Aircraft thermal simulation course
Online course of 300 hours in aircraft thermal simulation. 6 modules covering heat transfer, thermal network and finite element modelling, CFD thermal simulation, aircraft thermal systems and thermal testing, applying RTCA DO-160G, SAE ARP1270B and EASA CS-25.831 with Ansys Fluent, Thermal Desktop and Simcenter Flotherm, with an assigned technical tutor.
Aircraft thermal simulation course — 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
Understand heat transfer mechanisms in aircraft.
Build thermal models using networks and finite elements.
Simulate cooling and ventilation with CFD.
Analyse aircraft thermal systems such as the ECS.
Correlate thermal models with tests.
Verify thermal margins against requirements.
Develop a complete thermal simulation of an aeronautical case.
Who it's for
- Thermal analysis engineers working on aircraft equipment and structures.
- Environmental control system engineers.
- CFD analysts moving into thermal problems.
- Electronics cooling engineers in avionics.
- Thermal test engineers who want to correlate tests with models.
- Aircraft systems engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to join aircraft manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-160G (environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment)
- SAE ARP1270B (aircraft cabin pressurisation control criteria)
- EASA CS-25.831 (ventilation requirements for large aeroplanes)
- MIL-HDBK-310 (global climatic data for military products)
- ASME V&V 20-2009 (verification and validation in CFD and heat transfer)
- SAE AIR1168 (aerospace applied thermodynamics manual)
- Ansys Fluent
- Thermal Desktop
- Simcenter Flotherm
- Simcenter Amesim
- COMSOL Multiphysics
6 modules
1.1Conduction, convection and radiation1.2Thermal balance of an aircraft1.3Internal heat sources: avionics and engines1.4Aerodynamic heating1.5Thermal environment on the ground and in flight1.6Thermal properties of materials1.7Thermal contact resistances1.8Dimensionless numbers and correlations1.9Steady-state and transient regimes1.10Case study: thermal balance of an avionics compartment
2.1Nodal method and thermal networks2.2Linear and radiative conductances2.3View factors2.4Thermal finite elements2.5Meshing and boundary conditions2.6Transient analysis2.7Thermo-structural simulation2.8Validation against analytical solutions2.9Model reduction2.10Lab: thermal network in Thermal Desktop
3.1Forced and natural convection3.2Turbulence models for heat transfer3.3Conjugate heat transfer3.4Flow in ducts and bays3.5Radiation in CFD3.6Meshes in the thermal boundary layer3.7Cabin ventilation and comfort3.8Electronics cooling3.9Post-processing of heat fluxes3.10Practical exercise: cooling of an avionics rack
4.1Environmental control system4.2Air cycle and refrigeration machines4.3Heat exchangers4.4Battery thermal management4.5Thermal anti-icing and de-icing4.6Engine zone and fire protection4.7Brakes and landing gear4.8Thermal management in electric aircraft4.9Fuel thermal systems4.10Workshop: 1D model of an air cycle
5.1Thermal testing of equipment according to DO-1605.2Thermocouples and thermography5.3Model-test correlation5.4Uncertainty in properties and contacts5.5Thermal design margins5.6Flight testing of temperatures5.7Thermal cycling and fatigue5.8Certification requirements5.9Lessons from thermal incidents5.10Case study: correlation of an equipment test
6.1Definition of the thermal system6.2Design loads and conditions6.3Thermal network model6.4Detailed CFD model6.5Transient analysis6.6Verification of margins6.7Improvement proposal6.8Technical documentation6.9Report 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 the programme is compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Fluent, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter Flotherm, Simcenter Amesim and COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures: cooling of an avionics compartment, battery thermal management in an electric aircraft and correlation of an equipment thermal test. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: RTCA DO-160G, SAE ARP1270B, EASA CS-25.831, MIL-HDBK-310, ASME V&V 20-2009, SAE AIR1168.
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 Ansys Fluent, Thermal Desktop, Simcenter Flotherm, Simcenter Amesim, COMSOL Multiphysics, 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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