CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

SMS audit course in airports

Online course of 300 hours in airport SMS auditing. 6 modules covering the airport operator SMS, applied audit principles, audit planning and execution, SMS effectiveness assessment and findings and corrective actions, with an assigned technical tutor.

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

SMS audit course in airports — 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: €743 (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

Interpret aerodrome SMS requirements under Regulation 139/2014.

02

Plan risk-based audit programmes.

03

Conduct audits applying the ISO 19011 guidelines.

04

Assess the real effectiveness of a safety management system.

05

Write clear findings classified by severity.

06

Apply root cause analysis to nonconformities.

07

Prepare a complete airport SMS audit report.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Airport safety auditors.
  • Airport SMS managers.
  • Aerodrome inspectors.
  • Airport quality technicians.
  • Apron operations managers.
  • Aerodrome certification consultants.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join airport operators.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements (aerodrome certification, operation and SMS)
  • ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems (management system audit guidelines)
  • ICAO Doc 9859 Safety Management Manual (ICAO guidance on SMS)
  • Annex 19 to the Chicago Convention. Safety Management (ICAO safety management standards)
  • ICAO Doc 9774 Manual on Certification of Aerodromes (ICAO aerodrome certification guidance)
  • ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes (procedures for aerodrome operations)
  • Regulation (EU) 376/2014 on occurrence reporting (reporting, analysis and follow-up of occurrences)
  • Q-Pulse
  • Intelex
  • ECCAIRS 2
  • Microsoft Power BI
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1ADR.OR requirements of Regulation 139/2014
  2. 1.2Aerodrome certification and the aerodrome manual
  3. 1.3Typical airside hazards
  4. 1.4Apron safety programme
  5. 1.5Local runway safety teams
  6. 1.6Interfaces with ground handling and ATS
  7. 1.7Management of contractors on the airside
  8. 1.8Coordination with emergency plans
  9. 1.9Oversight by the national authority
  10. 1.10Case study: interface map of an airport
  1. 2.1ISO 19011 guidelines
  2. 2.2Compliance audits versus effectiveness audits
  3. 2.3Auditor independence and competence
  4. 2.4Annual audit programme
  5. 2.5Risk-based audits
  6. 2.6Objective evidence and its evaluation
  7. 2.7Auditor bias and ethics
  8. 2.8Inspections by the competent authority
  9. 2.9Comparison with ISAGO audits
  10. 2.10Workshop: risk-based audit programme
  1. 3.1Audit plan and scope
  2. 3.2ADR requirements checklists
  3. 3.3Preliminary document review
  4. 3.4Opening meeting with management
  5. 3.5Interviews with operational staff
  6. 3.6Inspection of the movement area
  7. 3.7Sampling of occurrence records
  8. 3.8Observation of night operations
  9. 3.9Closing meeting and communication
  10. 3.10Practical: wildlife and FOD checklist
  1. 4.1Review of safety policy and objectives
  2. 4.2Quality of the hazard register
  3. 4.3Effectiveness of management of change
  4. 4.4Analysis of indicators and trends
  5. 4.5Quality of internal investigations
  6. 4.6Staff training and competence
  7. 4.7Reporting culture at the airport
  8. 4.8Maturity assessment tools
  9. 4.9Follow-up of previous recommendations
  10. 4.10Case study: effectiveness audit of an SMS
  1. 5.1Classification of level 1 and level 2 findings
  2. 5.2Writing nonconformities
  3. 5.3Root cause analysis
  4. 5.4Corrective action plans
  5. 5.5Deadlines and closure of findings
  6. 5.6Verification of the effectiveness of actions
  7. 5.7Structure of the audit report
  8. 5.8Communication to management
  9. 5.9Audit programme indicators
  10. 5.10Workshop: root cause analysis with the five whys
  1. 6.1Selection of the airport and scope
  2. 6.2Complete audit plan
  3. 6.3Specific checklists
  4. 6.4Staff interview script
  5. 6.5Record of evidence obtained
  6. 6.6Findings and their classification
  7. 6.7Corrective action plan
  8. 6.8Final audit report
  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 the intake, so the programme can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Q-Pulse, Intelex, ECCAIRS 2 and Microsoft Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: an SMS audit of a regional airport, a movement area inspection with a checklist and root cause analysis of audit findings. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements, ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for auditing management systems, ICAO Doc 9859 Safety Management Manual, Annex 19 to the Chicago Convention. Safety Management, ICAO Doc 9774 Manual on Certification of Aerodromes, ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes, Regulation (EU) 376/2014 on occurrence reporting.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EU) 139/2014, ISO 19011 and ICAO Doc 9859 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Q-Pulse, Intelex, ECCAIRS 2 and Microsoft Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete SMS audit of an airport, with audit plan, checklists, evidence record, classified findings, corrective action plan and final report, 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.

Scope and audit plan
Select the airport, define the scope and prepare a complete audit plan.
Checklists and interviews
Build specific checklists and the staff interview script.
Evidence and findings
Record the evidence obtained and classify the resulting findings.
Corrective action plan
Draw up the corrective action plan, applying root cause analysis.
Final project
Deliver the final audit report, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Airport safety auditorAirport SMS managerAerodrome inspectorAirport quality technicianApron operations managerAerodrome certification consultant
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • An 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.

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 Q-Pulse, Intelex, ECCAIRS 2 and Microsoft Power BI, 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 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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