Diploma in Vertiport Infrastructure and Operational Safety
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in Vertiport Infrastructure and Operational Safety. 8 modules covering vertiport types, geometric design of the movement area, structure and building integration, electric charging infrastructure, fire safety, operational safety and visual aids, under EASA PTS-VPT-DSN and FAA Engineering Brief 105, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Vertiport Infrastructure and Operational Safety — 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$2,790 (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
Distinguish vertiport types and their regulatory frameworks.
Size FATO, TLOF and safety areas.
Assess the structure and wind environment at elevated sites.
Design the electric charging infrastructure.
Plan fire protection for lithium battery hazards.
Apply a safety management system to the vertiport.
Integrate visual aids, services and passenger flows.
Who it's for
- Vertiport engineers involved in design and operation.
- Airport infrastructure engineers moving into advanced air mobility.
- Operational safety specialists.
- Fire protection technicians facing lithium battery risks.
- Infrastructure electrical engineers.
- Urban air mobility planners.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join vertiport operators.
What you'll work with
- EASA PTS-VPT-DSN (prototype technical specifications for vertiport design)
- FAA Engineering Brief 105 (vertiport design)
- ICAO Annex 14, Volume II (heliports)
- ICAO Doc 9261 (Heliport Manual)
- NFPA 418 (standard for heliports)
- SAE AS6968 (connection set for conductive charging of electric aircraft)
- IEC 61851 (electric vehicle conductive charging systems)
- Regulation (EU) 139/2014 (aerodrome requirements and procedures)
- AutoCAD
- Civil 3D
- Ansys Fluent
- QGIS
- ETAP
8 modules
1.1Types: vertiport, vertistop and vertihub1.2Differences from heliports1.3Locations: rooftop, ground-level and floating1.4Urban integration and planning1.5EASA Prototype Technical Specifications1.6FAA Engineering Brief 1051.7Experience from pilot vertiports1.8Accessibility and multimodal connection1.9Social acceptance1.10Case study: site analysis in a city
2.1FATO and TLOF areas2.2Safety areas2.3Dimensions based on the eVTOL D value2.4Stands2.5Ground and air taxiing2.6Omnidirectional approach surfaces2.7Obstacle-free volume (VTOL-capable)2.8Markings2.9Day and night lighting2.10Workshop: sizing the FATO and TLOF for an eVTOL
3.1Dynamic design loads3.2Elevated vertiports and structure3.3Drainage and surfaces3.4Downwash effects on the surroundings3.5Building-induced turbulence3.6Wind behaviour on rooftops3.7Integration with building regulations3.8Access and evacuation3.9Noise and vibration in buildings3.10Practical exercise: load analysis on a rooftop platform
4.1eVTOL power requirements4.2Fast chargers and standards4.3Grid connection and substations4.4Stationary storage4.5Battery swapping4.6Battery thermal hazards4.7Vertiport energy management4.8Hydrogen as an alternative4.9Regulations on charging points in buildings4.10Lab: electrical sizing of a 4-stand vertiport
5.1Fire risk in lithium batteries5.2Thermal runaway and propagation5.3Suitable extinguishing agents5.4Rescue categories5.5Firefighting means on rooftops5.6Containment of contaminated water5.7Emergency procedures5.8Staff training5.9Emergency drills5.10Case study: response plan for a battery fire
6.1Safety management system6.2Vertiport hazard identification6.3Obstacle risk assessment6.4Wildlife and FOD management6.5Safety of people on the apron6.6Operations in adverse weather6.7Physical protection and security6.8Safety indicators6.9Occurrence investigation6.10Practical exercise: risk matrix for an urban vertiport
7.1Visual aids and lighting7.2Wind indicators7.3Local weather sensors7.4Communications with operators7.5Passenger information systems7.6Passenger flow management7.7Passenger security screening7.8Universal accessibility7.9Digital integration with U-space7.10Workshop: configuring night-time visual aids
8.1Site selection8.2Geometric design8.3Obstacle and approach analysis8.4Structural and load design8.5Charging infrastructure8.6Fire safety plan8.7Operational risk analysis8.8Aids and markings plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM Institute 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 your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. You work with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Ansys Fluent, QGIS and ETAP, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: geometric design of a rooftop vertiport, analysis of the wind and turbulence environment at urban sites, and battery fire risk assessment. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: EASA PTS-VPT-DSN (Prototype Technical Specifications), FAA Engineering Brief 105, ICAO Annex 14 Volume II, ICAO Doc 9261 (Heliport Manual), NFPA 418, SAE AS6968, IEC 61851, Regulation (EU) 139/2014.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Ansys Fluent, QGIS and ETAP, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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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