Master’s in Aircraft Certification Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in aircraft certification engineering. 12 modules covering Part 21, CS-25 and CS-23, type certification, ARP4754B and ARP4761A safety assessment, DO-178C, DO-254 and DO-160G, structural and flight test certification, design changes and new technologies, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the type certification process under Part 21.
Establish certification bases and means of compliance.
Develop systems in accordance with ARP4754B and carry out ARP4761A safety assessments.
Manage design assurance for airborne software and hardware.
Plan ground and flight certification tests.
Coordinate the relationship with the authority and compliance verification.
Manage design changes and supplemental type certificates.
Who it's for
- Certification engineers at aircraft manufacturers and design organisations.
- System safety engineers.
- Compliance verification engineers (CVE).
- Design assurance engineers.
- Equipment qualification engineers at aeronautical system suppliers.
- Design airworthiness managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join an aircraft manufacturer.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 748/2012 Part 21 (initial airworthiness)
- CS-25 (certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
- CS-23 (certification specifications for normal-category aeroplanes)
- SAE ARP4754B (guidelines for development of civil aircraft and systems)
- SAE ARP4761A (guidelines for conducting the safety assessment process)
- RTCA DO-178C (software considerations in airborne systems)
- RTCA DO-254 (design assurance guidance for airborne electronic hardware)
- RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
- IBM DOORS
- Cameo Systems Modeler
- Isograph Reliability Workbench
- MSC Nastran
- MATLAB/Simulink
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The Chicago Convention and Annex 81.2The Basic Regulation and Part 211.3Certification specifications (CS)1.4Differences between EASA and FAA1.5Bilateral validation agreements1.6Design organisations and their approval1.7The type certificate and its scope1.8Certification of unmanned aircraft1.9Lessons from the 737 MAX case1.10Case study: analysis of a type certificate
2.1Phases of the certification process2.2Technical familiarisation with the authority2.3Certification basis and special conditions2.4Means of compliance and their coding2.5Certification plan and compliance documents2.6Level of involvement of the authority2.7Compliance verification2.8Issue of the type certificate2.9Continued airworthiness data2.10Workshop: draft certification plan
3.1Structure of CS-25 and CS-233.2Flight and performance requirements3.3Structural and loads requirements3.4Design and construction3.5Powerplant installation3.6Equipment and systems3.7Crashworthiness and evacuation requirements3.8Specifications for engines and propellers3.9Specifications for electric aircraft3.10Practical exercise: compliance matrix for a subpart
4.1Aircraft and system development processes4.2Allocation of DAL levels4.3Requirements, validation and verification4.4System configuration management4.5Process assurance4.6Link with certification4.7Highly integrated systems4.8Model-based development4.9Lessons from recent programmes4.10Lab: requirements traceability in DOORS
5.1The CS 25.1309 safety requirement5.2Functional hazard assessment (FHA)5.3Preliminary system safety assessment (PSSA)5.4Fault tree analysis (FTA)5.5Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)5.6Common cause analysis (CCA)5.7System safety assessment (SSA)5.8Particular risks and zonal analysis5.9Probabilities and severity classification5.10Case study: FHA and FTA of a braking system
6.1DO-178C objectives6.2Software levels and processes6.3Software plans6.4Verification and structural coverage6.5Tools and qualification to DO-3306.6Model-based development to DO-3316.7Complex electronic hardware to DO-2546.8Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components6.9Interaction with the authority6.10Practical exercise: plan for software aspects of certification
7.1DO-160G environmental tests7.2Temperature, altitude and humidity7.3Vibration and shock7.4Radio-frequency susceptibility and emissions7.5Lightning and indirect effects7.6ETSO technical standards7.7Flammability tests7.8Qualification documentation7.9Management of deviations7.10Workshop: qualification plan for a piece of equipment
8.1Flight and ground loads8.2Full-scale static tests8.3Fatigue and damage tolerance8.4Materials and processes in certification8.5Certification of composite structures8.6Bird strike and hail impact8.7Aeroelasticity and flutter8.8Crashworthiness8.9Analysis versus test8.10Case study: structural test plan
9.1Organisation of flight testing9.2Flight test instrumentation9.3Performance and handling qualities9.4Stall tests9.5Systems tests9.6Icing conditions9.7Noise and environmental certification9.8Safety in flight testing9.9Certification of the flight manual9.10Practical exercise: performance data reduction
10.1Classification of major and minor changes10.2Supplemental type certificates10.3Design repairs10.4Design organisations and privileges10.5Changed product rule and reassessment10.6Cabin configurations10.7Installation of new systems10.8Fleet modifications10.9Validation of the change by foreign authorities10.10Case study: STC for a connectivity installation
11.1Electric and hybrid propulsion11.2eVTOL aircraft and SC-VTOL11.3Sustainable fuels and hydrogen11.4Autonomy and unmanned systems11.5Airborne artificial intelligence11.6Aircraft cybersecurity11.7Performance-based certification11.8Special conditions for new technologies11.9Regulatory challenges and international harmonisation11.10Workshop: certification basis for an eVTOL
12.1Selecting the product12.2Defining the certification basis12.3Certification plan12.4Safety assessment12.5Test plan12.6Compliance documentation12.7Programme risk analysis12.8Conclusions and recommendations12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online 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, so the programme is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is IBM DOORS, Cameo Systems Modeler, Isograph Reliability Workbench, MSC Nastran and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for drafting a certification plan, system safety analysis with FHA and FTA, and environmental qualification testing of equipment. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 748/2012 Part 21, CS-25, CS-23, SAE ARP4754B, SAE ARP4761A, RTCA DO-178C, RTCA DO-254 and RTCA DO-160G.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run 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.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with IBM DOORS, Cameo Systems Modeler, Isograph Reliability Workbench, MSC Nastran and MATLAB/Simulink, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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