Diploma in Military Flight Testing
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in military flight testing. 8 modules covering flight test organisation, test instrumentation, performance and flying qualities, envelope expansion and aeroelasticity, systems and avionics, data analysis and modelling, and safety, airworthiness and ethics, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Military Flight Testing — studying from Australia
Defence is one of Australia's largest engineering employers, with major programmes in land systems, naval platforms, aircraft and integrated systems managed through the Department of Defence. Land systems engineering supports armoured vehicles, weapons and logistics equipment, often through prime contractors and local industry partners. Industry involvement is strongly encouraged through the Defence industry policy framework. Engineers work on sustainment, capability development, systems integration and safety assurance, typically in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and regional defence precincts.
Fees for Australia: A$1,420 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
How does defence engineering recognition work in Australia?
Defence engineering in Australia is largely run through the Department of Defence and its industry partners, which set their own security clearance and qualification requirements. Engineers Australia is the professional body for accreditation. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide.
Which Australian employers hire in defence and land systems?
Australia has defence prime contractors, the Department of Defence, and specialist land systems firms. Many of these roles require Australian security clearances, which depend on citizenship and background checks rather than course completion. Ask employers how they weigh private qualifications against experience and clearance requirements.
Is the course manageable with a job, and does it need a visa?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900. An assigned technical tutor supports you, fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
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
Organise flight test campaigns with safety criteria.
Configure instrumentation and telemetry systems.
Evaluate aircraft performance and flying qualities.
Plan flight envelope expansion and flutter testing.
Validate avionics and propulsion systems in flight.
Analyse test data and identify aircraft models.
Apply military airworthiness regulations.
Who it's for
- Flight test engineers.
- FTI instrumentation engineers looking to broaden their view of the full test campaign.
- Flight data analysts.
- Airworthiness specialists.
- Flying qualities engineers.
- Test safety managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the defence sector.
What you'll work with
- EMAR 21 (certification of military aircraft)
- MIL-HDBK-516C (airworthiness certification criteria)
- MIL-STD-1797A (flying qualities)
- IRIG 106 (telemetry standard)
- EMAR 145 (maintenance organisations)
- MIL-A-8870C (flutter and aeroelasticity requirements)
- CS-25 (EASA certification specifications)
- MATLAB
- Python pandas
- IADS
- LabVIEW
- X-Plane
8 modules
1.1Objectives of test campaigns1.2Development and qualification phases1.3Flight test centres1.4Integrated test teams1.5In-flight risk management1.6Test plans and test cards1.7Test safety review1.8Documentation and configuration1.9Military airworthiness regulations1.10Case study: structure of a certification campaign
2.1FTI acquisition systems2.2Pressure, temperature and strain sensors2.3IRIG-106 telemetry2.4IRIG-B time synchronisation2.5Data buses and recorders2.6Instrumentation calibration2.7High-speed cameras2.8Integration into the aircraft2.9Management of large data volumes2.10Laboratory: configuring an acquisition system
3.1Air data and pitot-static calibration3.2Take-off and landing tests3.3Climb, cruise and endurance3.4Turn performance3.5Static and dynamic stability3.6MIL-STD-1797 flying qualities3.7Cooper-Harper rating scale3.8Stalls and spins3.9Data reduction to standard conditions3.10Practical: climb data reduction
4.1Flight envelope expansion4.2Flutter and its prediction4.3In-flight excitation and modal analysis4.4In-flight structural loads4.5Buffeting and vibration4.6High-speed testing4.7Safety margins4.8Real-time monitoring4.9Test termination criteria4.10Case study: flutter expansion plan
5.1Propulsion system testing5.2Flight control system testing5.3Integrated avionics validation5.4Navigation and communications5.5In-flight electromagnetic compatibility5.6Night vision testing5.7Cockpit human factors5.8External store carriage and separation testing5.9Software integration5.10Laboratory: MIL-STD-1553 bus data analysis
6.1System identification6.2Estimation of aerodynamic parameters6.3Flight simulation models6.4Validation of models against test data6.5Analysis tools in Python and MATLAB6.6Uncertainty management6.7Technical test reports6.8Visualisation of results6.9Test databases6.10Practical: identification of stability derivatives
7.1EDA EMAR regulations7.2Military airworthiness authorities7.3Safety management7.4Unmanned aircraft testing7.5Segregated airspace7.6Environmental impact of testing7.7Professional responsibility of the engineer7.8Lessons from test accidents7.9Just culture and reporting7.10Case study: review of a test incident
8.1Definition of the test objective8.2Instrumentation requirements8.3Test plan8.4Risk analysis8.5Test cards8.6Data reduction8.7Evaluation of results8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB, Python pandas, IADS, LabVIEW and X-Plane, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for performance data reduction, flutter modal analysis and aerodynamic parameter identification. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: EMAR 21, MIL-HDBK-516C, MIL-STD-1797A, IRIG 106, EMAR 145, MIL-A-8870C, CS-25.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
- 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.
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 MATLAB, Python pandas, IADS, LabVIEW and X-Plane, 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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