Course on analyzing electrical faults in aircraft
Online course of 300 hours in aircraft electrical failure analysis. 6 modules covering electrical failure modes, failure analysis methods, troubleshooting, forensic laboratory analysis, and corrective and preventive action under SAE ARP4761, CS-25 Subpart H EWIS and FAA AC 25.1701-1, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on analyzing electrical faults in 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: C$698 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Does a SEIUM qualification give me recognition with Canadian professional bodies for aerospace work?
Not automatically. In Canada, engineering is regulated by provincial and territorial associations such as Professional Engineers Ontario, which licence Professional Engineers (P.Eng.). SEIUM qualifications are private and are not official state degrees, so they do not confer P.Eng. status or accreditation. Recognition by employers or other bodies is decided case by case, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Will Canadian aerospace, drone or space employers value this training?
Employer valuation depends on the specific employer and role. Canada has a sizeable aerospace sector, including companies in Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada, and employers generally judge candidates on demonstrated skills, projects and experience. SEIUM's final project can serve as evidence of capability, but whether a private qualification carries weight is for each employer to decide. Discuss your goals with prospective employers.
Can I study this alongside a full-time job in Canada, and what about language?
Yes, the programmes are 100% online, so you can study from home at your own pace around work. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. Teaching is in English, and each student has an assigned technical tutor. Employer sponsorship and fees payable in instalments may help, depending on your circumstances.
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
Identify the most frequent electrical failure modes in aircraft.
Apply FMEA and fault trees to electrical systems.
Locate faults using diagnosis and measurement techniques.
Carry out forensic analysis of damaged components.
Determine root causes with structured methods.
Propose effective corrective and preventive actions.
Interpret EWIS requirements and their application to maintenance.
Who it's for
- Reliability engineers
- Failure analysis engineers
- Avionics maintenance technicians
- In-service support engineers
- System safety engineers
- Aerospace quality engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter aircraft maintenance
What you'll work with
- SAE ARP4761 (safety assessment process for civil airborne systems)
- CS-25 Subpart H EWIS (EASA) (electrical wiring interconnection systems)
- FAA AC 25.1701-1 (certification of EWIS on transport category aeroplanes)
- MIL-HDBK-217F (reliability prediction of electronic equipment)
- IEC 60812 (failure modes and effects analysis)
- IEC 61025 (fault tree analysis)
- SAE AS50881 (wiring of aerospace vehicles)
- SAE AS5692 (arc fault circuit breakers)
- Isograph Reliability Workbench
- Ansys medini analyze
- MATLAB
- ReliaSoft XFMEA
- FLIR Thermal Studio
6 modules
1.1Short circuits and open circuits1.2Intermittent faults and their causes1.3Series and parallel electrical arcs1.4Insulation degradation1.5Corrosion in connectors1.6Failures in power electronics1.7Overheating failures1.8Effects of lightning and HIRF1.9Failures in batteries and chargers1.10Practical exercise: classification of failures from a fault history
2.1Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)2.2Fault tree analysis (FTA)2.3Root cause analysis with the 5 Whys2.4Ishikawa diagram2.5Common mode analysis (CMA)2.6Particular risk analysis2.7Failure rates and MIL-HDBK-217F2.8Wiring reliability2.9Failure trend analysis2.10Workshop: FMEA of a distribution panel
3.1Interpreting WDM diagrams3.2Measurements with multimeter and megohmmeter3.3Time-domain reflectometry (TDR)3.4Thermography of connections3.5CMC maintenance messages3.6Fault isolation manual (FIM)3.7Continuity and insulation tests3.8No fault found (NFF) failures3.9Use of automatic test equipment3.10Case study: locating an intermittent bus fault
4.1Visual inspection and stereomicroscopy4.2SEM-EDS electron microscopy4.3Analysis of arcing and conductor melting4.4Analysis of electronic components4.5X-ray and computed tomography4.6Chain of custody of evidence4.7Failure reproduction on the bench4.8Failure analysis report4.9Accelerated ageing tests4.10Lab: analysis of a connector with electrical arcing
5.1EWIS maintenance programme5.2CS-25 Subpart H requirements5.3Enhanced zonal analysis procedure (EZAP)5.4Airworthiness directives (AD)5.5Service bulletins5.6Fleet reliability and alerts5.7Arc fault circuit breakers (AFCB)5.8Lessons from electrical accidents5.9Reporting failures to the manufacturer5.10Case study: analysis of the Swissair 111 accident
6.1Selection of the failure case6.2Data and history collection6.3FMEA and fault tree analysis6.4Diagnosis and test plan6.5Determination of the root cause6.6Proposal of corrective actions6.7Effectiveness monitoring6.8In-service validation of the solution6.9Report 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 the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Isograph Reliability Workbench, Ansys medini analyze, MATLAB, ReliaSoft XFMEA and FLIR Thermal Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: root cause analysis of real failures, forensic inspections of electrical components and fleet reliability studies. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: SAE ARP4761, CS-25 Subpart H EWIS (EASA), FAA AC 25.1701-1, MIL-HDBK-217F, IEC 60812, IEC 61025, SAE AS50881, SAE AS5692.
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'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 Isograph Reliability Workbench, Ansys medini analyze, MATLAB, ReliaSoft XFMEA and FLIR Thermal Studio, 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 capable of running 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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