Course in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft
Online course of 300 h in ethics and governance of unmanned aircraft. 6 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (common rules in civil aviation, EASA), Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (UAS operations) and SORA (JARUS methodology) with EASA templates. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe the governance model for unmanned aircraft in Europe.
Apply ethical frameworks to unmanned flight.
Analyse the implications for privacy and data protection.
Assess third-party safety and the liability regime.
Evaluate the role of autonomy in decision-making.
Design organisational governance structures for operators.
Develop an integrating governance project for a UAS operation.
Who it's for
- UAS operations manager wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Operational safety manager wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Data protection officer wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Aviation regulatory consultant wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Technology ethics adviser wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- U-space technician wishing to specialise in Ethics and Governance of Unmanned Aircraft.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aviation sector.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 (common rules in civil aviation, EASA)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (UAS operations)
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (UAS systems)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 (U-space)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act)
- ISO 21384-3 (UAS operational procedures)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Operating categories and their risk logic1.2Operator, remote pilot and responsibilities1.3Registration of aircraft and operators1.4Standard scenarios and authorisations1.5Specific operational risk assessment1.6Geographical zones and flight restrictions1.7Remote identification and information exchange1.8Unmanned traffic management1.9Vocabulary and acronyms in the field1.10Exercise: classifying an operation in its category
2.1Ethical principles applicable to unmanned systems2.2Social benefits: emergencies, agriculture and inspection2.3Risks to uninvolved third parties2.4Unequal distribution of benefits and risks2.5Consent and public space2.6Social perception and acceptance of technology2.7Normalisation of aerial surveillance2.8Engineering ethics frameworks and professional codes2.9Limits of self-regulation in the sector2.10Practice: ethical analysis of a specific operation
3.1Image capture in public and private spaces3.2Legal basis for data processing3.3Minimisation and purpose limitation3.4Information for affected persons3.5Data protection impact assessment3.6Storage, encryption and access to recordings3.7Sharing data with third parties and authorities3.8Location data and tracking of individuals3.9Individuals' rights and how to respond to them3.10Practice: impact assessment of an operation
4.1Risk analysis for people on the ground4.2Protection zones and contingencies4.3Loss of link and automatic behaviour4.4Flight termination and limitation systems4.5Compulsory insurance and damage coverage4.6Civil liability and allocation among actors4.7Investigation of accidents and incidents4.8Occurrence reporting and safety culture4.9Cybersecurity of the link and the system4.10Practice: contingency plan for an operation
5.1Degrees of autonomy and their ethical implications5.2Meaningful human oversight5.3Bias in automatic detection and recognition5.4Explainability of system decisions5.5Decision logging and subsequent audit5.6Operator's internal policy and its governance5.7Staff training and qualification5.8Citizen complaint channels5.9Public transparency of operations5.10Practice: governance policy for an operator
6.1Choice of operation and its context6.2Regulatory framing and authorisations6.3Ethical analysis with explicit principles6.4Privacy impact assessment6.5Third-party risk analysis6.6Contingency and cybersecurity plan6.7Governance and transparency policy6.8Staff training plan6.9Dossier report6.10Defence of the work
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SORA (JARUS methodology) with EASA templates, QGIS, advanced Excel, NVivo, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Trials are studied on real SORA risk assessment procedures, analysis of incidents involving third parties, and design of organisational policies. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the governance model for unmanned aircraft in Europe.
Apply ethical frameworks to unmanned flight.
Analyse the implications for privacy and data protection.
Assess third-party safety and the liability regime.
Evaluate the role of autonomy in decision-making.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with SORA (JARUS methodology) with EASA templates, QGIS, advanced Excel, NVivo. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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