AVIA2025
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Introduction to Airborne Drone Management

School of Aviation

Faculty of Science

T3, 2022

2
1. Staff

Position Name Email Consultation
times and
locations
Contact Details
Course
Convenor
(direct all
initial inquiries
to the course
convenor)
Tay Koo t.koo@unsw.edu.au TBA Email /Teams
preferred
Office +56737
Course contributors
Human factors
& safety
Belinda Dinnell
Human factors
& safety
Brett Molesworth
Logistics and
engineering
Gabriel Lodewijks
Flying
operations
Malcolm Good
Flying
operations
Martin Jamieson
Law and
ethics
Ron Bartsch
Management
& research
applications
Tay Koo
Meteorology/
Teaching
assistant
Matt Dunn
Physics Pong-lung Lau
Teaching
assistant
TBA

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2. Course information
Units of credit: 6
Pre-requisite(s): 48 UoC

Teaching times and locations:
This 6 UoC course is an online nonsynchronous course.
2.1 Course summary
Airborne drones (unmanned aerial vehicles (or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)) of varying shapes and sizes are
permeating the civil aviation sector across recreational, commercial and research activities. The ability to safely
and efficiently manage airborne drones requires fundamental aviation knowledge. This course will introduce
these fundamentals of RPA management to students through a suite of topics including a selection of basic
aeronautical knowledge, RPA ethics and law, human factors and safety, logistics, and RPA research methods
and protocols.

2.2 Course aims
This online course aims to introduce and develop aviation knowledge to help students become safe and effective
users and managers of RPA (as recreationists, commercial business, pilot, scientist, rail track inspector, or surf
life saver, etc.). Students will acquire relevant aeronautical and risk management skills, learn the principles
underpinning Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s regulatory approach towards RPA, as well as to examine practical
examples of commercial RPA operational planning and management. In addition, the course will be at a level to
enable basic aeronautical knowledge accessible for General Education students, as well as to further build and
reinforce the knowledge for aviation students wishing to broaden their career pathways or/and undertake further
studies and research in this area.
2.3 Course learning outcomes (CLO)
At the successful completion of this course the student should be able to:
1 Explain the basic aeronautical principles relevant for remotely piloted aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft
systems relevant for aviation management
2 Demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge and tools used for the safe management of airspace in
Australia.
3 Demonstrate an understanding of the human factors and principles relevant for safe and efficient remote
piloting and remotely piloted aircraft systems
4 Describe and explain the legislative and regulatory framework guiding the governance of remotely piloted
aircraft in Australia
5 Illustrate the logistical constraints and challenges of remotely piloted aircraft for practical applications
6 Appraise and critically evaluate the operational feasibility of a remotely piloted aircraft mission under varying
circumstances
7 Discuss the advantages and limitations of remotely piloted aircraft for data collection and research in relation to
other existing airborne methods.
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2.4 Relationship between course and program learning outcomes
and assessments

Course
Learning
Outcome
(CLO)
LO Statement Program Learning
Outcome (PLO)
Related Tasks &
Assessment
CLO 1 Explain the basic aeronautical principles
relevant for remotely piloted aircraft and
remotely piloted aircraft systems relevant for
aviation management
quiz, group-
project, final
exam
CLO 2 Demonstrate an understanding of the
knowledge and tools used for the safe
management of airspace in Australia.
quiz, group-
project
CLO 3 Demonstrate an understanding of the human
factors and principles relevant for safe and
efficient remote piloting and remotely piloted
aircraft systems
quiz, group-
project, final
exam
CLO 4 Describe and explain the legislative and
regulatory framework guiding the governance of
remotely piloted aircraft in Australia
quiz, group-
project, final
exam
CLO 5 Illustrate the logistical constraints and
challenges of remotely piloted aircraft for
practical applications
quiz, group-
project, final
exam
CLO 6 Appraise and critically evaluate the operational
feasibility of a remotely piloted aircraft mission
under varying circumstances
quiz, group-
project
CLO 7 Discuss the advantages and limitations of
remotely piloted aircraft for data collection and
research in relation to other existing airborne
methods.
quiz, group-
project, final
exam


3. Strategies and approaches to learning
3.1 Learning and teaching activities
Several different methods are used in the course to assist in achieving student learning outcomes.
Each unit will have allocated readings and review questions to assist students achieve learning and
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provide a logical structure for the topics and concepts introduced in the course. The group project is
designed to provide a context in which students can apply learning to ‘real world’ problems and assist
students appreciate, analyse and evaluate the complexity of problems, with the goal of promoting the
values of teamwork and grow individual resilience in working in teams. The final exam will assess
student level of understanding and knowledge through a mix of numerical, short-answers and mini-
essay type questions.
3.2 Expectations of students
Units are designed to provide students with an introduction to core concepts and theories to develop a
deeper understanding of a selection of key issues in airborne drone management. Practical examples
will be used where appropriate. This course requires students undertake a minimum of 5 hours of
learning per week. It is expected that students undertake the necessary reading and complete the
exercises available on the online module. It is a requirement that all students complete the given
assessments by the due date. Students are expected to equally contribute to their team project. Peer
evaluation will be undertaken as part of the team assignment. Students are expected to follow
University policy and code of conduct.

