.0 Companion Volume Implementation Guide.pdf and Aviation Foundation Skills Companion Volume V1.2.pdf