Avionics simulator testing course
Online course of 300 hours in avionics simulator testing, structured in 6 modules covering avionics test environments, aircraft modelling and simulation, hardware-in-the-loop infrastructure, test design and automation and test environment qualification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Avionics simulator testing 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: €644 (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 the different test environments used in avionics development.
Develop aircraft and sensor models for real-time simulation.
Integrate real equipment into hardware-in-the-loop benches.
Design and automate tests derived from requirements.
Qualify test tools and environments for certification purposes.
Assess the credibility and fidelity of a simulator.
Design a complete test bench for an avionics system.
Who it's for
- Systems test engineers in aircraft and avionics programmes.
- Simulation engineers.
- Integration bench engineers.
- Software verification engineers.
- Real-time model developers.
- Simulator validation engineers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work for aircraft manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- RTCA DO-178C / EUROCAE ED-12C (software considerations in airborne systems)
- RTCA DO-330 / EUROCAE ED-215 (software tool qualification)
- RTCA DO-254 / EUROCAE ED-80 (airborne electronic hardware assurance)
- ARINC 610D (use of avionics equipment in simulators)
- EASA CS-FSTD(A) (flight simulation training devices for aeroplanes)
- IEEE 1516 (HLA) (high level architecture for distributed simulation)
- NASA-STD-7009A (models and simulations credibility)
- Modelica Association FMI 3.0 (functional mock-up interface)
- dSPACE SCALEXIO
- NI VeriStand
- MATLAB/Simulink
- TechSAT ADS2
- Python with pytest
6 modules
1.1Test benches, iron bird and simulators1.2Test levels: equipment, system and aircraft1.3Closed-loop and open-loop testing1.4Model-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop1.5Hardware-in-the-loop with real equipment1.6Engineering simulators versus FSTDs1.7Fidelity and validity of an environment1.8Costs and planning of test means1.9Using tests as certification evidence1.10Case study: test strategy for an autothrottle system
2.1Six-degree-of-freedom flight dynamics models2.2Engine and systems models2.3Atmosphere, wind and turbulence2.4Sensor models and their errors2.5Numerical integration and time step2.6Deterministic real-time execution2.7Co-simulation using FMI2.8HLA distributed architectures2.9Model validation with flight data2.10Workshop: inertial sensor model with noise
3.1Real-time platforms and I/O3.2ARINC 429 and AFDX bus simulation3.3Analogue and discrete signals3.4Stimulating equipment with real loads3.5Bench synchronisation and latency3.6Cockpit panels and displays3.7Bench configuration management3.8Electrical safety and protections3.9Equipment maintenance and calibration3.10Lab: integrating a unit into a HIL bench
4.1Deriving test cases from requirements4.2Test procedures and pass criteria4.3Scripting languages for benches4.4Automation and continuous regression4.5Fault injection and degraded conditions4.6Data recording, replay and analysis4.7Requirements coverage by test4.8Management of defects found4.9Reporting and traceability of results4.10Practical exercise: automating a test sequence
5.1Tool qualification under DO-3305.2Validating the simulator against the aircraft5.3Credibility of models and simulation5.4Fidelity required per test objective5.5Authority acceptance of simulator testing5.6FSTD requirements for training5.7Use of real avionics in simulators5.8Management of behavioural discrepancies5.9Audits of test means5.10Case study: credibility justification for a test bench
6.1System under test and objectives6.2Simulation environment architecture6.3Required models and their fidelity6.4I/O interfaces and buses6.5Test cases derived from requirements6.6Automation and pass criteria6.7Environment qualification plan6.8Results and discrepancy analysis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme is compatible with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is dSPACE SCALEXIO, NI VeriStand, MATLAB/Simulink, TechSAT ADS2 and Python with pytest, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: integrating equipment into hardware-in-the-loop benches, automating regression tests and validating models with flight data. Assessment is continuous by module, plus a final capstone project.
Standards covered: RTCA DO-178C / EUROCAE ED-12C, RTCA DO-330 / EUROCAE ED-215, RTCA DO-254 / EUROCAE ED-80, ARINC 610D, EASA CS-FSTD(A), IEEE 1516 (HLA), NASA-STD-7009A, Modelica Association FMI 3.0.
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.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run 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 dSPACE SCALEXIO, NI VeriStand, MATLAB/Simulink, TechSAT ADS2 and Python with pytest, 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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