Handling operations course
Online course of 300 hours in ground handling operations. 6 modules covering ground handling services, ramp operations and turnaround, passengers and baggage, apron equipment and safety and handling management and digitalisation, applying Directive 96/67/EC, the IATA AHM and IGOM, with an assigned technical tutor.
Handling operations course — studying from Australia
Australia's aerospace sector spans defence and commercial aviation, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a growing space industry. Key clusters sit around Adelaide's Edinburgh Parks and the Melbourne and Sydney defence precincts, with major employers including Airbus Australia Pacific, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. Recreational and commercial drone operations are increasingly regulated, and advanced air mobility is emerging as a research and policy priority. Engineers working in this area typically support airworthiness, systems integration, structures and avionics across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Fees for Australia: A$1,020 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification help me get recognised by a professional body in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any Australian body. Engineers Australia accredits university engineering degrees, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates drone and aviation operations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will this course help me find work in Australian aerospace, drones or space?
Australia has aerospace and defence employers, drone operators and space-sector companies, and skills in these areas are valued. Whether a SEIUM qualification counts for a given role depends on the employer, who will usually weigh your experience and portfolio alongside any private credential. Ask prospective employers how they view it.
Can I study this part-time while working, and does the time zone suit Australia?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, with no student visa needed for home study. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly load realistically. 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
Describe ground handling services and their regulatory framework.
Plan turnaround tasks and their critical path.
Manage passenger and baggage processes.
Apply apron safety procedures.
Size staff and equipment according to the flight schedule.
Use service quality and punctuality indicators.
Draw up a ground handling operations plan for an airport.
Who it's for
- Ramp supervisors.
- Ground handling operations coordinators.
- Passenger service agents.
- Ground handling quality managers.
- Ground handling resource planners.
- Apron safety managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join ground handling companies.
What you'll work with
- Directive 96/67/EC (access to the ground handling market)
- IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM)
- IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM)
- Royal Decree 1161/1999 (Spanish ground handling services rules)
- Regulation (EU) 139/2014 (aerodrome requirements)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 (civil aviation security)
- Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 (passengers with reduced mobility)
- Amadeus Altéa DCS
- SITA WorldTracer
- Inform GroundStar
- Microsoft Project
6 modules
1.1Categories of ground handling services1.2Directive 96/67/EC and liberalisation1.3Self-handling and third-party handling1.4Ground handling licences in Spain1.5The IATA Standard Ground Handling Agreement (SGHA)1.6Service level agreements1.7Ground handling costs and rates1.8Stakeholders on the apron1.9Organisation of a ground handling company1.10Case study: reading an SGHA annex
2.1Phases of the turnaround2.2Arrival on stand and chocks2.3Connecting GPU and pre-conditioned air2.4Hold loading and unloading2.5Refuelling with passengers on board2.6Cabin cleaning and catering2.7Push-back and towing2.8Turnaround critical path2.9Prevention of aircraft damage2.10Practical exercise: Gantt chart of a turnaround
3.1Check-in and DCS systems3.2Boarding management3.3Assistance to passengers with reduced mobility3.4Mishandled baggage and WorldTracer3.5Baggage sorting and loading3.6Management of inadmissible passengers3.7Operational irregularities and re-accommodation3.8Passenger care during contingencies3.9Service quality indicators3.10Workshop: managing a mass cancellation
4.1Motorised and non-motorised GSE4.2Electrification of ground equipment4.3Maintenance of handling equipment4.4Staff safety on the ramp4.5FOD prevention on the apron4.6Jet blast and engine ingestion hazards4.7Operations in adverse weather4.8IGOM standardised procedures4.9ISAGO safety audits4.10Case study: analysis of aircraft damage
5.1Shift and resource planning5.2Staff training and qualifications5.3Punctuality indicators5.4Integration into A-CDM5.5Resource management systems5.6Real-time turnaround monitoring5.7Management of subcontracting5.8SMS in ground handling companies5.9Sustainability in ramp operations5.10Lab: resource allocation for a wave of flights
6.1Selection of the study airport6.2Analysis of the flight schedule6.3Staff sizing6.4Equipment sizing6.5Key operating procedures6.6Apron safety plan6.7Service quality indicators6.8Estimate of operating costs6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
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 you can combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is Amadeus Altéa DCS, SITA WorldTracer, Inform GroundStar and Microsoft Project, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: turnaround analysis for a single-aisle aircraft, sizing of handling resources and an apron safety audit. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive 96/67/EC, IATA AHM, IATA IGOM, Spanish Royal Decree 1161/1999, Regulation (EU) 139/2014, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998, Regulation (EC) 1107/2006.
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
- No prior qualification is 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 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Amadeus Altéa DCS, SITA WorldTracer, Inform GroundStar and Microsoft Project, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.
No prior qualification is required; you need 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.
Related programmes
UAM integration course with urban transport
Online course of 300 hours in integrating UAM with urban transport: 6 modules covering urban mobility and the role of UAM, physical intermodality, digital and fare…
Course on orbital perturbations
Online course of 300 hours in orbital perturbations: 6 modules covering perturbing force models, the non-spherical gravity field, atmospheric drag, third-body and radiation pressure effects and…
3D Metrology Course for Aircraft
Online course of 300 hours in 3D metrology for aircraft: 6 modules covering aerospace dimensional metrology, coordinate measuring machines, portable large-volume metrology, 3D scanning and non-contact…
More in Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space
All Aerospace, UAM, Drones & Space programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships