Diploma in SAR/MEDEVAC Mission Integration
600-hour online postgraduate diploma in SAR and MEDEVAC mission integration: IAMSAR, search planning, medical configuration, flight physiology, communications and safety, with an assigned tutor.
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
Interpret the framework of the SAR Convention, the IAMSAR Manual and Annex 12 and the organisation of coordination centres.
Plan a search by calculating drift, area, pattern and probability of detection.
Specify and certify the medical configuration and rescue equipment of an aircraft.
Apply the principles of flight physiology to patient care and transfer.
Design the communications and interoperability plan for a mission, including Cospas-Sarsat.
Assess mission risk and define operating limits and refusal criteria.
Establish training, accreditation and clinical quality indicator programmes.
Who it's for
- Coordinators at maritime and aeronautical rescue coordination centres.
- Pilots, hoist operators and crew members of rescue helicopters.
- Flight doctors and nurses in emergency and medical evacuation services.
- Operations and safety managers at emergency helicopter operators.
- Airworthiness engineers certifying medical configurations and rescue equipment.
- Civil protection and armed forces personnel involved in civil-military coordination.
What you'll work with
- 1979 SAR Convention (maritime search and rescue)
- IAMSAR Manual (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual)
- ICAO Annex 12 (search and rescue)
- SOLAS Convention, Chapter V (safety of navigation and duty to render assistance)
- Regulation (EU) 965/2012 (air operations, including SPA.HEMS and SPA.HHO)
- EN 13718-1 and EN 13718-2 (medical vehicles and their equipment: air ambulances)
- RTCA DO-160 (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
- EASA CS-29 (certification specifications for large rotorcraft)
8 modules
1.1International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue1.2The IAMSAR Manual and its three volumes1.3Search and rescue regions and coordination centres1.4The Chicago Convention and its Annex 121.5Organisation of Spanish maritime rescue1.6Coordination between civil and military authorities1.7Activation protocols and alerting chain1.8Cross-border assistance agreements1.9Applicable rules of international humanitarian law1.10Protection of the medical mission and its markings
2.1Search theory and probability of detection2.2Calculating search area and drift2.3Search patterns and track spacing2.4Allocating assets by capability and endurance2.5Fuel calculation and point of no return2.6Weather assessment and operating window2.7Remote triage and evacuation prioritisation2.8Selecting the pick-up point and landing site2.9Coordination with the receiving hospital2.10Mission log and decision traceability
3.1Certification of the installed medical configuration3.2Stretchers, attachments and load testing3.3Electromagnetic compatibility of medical equipment3.4Electrical and oxygen supply on board3.5Rescue hoist and its maintenance3.6Flotation and survival equipment3.7Night vision and cockpit certification3.8Rapid role reconfiguration3.9Weight, balance and centre of gravity3.10Sealed inventory and expiry date control
4.1Effect of altitude on patient hypoxia4.2Gas expansion and pneumothorax during climb4.3Vibration and noise in clinical monitoring4.4Patient thermal control in flight4.5Immobilisation and spinal management4.6Mechanical ventilation in the airborne environment4.7Drug administration and infusion pumps4.8Motion sickness in patient and crew4.9Handover of care on arrival at hospital4.10Clinical documentation of the transfer
5.1Emergency beacons and the Cospas-Sarsat system5.2Locating equipment and homing on the signal5.3Satellite communications and aircraft tracking5.4Interoperability of terrestrial radio networks5.5Satellite-guided approach procedures5.6Over-water navigation and radar altimetry5.7Exchanging situational data between assets5.8Telemedicine transmission from the aircraft5.9Spectrum management and frequency allocation5.10Mission communications plan
6.1Pre-mission risk assessment6.2Operating limits and refusal criteria6.3Hoist operations and associated risks6.4Landing at unprepared sites6.5Night operations with degraded visual references6.6Fatigue management for on-call crews6.7Coordinating several aircraft on scene6.8Biological risk and personnel protection6.9Procedure for failures during the mission6.10Post-mission analysis and occurrence reporting
7.1Initial and recurrent training programme7.2Simulation of complex rescue scenarios7.3Accreditation of flight medical staff7.4Joint training with surface teams7.5Hoist operator competencies7.6Multinational exercises and lessons learned7.7Audit of clinical quality in transfers7.8Measured response time and clinical outcome7.9Case review by committee7.10Maintaining currency and minimum hours
8.1Define the area of responsibility and demand8.2Size the assets and bases required8.3Specify the medical configuration of the aircraft8.4Develop clinical transfer protocols8.5Design the communications and interoperability plan8.6Define activation and refusal criteria8.7Build the operational risk matrix8.8Plan training and accreditation8.9Establish quality indicators8.10Present the capability to the coordinating body
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 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 QGIS, SAROPS, Microsoft Excel, MS Project, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on documented rescue missions, multinational exercises and real procedures from coordination centres and emergency operators. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrated project.
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.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run 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 600 hours over 6–9 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with QGIS, SAROPS, Microsoft Excel and MS Project, 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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