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Master’s in Lightning and HIRF Protection Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in lightning and HIRF protection engineering, with 12 modules covering the aircraft electromagnetic environment, lightning zoning and waveforms, direct and indirect effects, HIRF, protection design, certification testing, electromagnetic simulation and continuing airworthiness, 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

Analyse the lightning and HIRF environment of aircraft.

02

Apply lightning zoning and waveforms.

03

Design protection against direct effects.

04

Assess indirect effects on systems and wiring.

05

Plan lightning and HIRF certification tests.

06

Simulate electromagnetic phenomena in aircraft.

07

Develop a complete lightning and HIRF protection project.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Lightning protection engineers.
  • Electromagnetic compatibility engineers.
  • Certification engineers handling lightning and HIRF compliance.
  • Electromagnetic simulation engineers.
  • EMC test engineers.
  • Composite structures engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aeronautical sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • SAE ARP5412B (aircraft lightning environment and waveforms)
  • SAE ARP5414B (aircraft lightning zoning)
  • SAE ARP5416A (aircraft lightning test methods)
  • RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
  • EUROCAE ED-107A (guide to certification of aircraft in a HIRF environment)
  • FAA AC 20-136B (aircraft electrical and electronic system lightning protection)
  • FAA AC 20-158A (certification of aircraft electrical and electronic systems for operation in HIRF)
  • CS-25 (certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
  • CST Studio Suite
  • Altair FEKO
  • ANSYS HFSS
  • EMA3D
  • MATLAB
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Phenomenology of atmospheric lightning
  2. 1.2Probability of lightning strikes on aircraft
  3. 1.3High-intensity radiated field environments
  4. 1.4HIRF sources: radars and transmitters
  5. 1.5Direct and indirect effects
  6. 1.6Metallic versus composite aircraft
  7. 1.7Historical lightning incidents
  8. 1.8EASA and FAA certification framework
  9. 1.9Relationship with electromagnetic compatibility
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of an in-flight lightning strike
  1. 2.1Strike zones according to ARP5414
  2. 2.2Zones 1, 2 and 3 and their sub-zones
  3. 2.3Zoning methods by testing
  4. 2.4ARP5412 current waveforms
  5. 2.5Components A, B, C and D
  6. 2.6Voltage waveforms
  7. 2.7Multiple-stroke and multiple-burst waveforms
  8. 2.8Lightning environment for helicopters
  9. 2.9Zoning of composite aircraft
  10. 2.10Lab: zoning of a regional aircraft
  1. 3.1Melt-through and puncture damage
  2. 3.2Damage in composite materials
  3. 3.3Surface protection with meshes
  4. 3.4Radome protection
  5. 3.5Sparking in fuel tanks
  6. 3.6Protection of fuel systems
  7. 3.7Joints and fastener interfaces
  8. 3.8Rotor blade protection
  9. 3.9Direct effects testing
  10. 3.10Practical: protection design for a composite panel
  1. 4.1Current coupling into cables
  2. 4.2Transient levels at equipment
  3. 4.3Cable currents and induced voltages
  4. 4.4DO-160 Section 22 test categories
  5. 4.5Harness shielding
  6. 4.6Equipment input protection
  7. 4.7Coupling analysis by simulation
  8. 4.8Aircraft-level testing
  9. 4.9Design margins
  10. 4.10Workshop: calculation of induced transients
  1. 5.1Certifiable field levels
  2. 5.2HIRF environments I, II and III
  3. 5.3Relevant frequency bands
  4. 5.4HIRF certification requirements
  5. 5.5System criticality classification
  6. 5.6Fuselage attenuation
  7. 5.7Catastrophic functions and risks
  8. 5.8Requirements for helicopters
  9. 5.9Evolution of requirements
  10. 5.10Lab: assessment of field levels in the cockpit
  1. 6.1Layered protection philosophy
  2. 6.2Structural shielding
  3. 6.3Electrical bonding management
  4. 6.4Current return paths in composites
  5. 6.5Protected wiring design
  6. 6.6Filters and transient suppressors
