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Master’s in Vertiport Design and Operation Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in vertiport design and operation engineering, with 12 modules covering vertiport fundamentals, design regulations, geometry and operational areas, structures and building integration, visual aids, energy and charging, fire safety, capacity and operations, airspace integration, passenger experience and viability, 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

Understand vertiport types and their functional requirements.

02

Apply vertiport and heliport design regulations.

03

Design the geometry, obstacle volumes and visual aids.

04

Size the electrical charging infrastructure.

05

Plan battery fire safety.

06

Model vertiport capacity and operations.

07

Assess the environmental and economic viability of the project.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Vertiport design engineers.
  • Aeronautical infrastructure planners.
  • Vertiport operations managers.
  • Urban air mobility consultants.
  • Airport fire safety specialists.
  • Energy infrastructure engineers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter airport infrastructure.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EASA PTS-VPT-DSN (prototype technical specifications for the design of VFR vertiports)
  • ICAO Annex 14, Volume II (heliport standards)
  • FAA Engineering Brief No. 105A (vertiport design)
  • Regulation (EU) 139/2014 (aerodrome requirements and procedures)
  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 (U-space regulatory framework)
  • NFPA 418 (standard for heliports)
  • ICAO Doc 9261 (Heliport Manual)
  • AutoCAD
  • Revit
  • AnyLogic
  • QGIS
  • SketchUp
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Typologies: vertihub, vertiport and vertistop
  2. 1.2Differences from heliports
  3. 1.3Requirements derived from VCA aircraft
  4. 1.4Functions of a vertiport
  5. 1.5Project life cycle
  6. 1.6Stakeholders: operator, city and authority
  7. 1.7Reference projects in Europe and Asia
  8. 1.8Preliminary site analysis
  9. 1.9Urban siting constraints
  10. 1.10Case study: analysis of a reference vertiport
  1. 2.1EASA Prototype Technical Specifications
  2. 2.2ICAO Annex 14 Volume II
  3. 2.3FAA Engineering Brief 105A
  4. 2.4National heliport requirements
  5. 2.5Regulation (EU) 139/2014 as applied
  6. 2.6Aeronautical easements and obstacle studies
  7. 2.7Urban planning and building regulations
  8. 2.8Accessibility requirements
  9. 2.9Management of regulatory changes
  10. 2.10Workshop: regulatory compliance matrix for a design
  1. 3.1FATO and TLOF
  2. 3.2Safety areas
  3. 3.3D-value and design dimensions
  4. 3.4Approach and take-off profiles
  5. 3.5Obstacle-free volume (VTOL OFV)
  6. 3.6Obstacle limitation surfaces
  7. 3.7Stands
  8. 3.8Ground and air taxi routes
  9. 3.9Slopes and pavement strength
  10. 3.10Practical: geometric design of a rooftop vertiport
  1. 4.1Dynamic landing loads
  2. 4.2Structural design of elevated platforms
  3. 4.3Integration into car parks and stations
  4. 4.4Downwash and effects on the surroundings
  5. 4.5Vibration and transmission to buildings
  6. 4.6Materials and anti-slip surfaces
  7. 4.7Drainage and fluid management
  8. 4.8Fall protection
  9. 4.9Modularity and temporary vertiports
  10. 4.10Case study: structural reinforcement of an existing roof
  1. 5.1TLOF and FATO markings
  2. 5.2TLOF and FATO perimeter lighting
  3. 5.3Approach guidance systems
  4. 5.4Wind indicators
  5. 5.5Obstacle marking and lighting
  6. 5.6Lighting in urban environments
  7. 5.7Aids for night operations
  8. 5.8Maintenance of visual aids
  9. 5.9Digital and augmented aids
  10. 5.10Practical: night lighting plan
  1. 6.1Energy demand of an eVTOL fleet
  2. 6.2High-power chargers
  3. 6.3Grid connection
  4. 6.4Stationary battery energy storage
  5. 6.5Integration of renewables
  6. 6.6Battery swapping
  7. 6.7Thermal management during charging
  8. 6.8Charging connector standards
  9. 6.9Smart demand management
