CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Course on runway and taxiway design

Online course of 300 hours in runway and taxiway design. 6 modules covering runway geometry, taxiways and aprons, airport pavements, markings and lighting and obstacles and runway safety, with an assigned technical tutor.

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

Course on runway and taxiway design — studying from India

India's aerospace sector is growing steadily, anchored by Bengaluru, Hyderabad and the Kanpur-Lucknow belt. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata Advanced Systems and Bharat Electronics are major employers, alongside a fast-growing base of drone and space start-ups. The Indian Space Research Organisation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation drive research programmes, while civil aviation rules are set by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Engineers here work on aircraft systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite subsystems and urban air mobility concepts, and the sector's push for indigenisation keeps demand for skilled talent strong.

Fees for India: ₹84,500 (Indian Rupee), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in India

  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • Aeronautical Society of India
  • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer
  • Satellite Systems Engineer

Questions from India

Which professional bodies in India recognise aerospace engineering, and does a private online qualification help with recognition?

In India, aeronautical engineering is recognised mainly through the Institution of Engineers (India), the Aeronautical Society of India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for aircraft maintenance licences. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and are not accredited by any national body. Whether they count towards professional membership or roles is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check their criteria before enrolling.

Which employers in India hire aerospace engineers, and how would this programme be used in that work?

Aerospace engineers in India work with organisations such as ISRO, HAL, DRDO laboratories, and private aerospace and drone firms, along with MRO and airline engineering teams. A private postgraduate qualification can support a career move or specialisation, but it is not a substitute for formal technical experience or statutory certifications. Employers usually weigh it alongside your work record and skills.

Can I manage this programme alongside a full-time job in India, given the time zone and language?

The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Classes and deadlines are set by the school, so check the schedule against India Standard Time (IST). Master's programmes are around 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas around 800 and specialist courses around 300, so plan your weekly hours realistically. You get an assigned technical tutor. Ask your employer about sponsorship, as instalment fees may make this easier.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Determine runway dimensions from the critical aircraft.

02

Calculate declared distances and corrected lengths.

03

Design taxiway and apron systems in accordance with Annex 14.

04

Design airport pavements using the ACR and PCR method.

05

Plan the markings and lighting of the movement area.

06

Assess limitation surfaces and deviations through aeronautical studies.

07

Prepare the preliminary design of a runway and its taxiway system.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Airport design engineers.
  • Pavement designers.
  • Aerodrome certification technicians.
  • Airfield lighting engineers.
  • Movement area inspectors.
  • Airport infrastructure consultants.
  • Engineering or science graduates aiming to join airport operators.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Annex 14 to the Chicago Convention, Volume I. Aerodrome Design and Operations (ICAO aerodrome design standards)
  • ICAO Doc 9157 Aerodrome Design Manual (ICAO guidance on aerodrome design)
  • EASA CS-ADR-DSN Certification Specifications for Aerodrome Design (EASA aerodrome design specifications)
  • FAA AC 150/5300-13B Airport Design (FAA airport geometric design standards)
  • FAA AC 150/5320-6G Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation (FAA pavement design and evaluation)
  • ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes (procedures for aerodrome operations)
  • Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements (EU aerodrome certification and operation)
  • FAARFIELD
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Transoft AeroTURN
  • COMFAA
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Reference code number and code letter
  2. 1.2Runway length and corrections for altitude and temperature
  3. 1.3Declared distances TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA
  4. 1.4Runway width and shoulders
  5. 1.5Longitudinal and transverse slopes
  6. 1.6Runway strips and graded area
  7. 1.7Stopways and clearways
  8. 1.8Runway end safety areas (RESA)
  9. 1.9Displaced thresholds and their effect
  10. 1.10Practical: calculating declared distances
  1. 2.1Taxiway width and shoulders
  2. 2.2Minimum runway-taxiway separations
  3. 2.3Taxiway curves and widening
  4. 2.4Rapid exit taxiways
  5. 2.5Holding points and stop bars
  6. 2.6Aircraft stand taxilanes
  7. 2.7Apron design and clearances
  8. 2.8Hot spots and runway incursion prevention
  9. 2.9Taxiing of code letter F aircraft
  10. 2.10Workshop: layout of a rapid exit taxiway
  1. 3.1Flexible and rigid pavements
  2. 3.2ACR and PCR reporting method
  3. 3.3Design traffic and fleet mix
  4. 3.4Design with FAARFIELD
  5. 3.5Pavement materials and layers
  6. 3.6Joints and concrete slabs
  7. 3.7Friction and surface texture
  8. 3.8Grooving and surface drainage
  9. 3.9Structural evaluation with HWD deflectometer
  10. 3.10Lab: design of a flexible pavement
  1. 4.1Runway markings
  2. 4.2Taxiway and apron markings
  3. 4.3Edge, centreline and touchdown zone lights
  4. 4.4Approach lighting systems
  5. 4.5PAPI and visual approach angle
  6. 4.6Mandatory instruction and information signs
  7. 4.7Runway guard lights
  8. 4.8Surface guidance with A-SMGCS
  9. 4.9Secondary power supplies
  10. 4.10Practical: lighting plan for a threshold
  1. 5.1Obstacle limitation surfaces
  2. 5.2Aeronautical assessment of obstacles
  3. 5.3ILS critical and sensitive areas
  4. 5.4Aeronautical studies of deviations
  5. 5.5Runway excursions and mitigation measures
  6. 5.6EMAS arresting systems
  7. 5.7Global Reporting Format (GRF)
  8. 5.8Runway condition codes (RWYCC)
  9. 5.9Movement area inspections
  10. 5.10Case study: aeronautical study of a reduced RESA
  1. 6.1Aerodrome baseline data
  2. 6.2Critical aircraft and fleet mix
  3. 6.3Runway length and orientation
  4. 6.4Proposed taxiway system
  5. 6.5Pavement design
  6. 6.6Marking and lighting plan
  7. 6.7Check of obstacle surfaces
  8. 6.8Drawings and estimated budget
  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 FAARFIELD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Transoft AeroTURN and COMFAA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: design of an airport pavement, taxiway layout with path simulation and an aeronautical study of a design deviation. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: Annex 14 to the Chicago Convention, Volume I. Aerodrome Design and Operations, ICAO Doc 9157 Aerodrome Design Manual, EASA CS-ADR-DSN Certification Specifications for Aerodrome Design, FAA AC 150/5300-13B Airport Design, FAA AC 150/5320-6G Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation, ICAO Doc 9981 PANS-Aerodromes, Regulation (EU) 139/2014 on aerodrome requirements.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Annex 14, ICAO Doc 9157 and EASA CS-ADR-DSN applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:FAARFIELD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Transoft AeroTURN and COMFAA, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a preliminary design of a runway and its taxiway system, with pavement design, marking and lighting plan, obstacle surface check and estimated budget, 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.

Baseline and critical aircraft
Gather the aerodrome baseline data and define the critical aircraft and fleet mix.
Runway and taxiway layout
Set the runway length and orientation and propose the taxiway system.
Pavement design
Design the pavements with FAARFIELD, building on the flexible pavement lab.
Lighting and obstacle check
Prepare the marking and lighting plan and check the obstacle limitation surfaces.
Final project
Deliver drawings and an estimated budget for the preliminary design, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Airport design engineerPavement designerAerodrome certification technicianAirfield lighting engineerMovement area inspectorAirport infrastructure 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 FAARFIELD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Transoft AeroTURN and COMFAA, 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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