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Master'sDefense, Military Engineering & Land Systems Applications open

Master’s in Fixed-Wing Aircraft Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in fixed-wing aircraft engineering, structured in 12 modules covering conceptual design, aerodynamics, performance, stability and control, structures, propulsion, systems, aeroelasticity, certification and flight testing, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Develop the conceptual design of fixed-wing aircraft.

02

Analyse aerodynamics and performance.

03

Evaluate stability, control and flying qualities.

04

Size structures using fatigue and damage-tolerance criteria.

05

Integrate the powerplant and aircraft systems.

06

Apply civil and military certification frameworks.

07

Manage the aircraft's life cycle and sustainability.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Aircraft design engineers looking to deepen their expertise in fixed-wing aircraft.
  • Aerodynamicists seeking a full view of the aircraft design process.
  • Aircraft structures engineers moving towards whole-aircraft design.
  • Flight mechanics engineers working on stability, control and flying qualities.
  • Certification engineers dealing with CS-23, CS-25 or military airworthiness.
  • Flight test engineers who want a stronger design background.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to enter the aeronautical industry.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • CS-25 (EASA certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
  • CS-23 (EASA certification specifications for normal-category aeroplanes)
  • MIL-HDBK-516C (airworthiness certification criteria)
  • EMAR 21 (European military airworthiness requirements)
  • MIL-STD-1797A (flying qualities of piloted aircraft)
  • MIL-STD-1530D (Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP))
  • SAE ARP4761 (guidelines for safety assessment of civil airborne systems)
  • OpenVSP
  • XFLR5
  • Ansys Fluent
  • MSC Nastran
  • MATLAB/Simulink
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Aircraft design process
  2. 1.2Mission requirements and specifications
  3. 1.3Initial weight estimation
  4. 1.4Constraint diagram
  5. 1.5Configuration selection
  6. 1.6Wing loading and thrust-to-weight ratio
  7. 1.7Sensitivity studies
  8. 1.8Transport, training and patrol aircraft
  9. 1.9Legal and ethical framework of state aviation
  10. 1.10Case study: conceptual sizing of a training aircraft
  1. 2.1Aerofoils
  2. 2.2Finite wing theory
  3. 2.3Aerodynamic drag and its breakdown
  4. 2.4High-lift devices
  5. 2.5Transonic aerodynamics
  6. 2.6Supersonic aerodynamics: fundamentals
  7. 2.7Wind tunnel testing
  8. 2.8CFD applied to design
  9. 2.9Aerodynamic interference
  10. 2.10Lab: drag polar of a configuration with CFD
  1. 3.1Performance equations
  2. 3.2Take-off and landing
  3. 3.3Climb and ceiling
  4. 3.4Range and endurance
  5. 3.5Turning and load factor
  6. 3.6Flight envelope
  7. 3.7Manoeuvre diagrams
  8. 3.8Effects of altitude and temperature
  9. 3.9One-engine-inoperative performance
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: range calculation for a patrol aircraft
  1. 4.1Longitudinal static stability
  2. 4.2Lateral-directional stability
  3. 4.3Aircraft dynamic modes
  4. 4.4Control surfaces
  5. 4.5Flying qualities: MIL-F-8785 and MIL-STD-1797
  6. 4.6Stability augmentation
  7. 4.7Fly-by-wire flight controls
  8. 4.8Control laws
  9. 4.9Flight simulation
  10. 4.10Lab: dynamic mode analysis in MATLAB
  1. 5.1Flight and ground loads
  2. 5.2Manoeuvre and gust envelope
  3. 5.3Wing and fuselage design
  4. 5.4Semi-monocoque structures
  5. 5.5Metallic and composite materials
  6. 5.6Fatigue and damage tolerance
  7. 5.7Structural integrity programme
  8. 5.8Finite element analysis
  9. 5.9Structural testing
  10. 5.10Case study: sizing of a wing spar
  1. 6.1Turbojets and turbofans
  2. 6.2Turboprops
