Member for Tweed Geoff Provest has today announced the introduction of a Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot -Visual Line of Sight) at TAFE NSW Kingscliff.
The course will meet demands from local agricultural, construction and surveying industries for emerging drone services and improve safety by training drone operators in accordance with aviation regulations.
Mr Provest said it was essential local training is available to meet the rapid development remote piloted aircraft technology.
“The nationally-recognised qualification is designed to provide businesses with confidence that those using drones on their behalf have been trained beyond the minimum licensing requirements,” he said.
“Drones are becoming more sophisticated and popular and a short remote piloted flight can often deliver superior, cheaper, and faster results for businesses.”
Students will undertake a 10-day face-to-face training component with 14 individual unit assessments as well as a theory and flight testing under the regulated CASA framework.
TAFE NSW Team Leader of Aviation and Aviation Transport Security Andrew Trease said drone operators needed to understand the legal and technical aspects of flying and also benefit from industry-specific knowledge that is useful in the field.
“As businesses across the State continue to explore the many technological possibilities afforded by drones, TAFE NSW is responding by customising training to meet their requirements,” he said.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said drone use is not limited to private and commercial operators, our emergency services use drones as part of their response to floods, fires and environmental incidents.
“Rather than bashing through the bush to access remote areas, it’s often safer and quicker to send in a drone to assess the scene and work out what resources are needed,” he said.
For more information about studying aviation at TAFE NSW, please visit www.tafensw.com.au or call 131 601.