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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Basic aircraft flight control course

Online course of 300 hours in basic aircraft flight control. 6 modules covering flight mechanics, static and dynamic stability, flight control surfaces and systems, control system design and autopilot functions, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Formulate the equations of motion of an aircraft.

02

Analyse static stability and dynamic modes.

03

Describe flight control systems.

04

Design stability augmentation systems.

05

Understand how the autopilot works.

06

Assess the robustness of a control system.

07

Simulate the behaviour of the controlled aircraft.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Flight control engineers
  • Flight mechanics engineers
  • Aeronautical simulation engineers
  • Avionics systems engineers
  • Flight test engineers
  • Unmanned systems engineers
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into the aeronautics sector
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • CS-25 (EASA) (certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
  • MIL-HDBK-1797 (flying qualities of piloted aircraft)
  • SAE ARP4754B (guidelines for development of civil aircraft and systems)
  • CS-23 (EASA) (certification specifications for normal-category aeroplanes)
  • RTCA DO-178C (software considerations in airborne systems and equipment certification)
  • ISO 1151-1 (flight dynamics: concepts, quantities and symbols)
  • SAE ARP4761A (safety assessment process for civil aircraft systems)
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • JSBSim
  • X-Plane
  • FlightGear
  • Python Control Systems Library
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Reference frames and Euler angles
  2. 1.2Rigid-body equations of motion
  3. 1.3Aerodynamic forces and moments
  4. 1.4Equilibrium and trim conditions
  5. 1.5Small-perturbation linearisation
  6. 1.6Stability derivatives
  7. 1.7Longitudinal and lateral-directional equations
  8. 1.8State and control variables
  9. 1.9State-space modelling
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: trimming an aircraft in level flight
  1. 2.1Longitudinal static stability
  2. 2.2Neutral point and static margin
  3. 2.3Directional and lateral stability
  4. 2.4Short-period mode
  5. 2.5Phugoid mode and its damping
  6. 2.6Roll, spiral and Dutch roll modes
  7. 2.7Handling qualities and Cooper-Harper rating scales
  8. 2.8Certification stability requirements
  9. 2.9Influence of the centre of gravity
  10. 2.10Lab: modal analysis of a light aircraft
  1. 3.1Elevator, ailerons and rudder
  2. 3.2Trim tabs and control forces
  3. 3.3Mechanical flight control systems
  4. 3.4Hydraulically powered controls
  5. 3.5Fly-by-wire control systems
  6. 3.6Spoilers and roll control
  7. 3.7Trimmable horizontal stabiliser
  8. 3.8Redundancy in flight control systems
  9. 3.9Control failures and their management
  10. 3.10Case study: diagnosing an aileron asymmetry
  1. 4.1Aircraft transfer functions
  2. 4.2Bode diagrams and root locus
  3. 4.3Yaw and pitch dampers
  4. 4.4Stability and control augmentation
  5. 4.5PID controllers in flight
  6. 4.6Robustness and stability margins
  7. 4.7Actuator saturation
  8. 4.8Sensors: inertial, air data and GPS
  9. 4.9Validation in the simulator
  10. 4.10Workshop: designing a yaw damper in Simulink
  1. 5.1Autopilot modes
  2. 5.2Altitude and speed control
  3. 5.3Heading tracking and navigation
  4. 5.4Autothrottle and thrust management
  5. 5.5Flight envelope protections
  6. 5.6Autoland and ILS categories
  7. 5.7Flight control software development
  8. 5.8System safety analysis
  9. 5.9Pilot-automation interaction
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: simulating an altitude hold mode
  1. 6.1Selection of the study aircraft
  2. 6.2Dynamic model and trim
  3. 6.3Eigenmode analysis
  4. 6.4Handling qualities requirements
  5. 6.5Control system design
  6. 6.6Non-linear simulation
  7. 6.7Robustness assessment
  8. 6.8Design conclusions
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 MATLAB/Simulink, JSBSim, X-Plane, FlightGear and the Python Control Systems Library, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: modal analysis of a light aircraft, design and simulation of a stability augmentation system and virtual testing in a flight simulator. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: CS-25 (EASA), MIL-HDBK-1797, SAE ARP4754B, CS-23 (EASA), RTCA DO-178C, ISO 1151-1, SAE ARP4761A

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of CS-25 (EASA), MIL-HDBK-1797 and SAE ARP4754B applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB/Simulink, JSBSim, X-Plane, FlightGear and Python Control Systems Library, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a flight control system design for a study aircraft, from the dynamic model and eigenmode analysis to controller design, non-linear simulation and robustness assessment, reviewed by your tutor.
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.

Dynamic model and trim
Select the study aircraft, build its dynamic model and trim it.
Eigenmode analysis
Analyse the aircraft's dynamic modes against handling qualities requirements.
Control system design
Design the stability augmentation and control system.
Simulation and robustness
Run a non-linear simulation and assess the robustness of the design.
Final project
Present the design conclusions in a report reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Flight control engineerFlight mechanics engineerAeronautical simulation engineerAvionics systems engineerFlight test engineerUnmanned systems engineer
Admissions & scholarships

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.

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FAQ

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 MATLAB/Simulink, JSBSim, X-Plane, FlightGear and Python Control Systems Library, 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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