  3. 6.3Powerplant selection
  4. 6.4Engine-airframe integration
  5. 6.5Air intakes and nozzles
  6. 6.6Specific fuel consumption
  7. 6.7Sustainable fuels
  8. 6.8Hybrid propulsion
  9. 6.9Engine certification
  10. 6.10Practical exercise: engine selection for a transport aircraft
  1. 7.1Hydraulic system
  2. 7.2Electrical system
  3. 7.3Fuel system
  4. 7.4Landing gear
  5. 7.5Environmental control and pressurisation systems
  6. 7.6Ice protection
  7. 7.7Oxygen and emergency systems
  8. 7.8Avionics
  9. 7.9Systems integration
  10. 7.10Workshop: electrical load analysis of an aircraft
  1. 8.1Divergence
  2. 8.2Control reversal
  3. 8.3Classical flutter
  4. 8.4Gust response
  5. 8.5Transonic aeroelasticity
  6. 8.6Flutter analysis
  7. 8.7Ground vibration testing
  8. 8.8Flight flutter testing
  9. 8.9Certification requirements
  10. 8.10Lab: flutter analysis with the p-k method
  1. 9.1Civil certification: CS-23 and CS-25
  2. 9.2Military airworthiness: EMAR
  3. 9.3MIL-HDBK-516
  4. 9.4Certification basis
  5. 9.5Means of compliance
  6. 9.6Certification testing
  7. 9.7Continuing airworthiness
  8. 9.8Design and production organisations
  9. 9.9System safety: ARP4761
  10. 9.10Case study: certification basis of a state aircraft
  1. 10.1Test organisation
  2. 10.2Instrumentation
  3. 10.3Performance testing
  4. 10.4Flying qualities testing
  5. 10.5Systems testing
  6. 10.6Envelope expansion
  7. 10.7Risk management
  8. 10.8Data analysis
  9. 10.9Reporting
  10. 10.10Practical exercise: performance test plan
  1. 11.1Aircraft manufacturing
  2. 11.2Maintenance and continuing airworthiness
  3. 11.3Life extension
  4. 11.4Upgrades
  5. 11.5Life-cycle cost
  6. 11.6Environmental impact of aviation
  7. 11.7Sustainable fuels
  8. 11.8End of life and recycling
  9. 11.9Professional ethics
  10. 11.10Case study: life-extension analysis of a fleet
  1. 12.1Mission requirements
  2. 12.2Conceptual design
  3. 12.3Aerodynamic analysis
  4. 12.4Performance analysis
  5. 12.5Preliminary structural design
  6. 12.6Systems integration
  7. 12.7Certification strategy
  8. 12.8Conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

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 can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenVSP, XFLR5, Ansys Fluent, MSC Nastran and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for conceptual aircraft design and sizing, aerodynamic analysis with CFD and wind tunnel, flutter analysis and stability. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: CS-25, CS-23, MIL-HDBK-516C, EMAR 21, MIL-STD-1797A, MIL-STD-1530D, SAE ARP4761.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of CS-25, CS-23 and MIL-HDBK-516C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:OpenVSP, XFLR5, Ansys Fluent, MSC Nastran and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete fixed-wing aircraft design project, from mission requirements to certification strategy, defended before a panel.
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.

Conceptual sizing
Size a training aircraft from its mission requirements and constraint diagram.
CFD drag polar
Obtain the drag polar of a configuration using CFD.
Dynamic mode analysis
Analyse the aircraft's dynamic modes in MATLAB.
Flutter analysis
Run a flutter analysis using the p-k method.
Master's Thesis
A complete aircraft design project covering aerodynamics, performance, structures, systems and certification strategy, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Aircraft design engineerAerodynamics engineerAircraft structures engineerFlight mechanics engineerCertification engineerFlight test engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • 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 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 OpenVSP, XFLR5, Ansys Fluent, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme 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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