Master’s in Rotorcraft Transmissions and Gearboxes Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in rotorcraft transmission and gearbox engineering, with 12 modules covering transmission architecture, gear design to ISO 6336 and AGMA, epicyclic trains, bearings and shafts, lubrication and tribology, materials, dynamics, HUMS, CS-29 testing and certification, and root cause analysis, with an assigned technical 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
Analyse the architecture of rotorcraft transmissions.
Design gears and epicyclic trains according to standards.
Select bearings, shafts and lubrication systems.
Specify gear materials and manufacturing processes.
Analyse the dynamics and vibration of transmissions.
Implement health monitoring and fault diagnosis.
Plan certification testing and maintenance.
Who it's for
- Transmission engineers designing main, intermediate and tail gearboxes.
- Gear engineers applying ISO 6336 and AGMA methods.
- Tribology engineers working on lubrication, micropitting and scuffing.
- HUMS analysts interpreting gear and bearing condition indicators.
- Transmission test engineers running endurance and loss-of-lubrication tests.
- Failure analysis engineers investigating root causes in drive systems.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aerospace industry.
What you'll work with
- ISO 6336 (calculation of load capacity of gears)
- CS-29 (EASA certification specifications for large rotorcraft)
- ANSI/AGMA 2001-D04 (rating factors for spur and helical gear teeth)
- ISO 281 (rolling bearings: dynamic load ratings and rating life)
- CAP 753 (helicopter health and usage monitoring, UK CAA)
- EMAR 21 (European military airworthiness requirements)
- SAE AS9100D (quality management systems for aviation, space and defence)
- KISSsoft
- Romax
- Ansys Mechanical
- MATLAB
- MASTA (SMT)
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Function of the transmission system1.2Main gearbox1.3Intermediate and tail gearboxes1.4Drive shafts and couplings1.5Freewheel and autorotation1.6Driven accessories1.7Typical reduction ratios1.8Weight and power density requirements1.9Tandem, coaxial and tiltrotor configurations1.10Case study: analysis of the transmission architecture of a medium helicopter
2.1Geometry of spur and helical gears2.2Spiral bevel gears2.3Planetary gears2.4Face gears2.5Load capacity according to ISO 63362.6AGMA design standards2.7Contact and bending stresses2.8Profile and lead modifications2.9Weight optimisation2.10Lab: load capacity calculation of a gear according to ISO 6336
3.1Kinematics of planetary trains3.2Load sharing between planets3.3Flexible mountings3.4Dynamics of planetary trains3.5Mesh frequencies3.6Characteristic failures3.7Planet carrier design3.8Lubrication of planetaries3.9Load sharing tests3.10Practical: load sharing model of a planetary
4.1Types of bearings in transmissions4.2Bearing life according to ISO 2814.3High-speed bearings4.4Bearings integrated into gears4.5Hollow shafts and their design4.6Flexible couplings4.7Supercritical tail drive shafts4.8Shaft dampers4.9Bearing failures4.10Case study: design of a tail drive shaft
5.1Lubrication regimes5.2Elastohydrodynamic lubrication5.3Turbine and transmission oils5.4Pressurised lubrication systems5.5Operation with loss of oil5.6Dry-running requirements5.7Micropitting and scuffing5.8Filtration and debris detection5.9Oil analysis5.10Lab: EHL film thickness calculation
6.1Carburising steels6.2Heat treatment of gears6.3Shot peening and surface finishing6.4Gear grinding6.5Magnesium and aluminium housings6.6Corrosion in housings6.7Additive manufacturing in transmissions6.8Gear quality control6.9Magnetic particle inspection6.10Practical: specification of a carburising process
7.1Transmission error7.2Mesh excitation7.3Dynamic models of transmissions7.4Gearbox noise7.5Housing response7.6Critical speeds of shafts7.7Misalignment7.8Interaction with the fuselage7.9Vibration measurement7.10Lab: spectral analysis of gear mesh vibration
8.1HUMS architecture8.2Accelerometers and tachometers8.3Synchronous averaging8.4Gear condition indicators8.5Bearing indicators8.6Chip detectors8.7Thresholds and alerts8.8Remaining useful life prognosis8.9Lessons from related accidents8.10Practical: calculation of condition indicators with real data
9.1CS-29 transmission requirements9.2Endurance testing9.3Loss-of-lubrication testing9.4Overtorque testing9.5Regenerative test rigs9.6Component fatigue testing9.7Material qualification9.8Management of non-conformities9.9Military airworthiness requirements9.10Case study: certification test plan for a main gearbox
10.1Gear failure modes10.2Bearing failures10.3Housing cracks10.4Lubrication failures10.5Fractography10.6Metallurgical analysis10.7Accident investigation10.8Corrective actions10.9Airworthiness directives10.10Workshop: root cause analysis of a planetary failure
11.1Time between overhauls11.2Condition-based maintenance11.3Transmission overhaul11.4Gear repair11.5Management of life-limited components11.6Life-cycle cost11.7Obsolescence11.8Sustainability and lubricants11.9Safety and professional ethics11.10Practical: maintenance plan for a transmission
12.1Transmission requirements12.2Conceptual design12.3Gear and bearing calculations12.4Dynamic analysis12.5Lubrication strategy12.6Test plan12.7Monitoring plan12.8Conclusions12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 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, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is KISSsoft, Romax, Ansys Mechanical, MATLAB and MASTA (SMT), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for gear and bearing load capacity calculation, vibration analysis and HUMS monitoring, and root cause analysis of transmission failures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 6336, CS-29, ANSI/AGMA 2001-D04, ISO 281, CAP 753, EMAR 21 and SAE AS9100D.
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
- University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with KISSsoft, Romax, Ansys Mechanical, MATLAB and MASTA (SMT), 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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