Human-machine handover course in eVTOL
Online course of 300 hours in human-machine handover in eVTOL: 6 modules covering automation and shared authority, control transfers, handover interface design, experimental evaluation, and assurance and certification, with an assigned technical tutor.
Human-machine handover course in eVTOL — 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: €448 (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 levels of automation and the allocation of authority.
Analyse the risks of control transfers.
Design interfaces that support safe transfers.
Plan experiments with pilots in a simulator.
Measure workload and situational awareness.
Apply certification requirements to automated functions.
Propose design recommendations for handover in eVTOL aircraft.
Who it's for
- Human factors engineers working on eVTOL cockpits.
- Human-machine interaction engineers designing automated systems.
- Flight control engineers dealing with control modes and authority.
- Autonomy researchers studying human-AI teaming.
- Test pilots involved in evaluating automated functions.
- Cockpit interface designers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter urban air mobility.
What you'll work with
- CS 25.1302 and AMC 25.1302 (EASA) (installed systems and equipment for use by the flight crew)
- EASA SC-VTOL-01 (special condition for small-category VTOL aircraft)
- EASA Concept Paper Guidance for Level 1&2 Machine Learning Applications (guidance on machine learning in aviation)
- RTCA DO-178C (airborne software assurance)
- ICAO Doc 9683 (human factors training manual)
- ISO 9241-210 (human-centred design of interactive systems)
- SAE J3016 (levels of driving automation)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- X-Plane
- NASA MATB-II
- Tobii Pro Lab
- Unity
6 modules
1.1Sheridan levels of automation1.2Authority and responsibility in the cockpit1.3Control modes in eVTOL1.4Simplified vehicle operations1.5Context-adaptive automation1.6Trust in automation1.7Automation surprise1.8Mode errors1.9Human-centred automation design1.10Practical exercise: pilot-system function allocation table
2.1Types of handover and takeover2.2Planned and unplanned transfers2.3Reaction and recovery time2.4Situational awareness after the transfer2.5Out of the control loop2.6Transfer alerts2.7Gradual transfers of authority2.8Lessons from Air France 447 and the automotive industry2.9Transfers in sensor failure2.10Case study: analysis of an autopilot disconnection
3.1Indication of the active mode3.2Multimodal visual, auditory and haptic alerts3.3Active controls with feedback3.4System explainability3.5Interfaces for remote supervision3.6Design for single-pilot operation3.7Prevention of ambiguous transfers3.8Cockpit alerting standards3.9Voice interfaces in the cockpit3.10Workshop: alert sequence for a takeover
4.1Design of experiments with pilots4.2Flight simulators for handover studies4.3Workload with NASA-TLX4.4MATB-II task battery4.5Eye tracking during the transfer4.6Physiological measures of stress and effort4.7Statistical analysis of the results4.8Ethics in trials with human participants4.9Reaction time analysis4.10Lab: takeover experiment in a simulator
5.1CS 25.1302 requirements applied to VTOL5.2EASA guidance on machine learning5.3Human-AI teaming and cooperation5.4Software certification under DO-178C5.5Safety analysis of transfers5.6Pilot training in transfers5.7Supervised remote operations5.8Roadmap towards autonomy5.9Remote control and link latency5.10Case study: FHA of a failed transfer
6.1Definition of the system and scenarios6.2Function allocation6.3Interface design6.4Design of the experimental protocol6.5Execution and analysis6.6Safety assessment6.7Design recommendations6.8Risk analysis of transfers6.9Report 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 each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, X-Plane, NASA MATB-II, Tobii Pro Lab and Unity, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for takeover experiments in a simulator, design of alert sequences and workload assessment during transfers. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final project.
Standards covered: CS 25.1302 and AMC 25.1302 (EASA), EASA SC-VTOL-01, EASA Concept Paper Guidance for Level 1&2 Machine Learning Applications, RTCA DO-178C, ICAO Doc 9683, ISO 9241-210, SAE J3016.
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's 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 MATLAB/Simulink, X-Plane, NASA MATB-II, Tobii Pro Lab and Unity, 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 a computer able to run the programme's 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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