4. Course schedule and structure
This course consists of 10 weeks of online module. Please note topics and activities are subject to
minor changes.
Week Topic [Module] Activity [Learning opportunity] Related
CLO
Week 1 Introduction
Basic aeronautical management
knowledge (BAMK) I

Basic drone propulsion, licensing
1,2,4
Week 2 Basic aeronautical management
knowledge (BAMK) II
Airspace management, aeronautical charts 1,2
Week 3 Basic aeronautical management
knowledge (BAMK) III
Basic meteorology 1,2
Week 4 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
(RPAS) Law and Ethics I
Legislative framework 2,4
Week 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System
(RPAS) Law and Ethics II
Drones and Privacy 2,4
Week 6 Flexibility week Team project online meeting with Tay 3,6
Week 7 Human Factors and Safety
Management in RPAS I
Human errors in drone accidents 3,6
Week 8 Human Factors and Safety
Management in RPAS II
Controlling multiple drones and information
processing demands
6,7
Week 9 RPAS aerial survey Aerial surveying and mapping 5,6,7
Week 10 RPAS and logistics Travelling salesmen problem 5,6
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5. Assessment
5.1 Assessment tasks

Assessment task Length Weight Mark Due date
Assessment 1: Quiz online TBA 20% Week 4 Friday (1 hour
in the 6am-6pm
window)
Assessment 2: Quiz online TBA 20% Week 8 Friday (1 hour
in the 6am-6pm
window)
Assessment 3: Team project

TBA 30% Week 10 Sunday
11:55pm due
Assessment 4: Final exam TBA 30% Official exam period

Further information
UNSW grading system: https://student.unsw.edu.au/grades
UNSW assessment policy: https://student.unsw.edu.au/assessment
5.2 Assessment criteria and standards
In general, following marking criteria will be used.

Mark range
85% or above The work is difficult to fault, no significant errors or/and deficiencies
75%-85%
Very good. No significant errors or/and deficiencies, and
demonstrates very good understanding of the materials
presented
65%-75% Some significant errors or/and deficiencies but demonstrated good knowledge and structure.
50%-65% Work is in an acceptable form and demonstrates basic knowledge, but has several significant deficiencies
Below 50% A number of major flaws. Evidence of lack of basic knowledge.

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5.3 Submission of assessment tasks
All assessments must be submitted on time. Late assignments will not be accepted unless a formal
special consideration application has been submitted and approved. Turnitin similarity score will be
used.
5.4. Feedback on assessment
The group assignment will be graded via Turnitin. Overall written feedback will be given to the class.
All assessments will be graded within 2 weeks of submission.
6. Academic integrity, referencing and plagiarism
Referencing is a way of acknowledging the sources of information that you use to research your
assignments. You need to provide a reference whenever you draw on someone else's words, ideas or
research. Not referencing other people's work can constitute plagiarism.
Further information about referencing styles can be located at https://student.unsw.edu.au/referencing
Academic integrity is fundamental to success at university. Academic integrity can be defined as a
commitment to six fundamental values in academic pursuits: honesty, trust, fairness, respect,
responsibility and courage.1 At UNSW, this means that your work must be your own, and others’
ideas should be appropriately acknowledged. If you don’t follow these rules, plagiarism may be
detected in your work.
Further information about academic integrity and plagiarism can be located at:
• The Current Students site https://student.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism, and
• The ELISE training site http://subjectguides.library.unsw.edu.au/elise/presenting
The Conduct and Integrity Unit provides further resources to assist you to understand your conduct
obligations as a student: https://student.unsw.edu.au/conduct.
7. Readings and resources
Essential readings will be provided via Moodle
Civil Aviation Safety Authority www.casa.gov.au

8. Administrative matters

Katie Wang
Undergraduate Studies
School of Aviation
Phone: + 61 2 9385 5756
Email: aviab@unsw.edu.au

1 International Center for Academic Integrity, ‘The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity’, T.
Fishman (ed), Clemson University, 2013.
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9. Additional support for students
• The Current Students Gateway: https://student.unsw.edu.au/
• Academic Skills and Support: https://student.unsw.edu.au/academic-skills
• Student Wellbeing, Health and Safety: https://student.unsw.edu.au/wellbeing
• Disability Support Services: https://student.unsw.edu.au/disability-services
• UNSW IT Service Centre: https://www.it.unsw.edu.au/students/index.html