Basic CFD course applied to aircraft
Online course of 300 hours in basic CFD applied to aircraft: 6 modules covering aerodynamic flow equations, meshing of aeronautical geometries, RANS turbulence models, boundary conditions and solvers, and aerodynamic post-processing and validation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Basic CFD course applied to aircraft — studying from Canada
Canada has a substantial aerospace sector, anchored in Montréal and Québec City, with major manufacturers and suppliers such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and CAE. Ontario's Greater Toronto and Ottawa regions host avionics, satellite and space technology firms, while the Canadian Space Agency coordinates national space programmes, including robotics for the International Space Station. Urban air mobility and drone operations are emerging under Transport Canada's regulatory framework. Engineers in this area typically work on airframe design, systems integration, certification and space mission support.
Fees for Canada: 1,150 CA$ (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Will this qualification let me use the title Professional Engineer?
No. The title is regulated by provincial engineering regulators such as Professional Engineers Ontario or the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Please check their requirements directly before assuming any eligibility.
What language are the programmes taught in?
All programmes are taught in English, which suits engineers working in English-language environments across Canada.
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
Understand the equations governing the flow around an aircraft.
Generate quality meshes for aerofoils, wings and fuselages.
Select the appropriate turbulence model for each flight regime.
Set up boundary conditions and solvers in commercial and open-source tools.
Obtain and analyse aerodynamic coefficients and pressure distributions.
Verify and validate numerical results against experimental data.
Document a CFD study to professional quality standards.
Who it's for
- Computational aerodynamics engineers wanting a solid, aircraft-focused CFD foundation.
- CFD analysts moving into aeronautical applications.
- Aerodynamic design engineers who need to run and interpret their own simulations.
- Aerodynamic loads engineers using CFD to obtain pressure distributions.
- Fluid mechanics researchers applying numerical methods to aircraft.
- Stress and analysis engineers in aeronautical design offices.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aeronautical industry.
What you'll work with
- AIAA G-077-1998 (guide for verification and validation of CFD simulations)
- ASME V&V 20-2009 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- NASA-STD-7009A (standard for models and simulations)
- CS-25 (EASA) (certification specifications for large aeroplanes)
- CS-23 (EASA) (certification specifications for normal-category aeroplanes)
- ISO 2533 (standard atmosphere)
- ANSYS Fluent
- Simcenter STAR-CCM+
- OpenFOAM
- SU2
- ParaView
6 modules
1.1Navier-Stokes equations in conservative form1.2Incompressible and compressible flow assumptions1.3Reynolds number and Mach number1.4Laminar and turbulent boundary layer1.5Euler equations and potential flow1.6Finite volume discretisation1.7Upwind and central schemes1.8CFL condition and numerical stability1.9Standard atmosphere and flight conditions1.10Practical exercise: 1D solution of the advection equation
2.1CAD preparation and geometry clean-up2.2Structured versus unstructured meshes2.3Hybrid meshes with prism layers2.4y+ criterion and wall resolution2.5Quality metrics: orthogonality and skewness2.6Computational domain and far field2.7Refinement at the leading edge and wake2.8Mesh independence study2.9Gradient-based adaptive meshing2.10Workshop: C-mesh around a NACA 0012 aerofoil
3.1Reynolds averaging and the closure problem3.2Spalart-Allmaras model for aeronautics3.3k-epsilon and k-omega SST models3.4Wall functions versus full resolution3.5Gamma-Re theta transition models3.6Introduction to LES and DES3.7Model selection by flight regime3.8Common errors in model selection3.9Roughness effects and forced transition3.10Practical exercise: SA versus SST comparison on the RAE 2822 aerofoil
4.1Inlet, outlet and far-field conditions4.2Adiabatic no-slip wall condition4.3Coupled and segregated solvers4.4SIMPLE and PISO algorithms4.5Residual convergence and monitors4.6Flow field initialisation4.7Relaxation tuning and Courant number4.8Steady and transient calculations4.9Parallelisation and computing resource management4.10Lab: ONERA M6 wing in transonic regime
5.1Lift, drag and moment coefficients5.2Cp and skin friction coefficient distributions5.3Aerodynamic polar and CL-alpha curve5.4Visualisation of streamlines and vortices5.5Verification and validation according to AIAA G-0775.6Numerical uncertainty and the GCI index5.7Comparison with wind tunnel data5.8Technical report of CFD results5.9Compressibility effects on drag5.10Case study: validation with NASA CRM data
6.1Definition of the aerodynamic study case6.2Selection of geometry and flight conditions6.3Mesh generation and verification6.4Solver and turbulence model set-up6.5Angle-of-attack sweep6.6Analysis of results and polar6.7Discussion of uncertainties and limitations6.8Conclusions and design improvement proposals6.9Report 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. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, SU2 and ParaView, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: simulation of aerofoils and wings in subsonic and transonic regimes, validation against AIAA Drag Prediction Workshop cases and mesh and turbulence model sensitivity studies. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: AIAA G-077-1998, ASME V&V 20-2009, NASA-STD-7009A, CS-25 (EASA), CS-23 (EASA), ISO 2533.
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 able to run the programme's 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 ANSYS Fluent, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, SU2 and ParaView, 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's 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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