Instrumented flight test course
Online course of 300 hours in instrumented flight testing. 6 modules covering test campaign organisation, flight test instrumentation, telemetry and data processing, performance testing, and handling qualities and systems testing, with an assigned technical tutor.
Instrumented flight test 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: 1,100 A$ (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
What language are the programmes taught in?
All programmes are taught in English.
Are SEIUM qualifications recognised in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees. Recognition for registration or licensing is decided by bodies such as Engineers Australia and state regulators, so please check with them directly for your specific goal.
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
Plan a safe flight test campaign.
Design flight test instrumentation systems.
Manage telemetry and data processing.
Reduce performance data to standard conditions.
Identify dynamic characteristics from test data.
Assess measurement uncertainty.
Draw up test plans and test cards.
Who it's for
- Flight test engineers
- Instrumentation engineers
- Telemetry engineers
- Flight data analysts
- Certification engineers
- Instrumentation installation technicians
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the aeronautics sector
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) No 748/2012 (airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft)
- FAA AC 25-7D (flight test guide for certification of transport category aeroplanes)
- CS-25 (EASA) (certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
- FAA AC 23-8C (flight test guide for certification of Part 23 aeroplanes)
- IRIG 106 (telemetry standards)
- ARINC 429 (digital information transfer system for avionics)
- MIL-STD-1553B (digital time-division command/response multiplex data bus)
- Curtiss-Wright Acra KAM-500
- IADS (Curtiss-Wright)
- MATLAB System Identification Toolbox
- Python with pandas
- Dewesoft
6 modules
1.1Objectives of flight testing1.2Development and certification testing1.3The test team and its responsibilities1.4Test plan and test cards1.5Risk management in testing1.6Permits to fly and experimental aircraft1.7Safety and emergency procedures1.8Test facilities and test areas1.9Coordination with air traffic control1.10Case study: risk analysis of a stall test
2.1Architecture of an FTI system2.2Pressure, temperature and strain sensors2.3Accelerometers and inertial units2.4Air data sensors and nose booms2.5Strain gauges on structures2.6ARINC 429 and MIL-STD-1553 avionics buses2.7Data acquisition and synchronisation2.8Installation and certification of the instrumentation2.9Calibration of the measurement chain2.10Lab: configuring a data acquisition system
3.1Real-time telemetry3.2IRIG 106 standard3.3Ground telemetry station3.4Monitoring of critical parameters3.5Data formats and storage3.6Signal filtering and processing3.7Measurement uncertainty3.8Correlation with simulation3.9Management of large data volumes3.10Practical exercise: processing a flight record
4.1Air data system calibration4.2Tower and pacer aircraft methods4.3Stall speed tests4.4Climb and glide tests4.5Take-off and landing tests4.6Data reduction to standard conditions4.7Fuel consumption and range4.8One-engine-inoperative tests4.9Comparison with performance models4.10Workshop: data reduction of a climb test
5.1In-flight static stability5.2Identification of dynamic modes5.3Manoeuvre excitation techniques5.4System identification from data5.5Stall and spin tests5.6Flight flutter tests5.7Systems and avionics tests5.8Tests in icing conditions5.9Noise and vibration tests5.10Case study: short-period identification with real data
6.1Definition of test objectives6.2Selection of aircraft and parameters6.3Instrumentation design6.4Test plan and cards6.5Risk analysis6.6Planned data processing6.7Analysis of results6.8Test conclusions6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training 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 you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Curtiss-Wright Acra KAM-500, IADS (Curtiss-Wright), MATLAB System Identification Toolbox, Python with pandas and Dewesoft, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: design of an instrumentation system, reduction of performance data and identification of dynamic parameters from flight data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) No 748/2012, FAA AC 25-7D, CS-25 (EASA), FAA AC 23-8C, IRIG 106, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553B
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.
- 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.
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 Curtiss-Wright Acra KAM-500, IADS (Curtiss-Wright), MATLAB System Identification Toolbox, Python with pandas and Dewesoft, 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 an internet connection, 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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