Adhesive bonding course for airplanes
Online course of 300 hours in adhesive bonding in aircraft. 6 modules covering adhesion science, surface preparation, adhesive joint design, manufacturing and process control, and joint testing and inspection, with an assigned technical tutor.
Adhesive bonding course for airplanes — studying from Malta
Malta's aerospace activity is concentrated around Malta International Airport at Luqa, where aircraft maintenance, cabin interiors and aviation services form a significant part of the local economy. The island's aviation sector is supported by a long-established regulatory framework and a growing interest in drone operations and advanced air mobility. Engineers here commonly find work with aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation services providers and companies engaged in unmanned systems testing. Expertise in airworthiness, systems integration and regulatory compliance is particularly valued by employers operating within this niche but internationally connected market.
Fees for Malta: €743 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which professional bodies in Malta recognise engineers working in aerospace, UAM, drones and space, and how does that affect my title?
Malta's Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' under the Engineering Profession Act. Aviation safety is overseen by the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority's aviation counterpart, Transport Malta's Civil Aviation Directorate, which licenses operators and certain technical staff. A private SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition depends on the employer or the relevant body.
Which employers in Malta might hire someone with an aerospace or drone engineering background?
Malta has an aviation sector centred on Malta International Airport, aircraft maintenance and MRO activity, and a growing drone and space-related presence at the University of Malta and in private firms. Employers vary in their hiring criteria. A private qualification can support a application, but employers will weigh it against experience and any formal credentials they require.
Can I realistically study this 1,900-hour programme while working full time in Malta, and do I need a visa?
Programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in Malta or elsewhere without a student visa. Each student gets an assigned technical tutor. Workload should be planned around your job; 1,900 hours is substantial, so most working professionals spread it over a long period. Ask about employer sponsorship and instalment fee options before enrolling.
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 adhesion mechanisms and the types of structural adhesive.
Select suitable surface preparation treatments.
Calculate stresses in adhesive joints with analytical models.
Model joints using finite elements and cohesive zones.
Control the manufacturing process of bonded joints.
Interpret standardised tests of adhesive joints.
Design a structural adhesive joint with its validation plan.
Who it's for
- Adhesive bonding engineers
- Bonding process technicians
- Structural analysis engineers
- Test laboratory technicians
- Special process quality technicians
- Repair engineers
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join aircraft manufacturers
What you'll work with
- FAA AC 20-107B Composite Aircraft Structure (FAA guidance on composite and bonded structures)
- ASTM D1002 Apparent Shear Strength of Single-Lap-Joint Adhesively Bonded Metal Specimens (lap shear strength of bonded metals)
- ASTM D3762 Adhesive-Bonded Surface Durability of Aluminum (Wedge Test) (durability of bonded aluminium surfaces)
- ASTM D1876 Peel Resistance of Adhesives (T-Peel Test) (adhesive peel resistance)
- EN 2243-1 Structural adhesives. Test methods. Single lap shear (European lap shear test method)
- ASTM D3165 Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension Loading of Single-Lap-Joint Laminated Assemblies (shear strength of laminated lap joints)
- CMH-17 Composite Materials Handbook (reference data and methods for composites)
- Abaqus
- Ansys Mechanical
- KRÜSS Advance
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Physical and chemical adhesion mechanisms1.2Surface energy and wetting1.3Types of structural adhesive1.4Film and paste epoxies1.5Curing and glass transition temperature1.6Adhesive, cohesive and mixed failure1.7Durability in humid environments1.8Creep and fatigue of adhesives1.9History of structural bonding in aviation1.10Practical exercise: measuring the contact angle
2.1Solvent cleaning and degreasing2.2Abrading and grit blasting2.3Phosphoric acid anodising of aluminium2.4Sol-gel conversion coatings2.5Plasma and laser activation2.6Peel ply on composites2.7Control of contaminants such as silicones2.8Maximum times between preparation and bonding2.9Verifying surface condition2.10Workshop: aluminium preparation sequence
3.1Lap, stepped and scarf joints3.2Stress distribution in the joint3.3Volkersen analytical model3.4Goland and Reissner model3.5Peel stresses at the ends3.6Finite element analysis3.7Cohesive zone models3.8Hybrid bonded and bolted joints3.9Design criteria and margins3.10Lab: finite element model of a lap joint
4.1Clean rooms and environmental control4.2Adhesive application4.3Tooling and pressure application4.4Adhesive cure cycles4.5Secondary bonding, co-bonding and co-curing4.6Adhesive traceability and shelf life4.7Process witness specimens4.8Process control tests4.9Common manufacturing defects4.10Case study: non-conformance due to contamination
5.1Single-lap shear5.2T-peel test5.3Wedge test for durability5.4Fracture toughness of joints5.5Ultrasonic inspection of joints5.6Kissing bonds with no detectable defect5.7Laser shock adhesion testing5.8Certification of primary bonded joints5.9In-service bonded repairs5.10Practical exercise: interpreting wedge tests
6.1Selecting the study joint6.2Mechanical and environmental requirements6.3Adhesive selection6.4Defining the surface preparation6.5Joint design and analysis6.6Proposed manufacturing process6.7Validation test plan6.8Quality control plan6.9Report 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 the intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Abaqus, Ansys Mechanical, KRÜSS Advance and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: single-lap shear testing, wedge durability testing and ultrasonic inspection of a bonded joint. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: FAA AC 20-107B Composite Aircraft Structure; ASTM D1002 Apparent Shear Strength of Single-Lap-Joint Adhesively Bonded Metal Specimens; ASTM D3762 Adhesive-Bonded Surface Durability of Aluminum (Wedge Test); ASTM D1876 Peel Resistance of Adhesives (T-Peel Test); EN 2243-1 Structural adhesives. Test methods. Single lap shear; ASTM D3165 Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension Loading of Single-Lap-Joint Laminated Assemblies; CMH-17 Composite Materials Handbook.
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 Abaqus, Ansys Mechanical, KRÜSS Advance and MATLAB, 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 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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