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Postgraduate DiplomaAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Diploma in Cargo Operations, ULD and Dangerous Goods

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in cargo operations, ULD and dangerous goods. 8 modules covering air cargo operations, ULD, cargo weight and balance, the dangerous goods regulatory framework, classification and packing, acceptance and emergencies, and special cargo and security, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand how air cargo operations are organised.

02

Select and build ULDs in line with the regulations.

03

Prepare loading plans within weight and balance limits.

04

Apply dangerous goods regulations.

05

Classify, pack and document dangerous goods.

06

Manage acceptance and emergency response.

07

Plan the safe transport of special cargo.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Air cargo agents moving into more technical operational roles.
  • Dangerous goods technicians at airlines, handlers or freight forwarders.
  • Load planners and weight and balance controllers.
  • Cargo terminal supervisors.
  • Cargo security managers.
  • Cargo operations managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the airline industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ICAO Annex 18 (The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air)
  • ICAO Doc 9284 (Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air)
  • IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) (industry rules for shipping dangerous goods)
  • IATA ULD Regulations (ULDR) (ULD specifications and handling)
  • Regulation (EU) 965/2012 (SPA.DG) (approval to transport dangerous goods)
  • ETSO-C90d (certification of cargo pallets, nets and containers)
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 (aviation security measures, including cargo)
  • IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) (transport of live animals)
  • CHAMP Cargospot
  • Hermes Cargo
  • Lido/Load&Trim
  • IATA DG AutoCheck
  • SAP TM
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Structure of the air cargo market
  2. 1.2Business models: integrators and combination carriers
  3. 1.3Freighters, belly holds and combi aircraft
  4. 1.4Documentation: AWB and manifests
  5. 1.5e-freight and Cargo-IMP messaging
  6. 1.6Cargo terminals and handling
  7. 1.7Export, import and transit flows
  8. 1.8Cargo performance indicators
  9. 1.9Applicable customs regulations
  10. 1.10Workshop: document flow for an export shipment
  1. 2.1Types of containers and pallets
  2. 2.2IATA ULD identification codes
  3. 2.3Contours and aircraft compatibility
  4. 2.4Nets, restraints and tie-downs
  5. 2.5Inspection and allowable damage
  6. 2.6IATA ULD Regulations
  7. 2.7ULD fleet management and tracking
  8. 2.8ULD build-up and acceptance
  9. 2.9Certification under TSO-C90 and ETSO
  10. 2.10Practical: building a pallet within the contour
  1. 3.1Floor structural limitations
  2. 3.2Linear and area loads
  3. 3.3Loading plan and load sheet
  4. 3.4Centre of gravity and envelope
  5. 3.5Aircraft cargo loading systems
  6. 3.6Locks and restraint systems
  7. 3.7Cargo shift and its risks
  8. 3.8LDM and CPM messages
  9. 3.9Load control software
  10. 3.10Laboratory: loading plan for a wide-body freighter
  1. 4.1ICAO Annex 18
  2. 4.2ICAO Technical Instructions
  3. 4.3IATA DGR
  4. 4.4Hazard classes and divisions
  5. 4.5Forbidden goods and exceptions
  6. 4.6State and operator variations
  7. 4.7Shipper and operator responsibilities
  8. 4.8Function-based CBTA training
  9. 4.9Regulation (EU) 965/2012 Part SPA.DG
  10. 4.10Case study: identifying dangerous goods in a consignment
  1. 5.1Dangerous goods list
  2. 5.2UN numbers and proper shipping names
  3. 5.3Packing groups
  4. 5.4Packing instructions
  5. 5.5UN-specification packaging and marking
  6. 5.6Hazard and handling labels
  7. 5.7Shipper's declaration
  8. 5.8Lithium batteries in cargo
  9. 5.9Limited and excepted quantities
  10. 5.10Practical: preparing the documentation for a lithium battery shipment
  1. 6.1Acceptance checklist
  2. 6.2Segregation of incompatible goods
  3. 6.3Loading on passenger and cargo aircraft
  4. 6.4NOTOC notification to the captain
  5. 6.5Detection of leaks and damage
  6. 6.6In-flight emergency response
  7. 6.7Ground emergency procedures
  8. 6.8Reporting of dangerous goods occurrences
  9. 6.9Undeclared dangerous goods
  10. 6.10Case study: managing an incident involving undeclared dangerous goods
  1. 7.1Perishables and the cold chain
  2. 7.2CEIV Pharma pharmaceutical products
  3. 7.3Live animals and LAR regulations
  4. 7.4Human remains and valuables
  5. 7.5Oversized and heavy cargo
  6. 7.6ACC3 cargo security
  7. 7.7X-ray cargo screening
  8. 7.8Known consignor and regulated agent
  9. 7.9Cybersecurity in cargo systems
  10. 7.10Case study: transporting temperature-controlled vaccines
  1. 8.1Description of the operational scenario
  2. 8.2Selection of ULD and aircraft
  3. 8.3Loading and balance plan
  4. 8.4Dangerous goods analysis
  5. 8.5Acceptance procedures
  6. 8.6Dangerous goods emergency response
  7. 8.7Cargo security measures
  8. 8.8Performance indicators
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is CHAMP Cargospot, Hermes Cargo, Lido/Load&Trim, IATA DG AutoCheck and SAP TM, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: acceptance of dangerous goods shipments, load and balance planning for freighters, and ULD build-up and inspection. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: ICAO Annex 18; ICAO Doc 9284; IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR); IATA ULD Regulations (ULDR); Regulation (EU) 965/2012 (SPA.DG); ETSO-C90d; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998; IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ICAO Annex 18, ICAO Doc 9284 and the IATA DGR applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:CHAMP Cargospot, Hermes Cargo, Lido/Load&Trim, IATA DG AutoCheck, SAP TM, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete cargo operations project covering ULD and aircraft selection, load planning, dangerous goods analysis, acceptance, emergency response and security, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Operational scenario and aircraft
Describe the operational scenario and select the appropriate ULDs and aircraft.
Load and balance plan
Prepare the loading plan within the aircraft's weight and balance limits.
Dangerous goods analysis
Classify the dangerous goods in the consignment and define the acceptance procedures.
Emergency and security measures
Plan the emergency response and the cargo security measures for the operation.
Final project
Define performance indicators and present the report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Air cargo agentDangerous goods technicianLoad and balance plannerCargo terminal supervisorCargo security managerCargo operations manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with CHAMP Cargospot, Hermes Cargo, Lido/Load&Trim, IATA DG AutoCheck, SAP TM, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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