  7. 6.7Cable separation and segregation
  8. 6.8Avionics protection
  9. 6.9Maintenance of protection
  10. 6.10Practical: bonding plan for an aircraft
  1. 7.1High-current lightning tests
  2. 7.2Bonding and connection tests
  3. 7.3Cable injection tests
  4. 7.4Low-level HIRF tests
  5. 7.5High-level HIRF tests
  6. 7.6Reverberation chamber tests
  7. 7.7Equipment testing according to DO-160
  8. 7.8Test laboratories
  9. 7.9Certification reports
  10. 7.10Workshop: cable injection test plan
  1. 8.1FDTD and MoM numerical methods
  2. 8.2Simulation of lightning currents
  3. 8.3Modelling of complete aircraft
  4. 8.4Simulation of cable coupling
  5. 8.5HIRF simulation of cockpits
  6. 8.6Validation against tests
  7. 8.7CST and FEKO tools
  8. 8.8Limitations of simulation
  9. 8.9Use of simulation in certification
  10. 8.10Lab: lightning current simulation in CST
  1. 9.1Challenges of composite structures
  2. 9.2Current return networks
  3. 9.3Expanded metal foils
  4. 9.4Electric aircraft and high voltage
  5. 9.5Lightning effects on batteries
  6. 9.6eVTOL and new configurations
  7. 9.7Protection of fly-by-wire systems
  8. 9.8Unmanned aircraft
  9. 9.9Lessons from recent programmes
  10. 9.10Case study: protection of a composite eVTOL
  1. 10.1CS-25.1316 and CS-25.1317 requirements
  2. 10.2AC 20-136 and AC 20-158 requirements
  3. 10.3ED-84 and ED-107 documents
  4. 10.4RTCA DO-160 Sections 20 and 22
  5. 10.5SAE ARP5412, 5414 and 5415 standards
  6. 10.6Lightning and HIRF certification plan
  7. 10.7Means of compliance
  8. 10.8Coordination with the authority
  9. 10.9Maintaining certification
  10. 10.10Practical: lightning certification plan
  1. 11.1Inspection after a lightning strike
  2. 11.2Repairs of protection features
  3. 11.3Degradation of electrical bonding
  4. 11.4Protection maintenance programmes
  5. 11.5Corrosion and its effect
  6. 11.6Modifications and their impact
  7. 11.7Strike records
  8. 11.8Technician training
  9. 11.9Fleet data analysis
  10. 11.10Workshop: post-lightning-strike inspection procedure
  1. 12.1Definition of the aircraft and systems
  2. 12.2Lightning zoning
  3. 12.3Direct effects analysis
  4. 12.4Indirect effects analysis
  5. 12.5HIRF environment assessment
  6. 12.6Protection design
  7. 12.7Test and certification plan
  8. 12.8Conclusions and future work
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis: report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is CST Studio Suite, Altair FEKO, ANSYS HFSS, EMA3D and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for high-current lightning tests, cable injection tests and HIRF tests in reverberation chambers. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: SAE ARP5412B, SAE ARP5414B, SAE ARP5416A, RTCA DO-160G, EUROCAE ED-107A, FAA AC 20-136B, FAA AC 20-158A, CS-25.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of SAE ARP5412B, SAE ARP5414B and SAE ARP5416A applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:CST Studio Suite, Altair FEKO, ANSYS HFSS, EMA3D and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a complete lightning and HIRF protection project for an aircraft, 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.

Lightning zoning
Define the aircraft and its systems and establish the lightning strike zones.
Direct and indirect effects
Analyse direct effects on the structure and induced transients on wiring and equipment.
HIRF environment assessment
Assess the HIRF environment and the attenuation provided by the fuselage.
Protection design and test plan
Design the protection measures and the test and certification plan.
Master's Thesis
Complete lightning and HIRF protection project, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Lightning protection engineerElectromagnetic compatibility engineerCertification engineerElectromagnetic simulation engineerEMC test engineerComposite structures 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 CST Studio Suite, Altair FEKO, ANSYS HFSS, EMA3D and MATLAB, 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 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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