Wind shear risk course
Online course of 300 hours in wind shear hazards. 6 modules covering the physics of wind shear, ground-based detection, airborne detection, operational procedures and airport risk management, applying ICAO Annex 3, ICAO Doc 9817 and FAA AC 00-54, with an assigned technical tutor.
Wind shear risk course — 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: €644 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
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.
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
Explain the physical mechanisms that generate wind shear.
Calculate hazard indicators such as the F-factor.
Compare ground-based and airborne detection systems.
Apply avoidance procedures and escape manoeuvres.
Assess wind shear risk within the airport SMS.
Analyse historical accidents caused by wind shear.
Propose mitigation measures for a specific airport.
Who it's for
- Aeronautical meteorologists.
- Aviation safety technicians.
- Flight simulator instructors.
- Avionics systems engineers.
- Airport operations technicians.
- Flight data analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join meteorological services.
What you'll work with
- ICAO Annex 3 (meteorological service for international air navigation)
- ICAO Doc 9817 (Manual on Low-level Wind Shear)
- FAA AC 00-54 (Pilot Windshear Guide)
- FAA TSO-C117a (airborne windshear warning and escape guidance systems)
- RTCA DO-220 (MOPS for airborne weather radar with forward-looking windshear detection)
- ICAO Doc 8896 (Manual of Aeronautical Meteorological Practice)
- ICAO Annex 6 (operation of aircraft)
- MATLAB
- Python with MetPy
- WRF
- X-Plane
6 modules
1.1Horizontal and vertical wind shear1.2Effects on lift and indicated airspeed1.3Total energy and aircraft flight path1.4Wind shear hazard F-factor1.5Wet and dry microbursts1.6Thunderstorm gust fronts1.7Temperature inversions and low-level jets1.8Orographic wind shear1.9Effects of buildings and obstacles1.10Practical exercise: calculating the F-factor in a microburst
2.1LLWAS anemometer system2.2Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR)2.3Doppler LIDAR at airports2.4Microburst detection algorithms2.5Wind profilers and SODAR2.6Integrating sensors into an alerting system2.7Dissemination of alerts to ATC and crews2.8The Hong Kong alerting system2.9Limitations of ground-based systems2.10Lab: interpreting LIDAR scans
3.1Reactive wind shear warning systems3.2Predictive wind shear (PWS) weather radar3.3TSO-C117a and RTCA DO-220 requirements3.4Cockpit alert prioritisation3.5Integration with GPWS and TAWS3.6Energy and trend indications3.7Escape guidance on the flight director3.8Limitations of airborne detection3.9Maintenance of alerting systems3.10Case study: predictive alert on approach
4.1Avoidance as the first line of defence4.2Risk assessment before take-off4.3Take-off and approach techniques4.4Wind shear escape manoeuvre4.5Thrust and attitude management4.6Communication with air traffic control4.7Information in ATIS and METAR4.8Flight simulator training4.9Reporting wind shear encounters4.10Practical exercise: approach briefing with wind shear risk
5.1Wind shear climatology of an airport5.2Hazard assessment within the SMS5.3Selection of detection systems5.4Runway change and closure criteria5.5Coordination between meteorology, ATC and operators5.6Indicators of reported encounters5.7Historical accidents and lessons learned5.8Building-induced wind shear5.9Dissemination of alerts to the end user5.10Case study: the Delta 191 accident
6.1Selection of the study airport6.2Local climatological analysis6.3Local sources of wind shear6.4Assessment of existing systems6.5Proposal for a detection system6.6Alerting and dissemination procedures6.7Crew training plan6.8Residual risk assessment6.9Report 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 it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB, Python with MetPy, WRF and X-Plane, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: analysing a microburst encounter from flight data, interpreting Doppler LIDAR data and assessing wind shear risk at an airport. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: ICAO Annex 3, ICAO Doc 9817, FAA AC 00-54, FAA TSO-C117a, RTCA DO-220, ICAO Doc 8896, ICAO Annex 6.
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.
- 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 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 MATLAB, Python with MetPy, WRF and X-Plane, 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 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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