CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

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.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate

Course on analyzing electrical faults in aircraft — studying from Ireland

Ireland's aerospace sector is concentrated in Shannon, Limerick and the Dublin region, with a strong base of maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, aerostructures and engine component manufacturing. Multinational suppliers and specialist SMEs serve global airframe and engine programmes, while the Irish Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency shape certification and airworthiness requirements. Growing interest in drones, urban air mobility and space-related research is supported by university spin-outs and national research centres. Engineers here work on design assurance, systems integration, maintenance planning and compliance across the aviation value chain.

Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
  • European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
  • Aerospace Industry Ireland (AII)
  • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Airworthiness Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by professional bodies in Ireland for aerospace work?

SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state-awarded, and are not accredited by any national body. Engineers Ireland is the main professional body for engineers in Ireland and sets its own membership criteria, so recognition is decided by them, not by SEIUM. Aviation safety oversight sits with the Irish Aviation Authority. Check directly with these bodies before relying on any credential for licensing or chartership.

Do Irish aerospace and drone employers value private online engineering qualifications?

Hiring in Ireland's aerospace and drone sector is generally driven by demonstrable skills, relevant experience and, for many roles, recognised degrees. A private qualification may support a CV, particularly alongside practical experience, but its weight is decided by each employer. We cannot promise any outcome. Speaking to prospective employers about how they view SEIUM's programmes is the most reliable way to judge.

Can I study this programme alongside a full-time job in Ireland?

The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so there is no travel and no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly time accordingly. You will have an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments. Some employers offer funding, which you should ask about directly.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify the most frequent electrical failure modes in aircraft.

02

Apply FMEA and fault trees to electrical systems.

03

Locate faults using diagnosis and measurement techniques.

04

Carry out forensic analysis of damaged components.

05

Determine root causes with structured methods.

06

Propose effective corrective and preventive actions.

07

Interpret EWIS requirements and their application to maintenance.

Profile

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
Standards & tools

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
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Short circuits and open circuits
  2. 1.2Intermittent faults and their causes
  3. 1.3Series and parallel electrical arcs
  4. 1.4Insulation degradation
  5. 1.5Corrosion in connectors
  6. 1.6Failures in power electronics
  7. 1.7Overheating failures
  8. 1.8Effects of lightning and HIRF
  9. 1.9Failures in batteries and chargers
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: classification of failures from a fault history
  1. 2.1Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)
  2. 2.2Fault tree analysis (FTA)
  3. 2.3Root cause analysis with the 5 Whys
  4. 2.4Ishikawa diagram
  5. 2.5Common mode analysis (CMA)
  6. 2.6Particular risk analysis
  7. 2.7Failure rates and MIL-HDBK-217F
  8. 2.8Wiring reliability
  9. 2.9Failure trend analysis
  10. 2.10Workshop: FMEA of a distribution panel
  1. 3.1Interpreting WDM diagrams
  2. 3.2Measurements with multimeter and megohmmeter
  3. 3.3Time-domain reflectometry (TDR)
  4. 3.4Thermography of connections
  5. 3.5CMC maintenance messages
  6. 3.6Fault isolation manual (FIM)
  7. 3.7Continuity and insulation tests
  8. 3.8No fault found (NFF) failures
  9. 3.9Use of automatic test equipment
  10. 3.10Case study: locating an intermittent bus fault
  1. 4.1Visual inspection and stereomicroscopy
  2. 4.2SEM-EDS electron microscopy
  3. 4.3Analysis of arcing and conductor melting
  4. 4.4Analysis of electronic components
  5. 4.5X-ray and computed tomography
  6. 4.6Chain of custody of evidence
  7. 4.7Failure reproduction on the bench
  8. 4.8Failure analysis report
  9. 4.9Accelerated ageing tests
  10. 4.10Lab: analysis of a connector with electrical arcing
  1. 5.1EWIS maintenance programme
  2. 5.2CS-25 Subpart H requirements
  3. 5.3Enhanced zonal analysis procedure (EZAP)
  4. 5.4Airworthiness directives (AD)
  5. 5.5Service bulletins
  6. 5.6Fleet reliability and alerts
  7. 5.7Arc fault circuit breakers (AFCB)
  8. 5.8Lessons from electrical accidents
  9. 5.9Reporting failures to the manufacturer
  10. 5.10Case study: analysis of the Swissair 111 accident
  1. 6.1Selection of the failure case
  2. 6.2Data and history collection
  3. 6.3FMEA and fault tree analysis
  4. 6.4Diagnosis and test plan
  5. 6.5Determination of the root cause
  6. 6.6Proposal of corrective actions
  7. 6.7Effectiveness monitoring
  8. 6.8In-service validation of the solution
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of SAE ARP4761, CS-25 Subpart H EWIS and FAA AC 25.1701-1 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Isograph Reliability Workbench, Ansys medini analyze, MATLAB, ReliaSoft XFMEA and FLIR Thermal Studio, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete electrical failure analysis of a real case, from data collection and root cause to validated corrective actions, 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.

Select and document the case
Choose the failure case and gather its data and service history.
Apply FMEA and FTA
Analyse the failure with FMEA and a fault tree.
Plan diagnosis and tests
Define the diagnosis and test plan to isolate the fault.
Identify the root cause
Determine the root cause and propose corrective actions.
Final project
Validate the solution in service and present the report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Reliability EngineerFailure Analysis EngineerAvionics Maintenance TechnicianIn-Service Support EngineerSystem Safety EngineerAerospace Quality Engineer
Admissions & scholarships

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.

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 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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