  10. 6.10Lab: electrical sizing of a vertihub
  1. 7.1Fire risk in Li-ion batteries
  2. 7.2Suitable extinguishing agents
  3. 7.3Rescue and firefighting categories
  4. 7.4Detection and suppression
  5. 7.5Emergency plans
  6. 7.6Passenger evacuation
  7. 7.7Coordination with urban fire services
  8. 7.8Management of spills and toxic gases
  9. 7.9Staff training
  10. 7.10Case study: emergency plan for thermal runaway
  1. 8.1Vertiport capacity modelling
  2. 8.2Turnaround times
  3. 8.3Management of pads and stands
  4. 8.4Slot scheduling
  5. 8.5Discrete-event simulation
  6. 8.6Passenger and baggage handling
  7. 8.7Turnaround procedures
  8. 8.8Line maintenance
  9. 8.9Performance indicators
  10. 8.10Lab: capacity simulation with discrete events
  1. 9.1Approach procedures
  2. 9.2Coordination with U-space and ATC
  3. 9.3Vertiport information services
  4. 9.4Local weather management
  5. 9.5Urban turbulence and wind around buildings
  6. 9.6Missed approach procedures
  7. 9.7Vertiports in controlled airspace
  8. 9.8Vertiport aeronautical data
  9. 9.9Vertiport air-ground communications
  10. 9.10Practical: design of arrival and departure procedures
  1. 10.1Passenger flow and terminal design
  2. 10.2Security control and screening
  3. 10.3Digitalisation and biometrics
  4. 10.4Universal accessibility in the terminal
  5. 10.5Intermodality with public transport
  6. 10.6Physical security and access control
  7. 10.7Cybersecurity of vertiport systems
  8. 10.8Signage and wayfinding
  9. 10.9Comfort and services
  10. 10.10Case study: terminal design for a vertihub
  1. 11.1Vertiport noise study
  2. 11.2Visual and landscape impact
  3. 11.3Environmental assessment procedure for the project
  4. 11.4Citizen participation and public consultation
  5. 11.5Business model and financing
  6. 11.6Investment and operating costs
  7. 11.7Charges and revenue models
  8. 11.8Economic sensitivity analysis
  9. 11.9Phased planning
  10. 11.10Practical: business plan for a vertiport
  1. 12.1Site selection
  2. 12.2Demand and capacity study
  3. 12.3Geometric and obstacle design
  4. 12.4Structural and energy integration
  5. 12.5Safety and emergency plan
  6. 12.6Vertiport operating procedures
  7. 12.7Environmental and noise assessment
  8. 12.8Economic viability and financing
  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 AutoCAD, Revit, AnyLogic, QGIS and SketchUp, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for geometric design of rooftop vertiports, capacity and turnaround simulation, and obstacle and approach studies. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: EASA PTS-VPT-DSN, ICAO Annex 14 Volume II (Heliports), FAA Engineering Brief No. 105A, Regulation (EU) 139/2014, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664, NFPA 418, ICAO Doc 9261.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EASA PTS-VPT-DSN, ICAO Annex 14 Volume II and FAA Engineering Brief 105A applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:AutoCAD, Revit, AnyLogic, QGIS and SketchUp, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:a complete vertiport project, from site selection to economic viability, 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.

Site, demand and capacity
Select the site and study demand and capacity for the vertiport.
Geometric and obstacle design
Design the vertiport geometry and its obstacle-free volumes.
Structural, energy and safety integration
Integrate the structure and charging infrastructure and draw up the safety and emergency plan.
Operations and viability
Define operating procedures and assess environmental impact and economic viability.
Master's Thesis
Complete vertiport project, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Vertiport design engineerAeronautical infrastructure plannerVertiport operations managerUrban air mobility consultantAirport fire safety specialistEnergy infrastructure 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 AutoCAD, Revit, AnyLogic, QGIS and SketchUp, 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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